The Fifth Element is an English-language science fiction actioner directed by French Luc Besson, who co-wrote the tale with Robert Mark Kamen.
Sharply uneven, the 1997 sci-fi is celebrated by some critics for its vibrant imagery and world-building.
It stars Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm, and Chris Tucker.
Set in the 23rd century, the film’s plot involves the survival of planet Earth, which becomes the responsibility of Korben Dallas (Willis), a taxicab driver and former special forces major, after a young woman (Jovovich) falls into his cab.
Dallas joins forces with her to recover four mystical stones essential for the defense of Earth against the impending attack of a malevolent cosmic entity.
Besson started writing the story when he was 16 years old; he was 38 when the film opened in cinemas.
Besson wanted to shoot the film in France, but suitable facilities could not be found, and shooting took place in London and Mauritania instead.
He hired comic artists Jean “Moebius” Giraud and Jean-Claude Mézières, whose books inspired parts of the film, for production design, and Jean-Paul Gaultier for costume design.
The Fifth Element received mainly positive reviews, although some critics were negative. The film won in categories at the British Academy Film Awards, the César Awards, the Cannes Film Festival, and the Lumières Awards, but also received nominations at the Golden Raspberry and Stinkers Bad Movie Awards.
Most of the praise went to Gary Oldman, who plays Zorg, a corrupt industrialist and one of the film’s antagonists. It’s a classic Oldman villain performance, eccentric and quirky while also menacing.
What You Need to Know:
The Fifth Element was a strong financial success, earning more than $263 million at the box office on a $90 million budget.
At the time of its release, it was the most expensive European film ever.
It remained the highest-grossing French film at the international box office until the release of The Intouchables in 2011.
