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IMDbPro

Léon: The Professional

Original title: Léon
  • 19941994
  • RR
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
1.2M
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
221
31
Natalie Portman and Jean Reno in Léon: The Professional (1994)
Theatrical Trailer from Columbia Pictures
Play trailer2:25
1 Video
99+ Photos
ActionCrimeDrama
12-year-old Mathilda is reluctantly taken in by Léon, a professional assassin, after her family is murdered. An unusual relationship forms as she becomes his protégée and learns the assassin... Read all12-year-old Mathilda is reluctantly taken in by Léon, a professional assassin, after her family is murdered. An unusual relationship forms as she becomes his protégée and learns the assassin's trade.12-year-old Mathilda is reluctantly taken in by Léon, a professional assassin, after her family is murdered. An unusual relationship forms as she becomes his protégée and learns the assassin's trade.
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
1.2M
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
221
31
    • Luc Besson
    • Luc Besson
  • Stars
    • Jean Reno
    • Gary Oldman
    • Natalie Portman
    • Luc Besson
    • Luc Besson
  • Stars
    • Jean Reno
    • Gary Oldman
    • Natalie Portman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1.4KUser reviews
    • 159Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #35
    • Awards

    Videos1

    The Professional
    Trailer 2:25
    Watch The Professional

    Photos221

    Gary Oldman in Léon: The Professional (1994)
    Gary Oldman and Danny Aiello in Léon: The Professional (1994)
    Natalie Portman and Jean Reno in Léon: The Professional (1994)
    Natalie Portman and Jean Reno in Léon: The Professional (1994)
    Natalie Portman and Jean Reno in Léon: The Professional (1994)
    Natalie Portman and Jean Reno in Léon: The Professional (1994)
    Natalie Portman and Jean Reno in Léon: The Professional (1994)
    Natalie Portman in Léon: The Professional (1994)
    Natalie Portman and Jean Reno in Léon: The Professional (1994)
    Jean Reno in Léon: The Professional (1994)
    Gary Oldman in Léon: The Professional (1994)
    Natalie Portman in Léon: The Professional (1994)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jean Reno
    Jean Reno
    • Leon
    Gary Oldman
    Gary Oldman
    • Stansfield
    Natalie Portman
    Natalie Portman
    • Mathilda
    Danny Aiello
    Danny Aiello
    • Tony
    Peter Appel
    Peter Appel
    • Malky
    Willi One Blood
    Willi One Blood
    • 1st Stansfield Man
    • (as Willie One Blood)
    Don Creech
    Don Creech
    • 2nd Stansfield Man
    Keith A. Glascoe
    • 3rd Stansfield Man
    Randolph Scott
    • 4th Stansfield Man
    Michael Badalucco
    Michael Badalucco
    • Mathilda's Father
    Ellen Greene
    Ellen Greene
    • Mathilda's Mother
    Elizabeth Regen
    Elizabeth Regen
    • Mathilda's Sister
    Carl J. Matusovich
    • Mathilda's Brother
    Frank Senger
    Frank Senger
    • Fatman
    Lucius Wyatt Cherokee
    Lucius Wyatt Cherokee
    • Tonto
    • (as Lucius Wyatt 'Cherokee')
    Eric Challier
    • Bodyguard Chief
    Luc Bernard
    • Mickey
    Maïwenn
    Maïwenn
    • Blond Babe
    • (as Ouin-Ouin)
      • Luc Besson
      • Luc Besson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to Jean Reno, he decided to play Léon as if he were "a little mentally slow" and emotionally repressed. He felt that this would make audiences relax and realize that he wasn't someone who would take advantage of a vulnerable young girl. Reno claims that for Léon, the possibility of a physical relationship with Mathilda is not even conceivable, and as such, during the scenes when such a relationship is discussed, Reno very much allowed Portman to be emotionally in control of the scenes.
    • Goofs
      Many viewers believe that Stansfield never saw Leon, and therefore could not recognize him at the end, but may not remember that Stansfield visited Tony at the restaurant after Leon had killed part of Stansfield's crew. Thus, being intimidated and threatened by Stansfield, it could be assumed that Tony gave him a complete description of Leon, and possibly a photograph.
    • Quotes

      Mathilda: I don't wanna lose you, Leon.

      Léon: You're not going to lose me. You've given me a taste for life. I wanna be happy. Sleep in a bed, have roots. And you'll never be alone again, Mathilda. Please, go now, baby, go. Calm down, I'll meet you at Tony's in an hour, I love you, now go, go now.

