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IMDbPro

Luc Besson

  • Writer
  • Producer
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000248
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 Suuri sininen (1988) and The Fifth Element - puuttuva tekijä (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
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
BornMarch 18, 1959
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000248
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Won 1 BAFTA Award
    • 32 wins & 31 nominations total

Photos69

Luc Besson, Helen Mirren, Luke Evans, and Sasha Luss in Anna (2019)
Luc Besson, Vincent Elbaz, Philippe Hérisson, Franck de la Personne, Anne Girouard, David Morley, and Sarah Brannens in No Limit (2012)
Luc Besson, Dane DeHaan, and Cara Delevingne in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
Luc Besson, Robert De Niro, and Tommy Lee Jones in Mafiaperhe (2013)
Luc Besson and Anne Parillaud in Tyttö nimeltä Nikita (1990)
Luc Besson in The Lady (2011)
Luc Besson and Cara Delevingne in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
Luc Besson and Tonio Descanvelle in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
Luc Besson and Herbie Hancock in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
Luc Besson, Dane DeHaan, and Cara Delevingne in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
Luc Besson in Lucy (2014)
Luc Besson in Lucy (2014)

Known for:

Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman, and Bruce Willis in The Fifth Element - puuttuva tekijä (1997)
The Fifth Element - puuttuva tekijä
7.6
  • Writer
  • 1997
Natalie Portman and Jean Reno in Leon (1994)
Leon
8.5
  • Writer
  • 1994
Scarlett Johansson in Lucy (2014)
Lucy
6.4
  • Writer
  • 2014
Anne Parillaud in Tyttö nimeltä Nikita (1990)
Tyttö nimeltä Nikita
7.3
  • Writer
  • 1990

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Writer

  • June and John
    • Writer
    • Post-production
    • 2024
  • Weekend Escape Project
    • Writer
    • Pre-production
  • Twice
    • co-writer
    • In Development
  • Lucy 2
    • Writer
    • In Development
  • Dogman (2023)
    Dogman
    6.7
    • script
    • 2023
  • Marceau Ebersolt, Mikaël Halimi, Vadim Agid, Mathieu Berger, Yann Mendy, Jade Pedri, and Thalia Besson in Arthur, malédiction (2022)
    Arthur, malédiction
    3.3
    • scenario
    • 2022
  • Helen Mirren, Cillian Murphy, Luke Evans, and Sasha Luss in Anna (2019)
    Anna
    6.6
    • screenplay
    • 2019
  • Clive Standen in Taken (2017)
    Taken
    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
    4.7
    • scenario
    • 2018
  • Arthur and the Minimoys (2017)
    Arthur and the Minimoys
    6.0
    TV Series
    • original idea
    • 2017
  • Dimitri Leonidas, Sullivan Stapleton, Joshua Henry, Diarmaid Murtagh, and Charlie Bewley in Renegades (2017)
    Renegades
    5.5
    • written by
    • 2017
  • John Goodman, Clive Owen, Rihanna, Dane DeHaan, and Cara Delevingne in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
    Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
    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 Taken 3 (2014)
    Taken 3
    6.0
    • characters
    • written by
    • 2014
  • Transporter: The Series (2012)
    Transporter: The Series
    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
  • Brick Mansions (2014)
    Brick Mansions
    5.6
    • screenplay
    • screenplay "Banlieue 13"
    • 2014

Producer

  • June and John
    • producer
    • Post-production
    • 2024
  • The Rainbow Warrior
    • executive producer
    • Post-production
  • Weekend Escape Project
    • producer
    • Pre-production
  • Twice
    • producer
    • In Development
  • Lucy 2
    • producer
    • In Development
  • American Flagg!
    • executive producer
    • In Development
    • TV Series
  • Marceau Ebersolt, Mikaël Halimi, Vadim Agid, Mathieu Berger, Yann Mendy, Jade Pedri, and Thalia Besson in Arthur, malédiction (2022)
    Arthur, malédiction
    3.3
    • producer
    • 2022
  • Helen Mirren, Cillian Murphy, Luke Evans, and Sasha Luss in Anna (2019)
    Anna
    6.6
    • producer
    • 2019
  • Kursk (2018)
    Kursk
    6.6
    • executive producer
    • 2018
  • Bernard Farcy, Franck Gastambide, Malik Bentalha, and Anouar Toubali in Taxi 5 (2018)
    Taxi 5
    4.7
    • producer
    • 2018
  • Clive Standen in Taken (2017)
    Taken
    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 (2017)
    Renegades
    5.5
    • producer
    • 2017
  • John Goodman, Clive Owen, Rihanna, Dane DeHaan, and Cara Delevingne in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
    Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
    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 Taken 3 (2014)
    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
  • Luc Besson, Vincent Elbaz, and David Morley in No Limit (2012)
    No Limit
    6.6
    TV Series
    • producer
    • 2012–2013
  • Frank Grillo, Roschdy Zem, Jaimie Alexander, and Charlie Bewley in Intersections (2013)
    Intersections
    5.9
    • producer
    • 2013

Director

  • June and John
    • Director
    • Post-production
    • 2024
  • Dogman (2023)
    Dogman
    6.7
    • Director
    • 2023
  • Helen Mirren, Cillian Murphy, Luke Evans, and Sasha Luss in Anna (2019)
    Anna
    6.6
    • Director
    • 2019
  • Cara Delevingne: I Feel Everything (2017)
    Cara Delevingne: I Feel Everything
    5.7
    Music Video
    • Director (uncredited)
    • 2017
  • John Goodman, Clive Owen, Rihanna, Dane DeHaan, and Cara Delevingne in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
    Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
    6.4
    • Director
    • 2017
  • Sharon Stone in Afflelou: Moi c'est Afflelou (2015)
    Afflelou: Moi c'est Afflelou
    4.3
    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 Mafiaperhe (2013)
    Mafiaperhe
    6.3
    • Director
    • 2013
  • Michelle Yeoh in The Lady (2011)
    The Lady
    7.0
    • Director
    • 2011
  • Arthur and the Great Adventure
    • Director
    • 2010
  • Arthur ja kaksi maailmaa (2010)
    Arthur ja kaksi maailmaa
    5.5
    • Director
    • 2010
  • Louise Bourgoin in Adèle Blanc-Secin uskomattomat seikkailut (2010)
    Adèle Blanc-Secin uskomattomat seikkailut
    6.3
    • Director
    • 2010
  • Kery James Feat. Béné: L'impasse
    5.6
    Music Video
    • Director
    • 2009
  • Arthur ja Maltazard (2009)
    Arthur ja Maltazard
    5.2
    • 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
"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
Luc Besson Teases 'Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets'
Interview 3:53
Luc Besson Teases 'Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets'
Trailer #3
Trailer 1:45
Trailer #3
The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec
Trailer 1:31
The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec
From Paris with Love: UK Trailer
Trailer 1:26
From Paris with Love: UK Trailer
From Paris with Love
Trailer 1:44
From Paris with Love
Kiss of the Dragon
Trailer 1:01
Kiss of the Dragon

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
    Often casts Gary Oldman (Leon, The Fifth Element - puuttuva tekijä (1997)) and they are very close friends. He produced Gary's movie Erään perheen elämästä (1997).
  • 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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