Léon: The Professional

Original title: Léon

19941994
RR
1h 50min

Jean Reno in Léon (1994)

Theatrical Trailer from Columbia Pictures

Play trailer2:25

Action Crime Drama

Mathilda, a 12-year-old girl, 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... Read allMathilda, a 12-year-old girl, 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.Mathilda, a 12-year-old girl, 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.

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Top rated movie #31

Awards
- 6 wins & 15 nominations

Videos1

The Professional

The Professional

Gary Oldman in Léon (1994)

Gary Oldman and Danny Aiello in Léon (1994)

Natalie Portman and Jean Reno in Léon (1994)

Natalie Portman and Jean Reno in Léon (1994)

Natalie Portman and Jean Reno in Léon (1994)

Natalie Portman and Jean Reno in Léon (1994)

Natalie Portman and Jean Reno in Léon (1994)

Natalie Portman in Léon (1994)

Natalie Portman and Jean Reno in Léon (1994)

Jean Reno in Léon (1994)

Gary Oldman in Léon (1994)

Natalie Portman in Léon (1994)

The Green Mile

8.6

American History X

8.5

American History X

The Usual Suspects

8.5

The Usual Suspects

Se7en

8.6

The Silence of the Lambs

8.6

The Silence of the Lambs

The Pianist

8.5

Fight Club

8.8

Pulp Fiction

8.9

The Prestige

8.5

Saving Private Ryan

8.6

Saving Private Ryan

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

8.7

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Schindler's List

8.9

Schindler's List

After her father, step-mother, step-sister and little brother are killed by her father's employers, the 12-year-old daughter of an abject drug dealer manages to take refuge in the apartment of a professional hitman who at her request teaches her the methods of his job so she can take her revenge on the corrupt DEA agent who ruined her life by killing her beloved brother. —J. S. Golden

hitman girl teenage girl older man young girl relationship loss of family 266 more

Taglines
- If you want the job done right, hire a professional.
Genres
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
- Rated R for scenes of strong graphic violence, and for language
Parents guide

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 they fail to 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 must be presumed that Tony gave him a complete description of Leon, and very possibly a photograph.

Quotes
Mathilda: Leon, I think I'm kinda falling in love with you.
[Leon chokes on his milk]
Mathilda: It's the first time for me, you know?
Léon: [wiping himself off] How do you know it's love if you've never been in love before?
Mathilda: 'Cause I feel it.
Léon: Where?
Mathilda: [stoking her stomach] In my stomach. It's all warm. I always had a knot there and now... it's gone.
Léon: Mathilda, I'm glad you don't have a stomach ache any more. I don't think it means anything.

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

Top review

9/10

Sensuous

I am not always positive in my opinion. I am this time. First, the story. A professional killer falling in love with his acquaintance and breaking his own rules with positive consequences is depicted and done very well. How many times we have watched this kind of story in a movie? Not many times, I think, but certainly never with such charm or with such a fist shaken in front of taboos of mainstream society.

helpful•136

20

naomi-seibt-Hure
Mar 1, 2020

Release date
- November 18, 1994 (United States)
Countries of origin
- France
- United States
Official site
- Centrumfilmow
Languages
Also known as
- Léon
Filming locations
- Paris, France
Production companies
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Budget
- FRF 115,000,000 (estimated)
Gross US & Canada
- $19,501,238
Opening weekend US & Canada
- $5,306,558
- Nov 20, 1994
Gross worldwide
- $19,552,639

See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

Runtime
- 1h 50min
Color
- Color
Sound mix
- Dolby Digital
- Dolby Atmos
Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1

Remembering Jean-Paul Belmondo, the Suave French Film Icon Who Inspired Spielberg and Tarantino Alike

Remembering Jean-Paul Belmondo, the Suave French Film Icon Who Inspired Spielberg and Tarantino Alike

Sep 7Variety Film + TV

Jean-Paul Belmondo, French Actor and Star of ‘Breathless,’ Dies at 88

Jean-Paul Belmondo, French Actor and Star of ‘Breathless,’ Dies at 88

Jean Reno in Léon (1994)

Top Gap

What is the streaming release date of Léon (1994) in Canada?

More to explore

View list

IMDb's Fall 2021 Movie Guide

See the full list

View list

Upcoming Marvel Movies and TV Shows

See the full list

Recently viewed

Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.