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Luc Besson

Writing

Born March 18, 1959 · Paris, France

Biography

Luc Besson is a French film director, writer, and producer known for making highly visual thriller and action films.  Besson has been nominated for, and won, numerous awards and honors from the foreign press, and is often credited as inventing the so-called "Cinema du look" movement in French film.   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. Besson's work stretches over twenty-six years and encompasses at least fifty-films.

Awards & recognition

  • Inkpot Award · 2016
  • César AwardBest Director · 1998
  • Sitges Film Festival Best Director award · 1983
  • European Film Award – People's Choice AwardBest European Film · 2018 · nominated
  • European Film Award – People's Choice AwardBest European Film · 2009 · nominated
Show all 6 awards →
  • European Film AwardBest Film · 1997 · nominated

Filmography50+ titles

Léon: The Professional

1994Director, Screenplay

DogMan

2023Director, Writer

Home

2009Producer

The Fifth Element

1997Director, Screenplay, Story

Taken

2008Producer, Writer

Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra

2002Additional Camera

The Big Blue

1988as Blond Diver (uncredited)

Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior

2003Executive Producer

Dracula

2025Director, Producer, Screenplay

La Femme Nikita

1990Co-Producer, Director, Writer

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada

2005Producer

Angel-A

2005Director, Producer, Screenplay

A Monster in Paris

2011Co-Producer

Unleashed

2005Author, Producer

Kiss of the Dragon

2001Producer, Screenplay

Nil by Mouth

1997Producer

James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction

2018as Self

The Lady

2011Director, Producer

District B13

2004Producer, Screenplay

Anna

2019Director, Producer, Writer

22 Bullets

2010Co-Producer

The Transporter

2002Producer, Screenplay

Taxi

1998Producer, Screenplay

The Command

2018Executive Producer

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

2017Director, Producer, Writer

Enter the Warriors Gate

2016Writer

Colombiana

2011Producer, Screenplay

The Source

2011Producer

The Homesman

2014Producer

Lucy

2014Director, Writer

Subway

1985as Le Conducteur de Metro (uncredited)

Weekend in Taipei

2024Producer, Writer

The Family

2013Director, Producer, Screenplay

Taken 2

2012Producer, Screenplay, Writer

From Paris with Love

2010Story

District 13: Ultimatum

2009Producer, Screenplay

I Love You Phillip Morris

2009Executive Producer

Arthur and the Invisibles

2006Director, Novel, Producer, Writer

Revolver

2005Adaptation

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc

1999Director, Producer, Screenplay

The Last Battle

1983Director, Producer, Writer

Taken 3

2014Characters, Producer, Screenplay

The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec

2010Director, Producer, Screenplay

Transporter 2

2005Characters, Producer, Writer

Atlantis

1991Cinematography, Director, Editor

Kamikaze

1986Producer, Writer

Transporter 3

2008Characters, Producer, Screenplay

Point of No Return

1993Original Story

3 Days to Kill

2014Producer, Screenplay, Story

Crimson Rivers 2: Angels of the Apocalypse

2004Producer, Writer