The Fifth Element (1997)

In the colorful future, a cab driver unwittingly becomes the central figure in the search for a legendary cosmic weapon to keep Evil and Mr. Zorg at bay.

Director:

Luc Besson

Writers:

Luc Besson (screenplay by), Robert Mark Kamen (screenplay by)

Stars:

Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 10 wins & 38 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bruce Willis	...	Korben Dallas
Gary Oldman	...	Zorg
Ian Holm	...	Cornelius
Milla Jovovich	...	Leeloo
Chris Tucker	...	Ruby Rhod
Luke Perry	...	Billy
Brion James	...	General Munro
Tom Lister Jr.	...	President Lindberg (as Tommy 'Tiny' Lister Jr.)
Lee Evans	...	Fog
Charlie Creed-Miles	...	David (as Charlie Creed Miles)
Tricky	...	Right Arm
John Neville	...	General Staedert
John Bluthal	...	Professor Pacoli
Mathieu Kassovitz	...	Mugger
Christopher Fairbank	...	Mactilburgh

Storyline

In the twenty-third century, the universe is threatened by evil. The only hope for mankind is the Fifth Element, who comes to Earth every five thousand years to protect the humans with four stones of the four elements: fire, water, Earth and air. A Mondoshawan spacecraft is bringing The Fifth Element back to Earth but it is destroyed by the evil Mangalores. However, a team of scientists use the DNA of the remains of the Fifth Element to rebuild the perfect being called Leeloo. She escapes from the laboratory and stumbles upon the taxi driver and former elite commando Major Korben Dallas that helps her to escape from the police. Leeloo tells him that she must meet Father Vito Cornelius to accomplish her mission. Meanwhile, the Evil uses the greedy and cruel Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg and a team of mercenary Mangalores to retrieve the stones and avoid the protection of Leeloo. But the skilled Korben Dallas has fallen in love with Leeloo and decides to help her to retrieve the stones.

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Plot Keywords:

futuristic city | future | taxi driver | love | alien | 

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Taglines:

250 years in the future, all will be lost unless the fifth element is found.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

13+

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the future New York City, Central Park is the same size as the real one and is in the same place, but one hundred feet in the air.

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Goofs

Once the match is going, its angle changes as Dallas lowers it.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Omar: [whispers to sleeping Aziz] Aziz! Aziz!
Professor Pacoli: [shouts] Aziz! Light!
[Aziz wakes up with a start]
Billy: "Aziz! Light!"

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Alternate Versions

In the theatrical release, Korben Dallas initially opens his door after hearing the door chime. He looks into the monitor, sees the empty hallway, opens the door, and then almost gets mugged. This scene was edited for the ABC presentation.

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Connections

Referenced in Jersey Girl (2004)

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Soundtracks

The Diva Dance
Performed by Inva Mula (as Inva Mulla Tchako)
Composed and Produced by Éric Serra
© Editions La Marguerite 1997

User Reviews

Another Fine Luc Besson Film.

The Fifth Element is another fine example of the filmmaking talents of Luc Besson. Luc Besson, a creative genius and the director of classic films such as The Big Blue, Nikita and Leon (The Professional) has returned to the genre that started his filmmaking career, sci-fi. In The Fifth Element Luc Besson realises his life long ambition to make a film based on a story he thought of while still at school, Zaltman Bleros. Writing and directing the film, he skillfully mixes humour with action and amazing visual effects that put The Fifth Element in a class of it's own. Stunning performances are put forward by Milla Jovovich, Bruce Willis, Ian Holm, Chris Tucker and Gary Oldman, who returns to work with Luc Besson after playing Norman Stansfield in Leon. The Fifth Element show us how well comedy, action and romance can be put together. Overlooked at the Academy Awards, Luc Besson won the Cesar for Best Director at Cannes in 1998 for The Fifth Element. Simply, an excellent film, 10/10.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

France UK USA

Language:

English Swedish German Arabic Egyptian (Ancient)

Release Date:

9 May 1997 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Le cinquième élément

Filming Locations:

UK

Box Office

Budget:

$93,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$17,031,345, 11 May 1997

Gross USA:

$63,820,180

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$263,920,180

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Gaumont, Pinewood Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS Dolby Atmos (remastered version)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1