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IMDbPro

Luc Besson

  • Writer
  • Producer
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000168
Luc Besson
From his dynamic visuals to his comic-book influences, take a closer look at the trademarks of Luc Besson's directorial style.
Play clip1:23
A Guide to the Films of Luc Besson
13 Videos
69 Photos
Luc Besson spent the first years of his life following his parents, scuba diving instructors, around the world. His early life was entirely aquatic. He already showed amazing creativity as a youth, writing early drafts of Im Rausch Der Tiefe (1988) and Das fünfte Element (1997), as an adolescent bored in school. He planned on becoming a marine biologist specializing in dolphins until a diving accident at age 17 which rendered him unable to dive any longer. He moved back to Paris, where he was born, and only at age 18 did he first have an urban life or television. He realized that film was a medium which he could combine all his interests in various arts together, so he began taking odd jobs on various films. He moved to America for three years, then returned to France and formed Les Films de Loups - his own production company, which later changed its name to Les Films de Dauphins. He is now able to dive again.
BornMarch 18, 1959
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornMarch 18, 1959
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000168
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 BAFTA Award
      • 32 wins & 33 nominations total

    Photos69

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    Known for

    Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman, and Bruce Willis in Das fünfte Element (1997)
    Das fünfte Element
    7.6
    • Writer
    • 1997
    Natalie Portman and Jean Reno in Léon: Der Profi (1994)
    Léon: Der Profi
    8.5
    • Writer
    • 1994
    Scarlett Johansson in Lucy (2014)
    Lucy
    6.4
    • Writer
    • 2014
    Anne Parillaud in Nikita (1990)
    Nikita
    7.3
    • Writer
    • 1990

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Writer

    • Dracula: A Love Tale
      • screenplay
      • In Production
      • 2025
    • Lucy 2
      • Writer
      • In Development
    • Twice
      • co-writer
      • In Development
    • June and John
      • Writer
      • Post-production
    • Weekend in Taipei (2024)
      Weekend in Taipei
      5.9
      • screenplay
      • 2024
    • Caleb Landry Jones in DogMan (2023)
      DogMan
      6.8
      • script
      • 2023
    • Arthur Malediction (2022)
      Arthur Malediction
      3.3
      • scenario
      • 2022
    • Sasha Luss in Anna: Die Agentin (2019)
      Anna: Die Agentin
      6.6
      • screenplay
      • 2019
    • Clive Standen in Taken: Die Zeit ist dein Feind (2017)
      Taken: Die Zeit ist dein Feind
      6.6
      TV Series
      • based on the characters created by
      • 2017–2018
    • Bernard Farcy, Franck Gastambide, Malik Bentalha, and Anouar Toubali in Taxi 5 (2018)
      Taxi 5
      4.6
      • scenario
      • 2018
    • Arthur und die Minimoys (2017)
      Arthur und die Minimoys
      6.2
      TV Series
      • original idea
      • 2017–2018
    • Dimitri Leonidas, Sullivan Stapleton, Joshua Henry, Diarmaid Murtagh, and Charlie Bewley in Renegades - Mission of Honor (2017)
      Renegades - Mission of Honor
      5.5
      • written by
      • 2017
    • Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne in Valerian - Die Stadt der tausend Planeten (2017)
      Valerian - Die Stadt der tausend Planeten
      6.4
      • screenplay by
      • 2017
    • Dave Bautista, Uriah Shelton, Mark Chao, and Ni Ni in The Warriors Gate (2016)
      The Warriors Gate
      5.4
      • written by
      • 2016
    • Ed Skrein in The Transporter Refueled (2015)
      The Transporter Refueled
      5.2
      • characters
      • written by
      • 2015
    • Liam Neeson in 96 Hours - Taken 3 (2014)
      96 Hours - Taken 3
      6.0
      • characters
      • written by
      • 2014
    • Chris Vance in Transporter - Die Serie (2012)
      Transporter - Die Serie
      6.4
      TV Series
      • based on characters created by
      • 2012–2014
    • Scarlett Johansson in Lucy (2014)
      Lucy
      6.4
      • written by
      • 2014
    • Chyler Leigh and Jacky Ido in Taxi Brooklyn (2014)
      Taxi Brooklyn
      6.2
      TV Series
      • based upon the film "Taxi" written by
      • 2014

