Luc Besson

Biography

Luc Besson (born March 18, 1959) is a French director, writer, and producer, known for making highly visual thriller and action films.  Besson has received numerous awards and honors, and is often credited as inventing the so-called "Cinema du look" movement in French film. He is best known for directing the action films Léon: The Professional (1994), The Fifth Element (1997), and Lucy (2014), and also produced the Taken (2008–2014) and Transporter (2002–2015) franchises. Born in Paris, Besson spent his childhood traveling Europe with his parents and developing an enthusiasm for ocean diving, before an accident would push him toward the world of cinema. After taking odd jobs in the Parisian film scene of the time, Besson began writing stories that would eventually evolve into some of his greatest film successes: The Fifth Element and Le Grand Bleu.   In 1980 he founded his own production company, Les Films du Loup later Les Films du Dauphin, and later still EuropaCorp film company with his longtime collaborator, Pierre-Ange Le Poga.

Movies & TV Shows

1. Taxi 2 (2000) — Boat Owner (uncredited)
2. The Big Blue (1988) — Blond Diver (uncredited)
3. Subway (1985) — Le Conducteur de Metro (uncredited)
4. James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction (2018) — Self
5. Belmondo, itinéraire... (2011) — Self
6. Champs-Elysées (1982) — Self
7. Vivement dimanche (1998) — Self
8. The Big Blue Adventure (1989) — Self / Narrator
9. On n'est pas couché (2006) — Self - Guest
10. Victoires de la musique (1985) — Self
11. The Family (2023) — Self
12. Valérian, histoire d'une création (2017) — Self
13. Spécial cinéma (1974) — Self
14. Stars 90 (1990) — Self
15. Mr. Kim Goes to the Cinema (2026) — Self
16. Au coeur de Nikita (1990) — Self
17. Mostra, Venise (2022) — Self
18. NeXt (1994) — Self

Directed

1. Lucy (2014) — Director
2. Léon: The Professional (1994) — Director
3. The Fifth Element (1997) — Director
4. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) — Director
5. The Family (2013) — Director
6. Arthur and the Invisibles (2006) — Director
7. Anna (2019) — Director
8. Nikita (1990) — Director
9. Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard (2009) — Director
10. Arthur 3: The War of the Two Worlds (2010) — Director
11. The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999) — Director
12. The Big Blue (1988) — Director
13. The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec (2010) — Director
14. Dogman (2023) — Director
15. Dracula (2025) — Director
16. Angel-A (2005) — Director
17. Subway (1985) — Director
18. The Lady (2011) — Director
19. The Last Battle (1983) — Director
20. June and John (2025) — Director
21. Atlantis (1991) — Director
22. The Penultimate (1981) — Director
23. Mylene Farmer: Music Videos II & III (2001) — Director
24. Arthur and the Great Adventure (2010) — Director
25. Le court des grands (2005) — Director
26. Arthur, the 4D Adventure (2009) — Director
27. The Last Man — Director