    • Crazy credits
      Under the "SPECIAL THANKS" heading you will find: Chevalier KAMEN (Prince of the Mash Potatoes) Byblos Bill (King of Saint Tropez) Princess Trudy (Queen of Hearts)
    • Alternate versions
      In the original version there is a shot of Tony's place at night just before Stansfield and his men come in on the birthday party. This isn't in the 'Version integrale' (International Cut).
    • Connections
      Featured in HBO First Look: The Best Man for the Job: The Making of 'The Professional' (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      Shape Of My Heart
      Written by Sting and Dominic Miller

      Introduction by Dominic Miller

      Performed by Sting

      Courtesy of Magnetic Ltd. / A&M Records

      by arrangement with PolyGram Special Projects

    User reviews1.4K

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    "I like these calm little moments before the storm..."
    Many movies have characters in them who are hired assassins, or "hit men". They're the standard "badass" character that kills people in order to collect a reward. Most hit men in films have been portrayed as cold, heartless villains (Boba Fett of Star Wars, Vincent of Collateral). Léon, however, flips this cliché on its end, as the hit-man is the kind-hearted protagonist who learns how to love, thanks to a little girl who shows up on his doorstep.

    Léon begins in a restaurant, with the assassin himself (Jean Reno) taking a contract from his boss Tony (Danny Aiello) to kill a man who's moving in on Tony's territory. The next 10 minutes become an enthralling cat and mouse game where Leon shows the viewers just why he is known as the cleaner: he is extremely good at this job. We also see Leon's human side, shown by his passion for milk, his affection for his plant (whom he calls his best friend) and when he becomes engrossed watching Singin' in the Rain. Leon seems quite content with this life, not seeming to want anything more. That is, until he is forced to take custody of a twelve-year-old girl (Natalie Portman) whose entire family was cruelly massacred by a corrupt DEA agent (Gary Oldman). This is where Leon is forced to change his lifestyle for the little girl, and when she wishes to get into contract killing to avenge her brother, Leon becomes her mentor and protector.

    Luc Besson was both the director and screenwriter for Léon, and he proves with his sophomore effort that he is no one-hit wonder. Léon is a very fast paced movie, chronicling Leon's training of Mathilda, Mathilda's growing affection for contract killing (and for Leon himself), and the final standoff with Norman Stansfield. Despite all this, Léon also has time to throw in some slower scenes that develop Leon's and Mathilda's characters, expanding on their growing relationship and partnership.

    Jean Reno does a very good job as Leon, portraying him both as an effective and frightening killing machine, and as a loving and caring father figure. There is almost a childlike innocence to Leon, with him being unable to read and not familiar with most American culture. Reno allows the audience to both sympathize with this character and respect him, an extremely challenging feat.

    Natalie Portman's breakout role as Mathilda is one of the greatest acted child roles in a film, period. Portman is able to portray childlike innocence combined with an above average intelligence and awareness of the world around her. Although she is young, she becomes extremely interested in Leon and his job, wanting revenge for the gross acts committed upon her. Make no mistake, Mathilda is the true star of this film, and Portman completely shines in the role.

    In comparison to Jean Reno's fairly subdued performance as Leon, apparently Luc Besson wanted a more exciting and over-the-top antagonist for the film: enter Gary Oldman. Gary Oldman completely overacts his character of the crooked DEA cop, and he does it so wonderfully that he steals every scene he is in. This is without a doubt the greatest performance of this underrated actor's career, as the fun Oldman has with this role practically oozes out of the screen and infects anyone who watches him. While some critics criticized Oldman for his performance, it was actually spot on considering that the character of Stansfield is a drug-addicted psychotic cop who has no problem with murdering an innocent family to get what he desires. The only nitpick I have with Stansfield is his screen time is fairly small compared with Leon and Mathilda; nevertheless he completely steals the show when he does appear.

    The plot of Léon is fairly straightforward compared to most action flicks, as there are no particular plot twists or double crossings. However, the simple plot works because this is not a plot driven movie, it is a character driven one. That's not to say there is no action in this movie, there are a few great action sequences (especially the spectacular police shootout in the film's climax), but the film mainly revolves around the growing affection between Leon and Mathilda, and how they change each others' lives. Overall, Léon is an extremely well-made action/drama, and one of the best films of 1994.
    helpful•39
    5
    • ConkerBFD91
    • Feb 18, 2008

    FAQ14

    • Why does Leon always drink milk?
    • How did Leon manage to disappear after holding a man at knifepoint?
    • Is Léon based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 18, 1994 (United States)
      • France
      • United States
      • English
      • Italian
      • French
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Paris, France
    • Production companies
      • Gaumont
      • Les Films du Dauphin
      • Columbia Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 50 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital
      • Dolby Atmos

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