    Producer

    • American Flagg!
      • executive producer
      • In Development
      • TV Series
    • Lucy 2
      • producer
      • In Development
    • Twice
      • producer
      • In Development
    • June and John
      • producer
      • Post-production
    • Weekend in Taipei (2024)
      Weekend in Taipei
      5.9
      • producer
      • 2024
    • Rainbow Warrior (2023)
      Rainbow Warrior
      8.6
      • executive producer
      • 2023
    • Arthur Malediction (2022)
      Arthur Malediction
      3.3
      • producer
      • 2022
    • Sasha Luss in Anna: Die Agentin (2019)
      Anna: Die Agentin
      6.6
      • producer
      • 2019
    • Colin Firth and Matthias Schoenaerts in Kursk (2018)
      Kursk
      6.6
      • executive producer
      • 2018
    • Bernard Farcy, Franck Gastambide, Malik Bentalha, and Anouar Toubali in Taxi 5 (2018)
      Taxi 5
      4.6
      • producer
      • 2018
    • Clive Standen in Taken: Die Zeit ist dein Feind (2017)
      Taken: Die Zeit ist dein Feind
      6.6
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2017–2018
    • Isabelle Huppert and Gaspard Ulliel in Eva (2018)
      Eva
      4.7
      • co-producer
      • 2018
    • Dimitri Leonidas, Sullivan Stapleton, Joshua Henry, Diarmaid Murtagh, and Charlie Bewley in Renegades - Mission of Honor (2017)
      Renegades - Mission of Honor
      5.5
      • producer
      • 2017
    • Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne in Valerian - Die Stadt der tausend Planeten (2017)
      Valerian - Die Stadt der tausend Planeten
      6.4
      • producer
      • 2017
    • Dave Bautista, Uriah Shelton, Mark Chao, and Ni Ni in The Warriors Gate (2016)
      The Warriors Gate
      5.4
      • producer
      • 2016
    • Ed Skrein in The Transporter Refueled (2015)
      The Transporter Refueled
      5.2
      • producer
      • 2015
    • Liam Neeson in 96 Hours - Taken 3 (2014)
      96 Hours - Taken 3
      6.0
      • producer
      • 2014
    • Tommy Lee Jones and Hilary Swank in The Homesman (2014)
      The Homesman
      6.6
      • producer
      • 2014
    • Brick Mansions (2014)
      Brick Mansions
      5.6
      • producer
      • 2014

    Director

    • Dracula: A Love Tale
      • Director
      • In Production
      • 2025
    • June and John
      • Director
      • Post-production
    • Caleb Landry Jones in DogMan (2023)
      DogMan
      6.8
      • Director
      • 2023
    • Sasha Luss in Anna: Die Agentin (2019)
      Anna: Die Agentin
      6.6
      • Director
      • 2019
    • Cara Delevingne: I Feel Everything (2017)
      Cara Delevingne: I Feel Everything
      5.9
      Music Video
      • Director (uncredited)
      • 2017
    • Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne in Valerian - Die Stadt der tausend Planeten (2017)
      Valerian - Die Stadt der tausend Planeten
      6.4
      • Director
      • 2017
    • Sharon Stone in Afflelou: Moi c'est Afflelou (2015)
      Afflelou: Moi c'est Afflelou
      4.8
      Video
      • Director
      • 2015
    • Scarlett Johansson in Lucy (2014)
      Lucy
      6.4
      • Director
      • 2014
    • Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dianna Agron, and John D'Leo in Malavita - The Family (2013)
      Malavita - The Family
      6.3
      • Director
      • 2013
    • The Lady - Ein geteiltes Herz (2011)
      The Lady - Ein geteiltes Herz
      7.0
      • Director
      • 2011
    • Arthur and the Great Adventure (2010)
      Arthur and the Great Adventure
      6.8
      • Director
      • 2010
    • Arthur und die Minimoys 3 - Die große Entscheidung (2010)
      Arthur und die Minimoys 3 - Die große Entscheidung
      5.5
      • Director
      • 2010
    • Louise Bourgoin in Adèle und das Geheimnis des Pharaos (2010)
      Adèle und das Geheimnis des Pharaos
      6.3
      • Director
      • 2010
    • Kery James Feat. Béné: L'impasse
      5.7
      Music Video
      • Director
      • 2009
    • Arthur und die Minimoys - Die Rückkehr des Bösen M (2009)
      Arthur und die Minimoys - Die Rückkehr des Bösen M
      5.3
      • Director
      • 2009
    • Madonna in Madonna: Celebration - The Video Collection (2009)
      Madonna: Celebration - The Video Collection
      8.3
      Video
      • Director (video Love Profusion)
      • 2009
    • Arthur and the Invisibles: The Making of the Year's Greatest Adventure
      5.9
      TV Movie
      • Director (uncredited)
      • 2007
    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Videos13

    A Guide to the Films of Luc Besson
    Clip 1:23
    A Guide to the Films of Luc Besson
    "Window" from From Paris with Love
    Clip 1:22
    "Window" from From Paris with Love
    "Window" from From Paris with Love
    Clip 1:22
    "Window" from From Paris with Love
    "Welcome to Paris" from From Paris with Love
    Clip 1:29
    "Welcome to Paris" from From Paris with Love
    The Origins of 'Valerian' and Its Influence on the Sci-Fi Movie Genre
    Clip 2:14
    The Origins of 'Valerian' and Its Influence on the Sci-Fi Movie Genre
    Luc Besson Answers Fan Questions
    Interview 2:21
    Luc Besson Answers Fan Questions
    Facebook Live Chat with Luc Besson
    Interview 35:41
    Facebook Live Chat with Luc Besson

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Official sites
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
    • Height
      • 1.72 m
    • Born
      • March 18, 1959
      • Paris, France
    • Spouses
        Virginie Besson-SillaAugust 28, 2004 - present (3 children)
    • Children
        Shanna Besson
    • Parents
      • Daniele Plane
    • Other works
      TV commercial: Directed L'Oreal commercial starring Milla Jovovich.
    • Publicity listings
      • 1 Print Biography
      • 8 Interviews
      • 12 Articles
      • 2 Magazine Cover Photos

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In 1977, Luc Besson was rejected by La Fémis, the national film school of France. Besson later told in interviews, that he was 18 years old, when he applied, and in a preliminary interview an administrator asked him which directors he most admired. Besson named Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Milos Forman, before the interviewer cut him off, saying: "That's enough. I don't think you belong here".
    • Quotes
      Cinema never saved anyone's life, it is not a medicine that will save anyone's life. It is only an aspirin.
    • Trademarks
        Often casts Jean Reno

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