Luc Besson
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 cinema du look movement in French film. Born in Paris, France, on March 18, 1959, Besson spent his childhood traveling Europe with his parents and developing an enthusiasm for ocean diving, before an accident pushed 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, including The Fifth Element and Le Grand Bleu.
Career overview
Luc Besson is a French film director, writer, and producer known for making highly visual thriller and action films. He has been nominated for and won numerous awards and honors from the foreign press, and is often credited as inventing the cinema du look movement in French film. Born in Paris, France on March 18, 1959, Besson spent his childhood traveling Europe with his parents and developing an enthusiasm for ocean diving before an accident pushed 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, which include The Fifth Element and Le Grand Bleu. Throughout his career, he has accumulated 131 known credits primarily focused on writing.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Down the Arm of God (2026) Producer
- Mr. Kim Goes to the Cinema (2026) as Self
- Dracula (2025) Director
- Dracula (2025) Screenplay
- Dracula (2025) Producer
- June and John (2025) Director
- June and John (2025) Screenplay
- Hell in Paradise (2025) Producer
- Weekend in Taipei (2024) Producer
- Weekend in Taipei (2024) Writer
- Donald Trump, Dieu et les siens (2024) Producer
- Dogman (2023) Director
- Dogman (2023) Writer
- The Family (2023) as Self
- Mostra, Venise (2022) as Self
- Arthur: Malediction (2022) Writer
- Arthur: Malediction (2022) Producer
- Anna (2019) Writer
- Anna (2019) Director
- Anna (2019) Producer
- Engagement (2019) Executive Producer
- James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction (2018) as Self
- Taxi 5 (2018) Producer
- Taxi 5 (2018) Production Director
- Taxi 5 (2018) Scenario Writer
- Kursk (2018) Executive Producer
- Eva (2018) Co-Producer
- Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) Director
- Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) Writer
- Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) Producer
- Playground (2017) Creator
- Renegades (2017) Writer
- Renegades (2017) Producer
- Valérian, histoire d'une création (2017) as Self
- The Warriors Gate (2016) Writer
- The Transporter Refueled (2015) Screenplay
- The Transporter Refueled (2015) Characters
- The Transporter Refueled (2015) Producer
- Lucy (2014) Director
- Lucy (2014) Writer
- Taken 3 (2014) Producer
- Taken 3 (2014) Screenplay
- Taken 3 (2014) Characters
- Taxi Brooklyn (2014) Writer
- 3 Days to Kill (2014) Screenplay
- 3 Days to Kill (2014) Story
- 3 Days to Kill (2014) Producer
- Brick Mansions (2014) Screenplay
- Brick Mansions (2014) Producer
- The Homesman (2014) Producer
- Transporter: The Series (2013) Writer
- Transporter: The Series (2013) Creator
- The Family (2013) Director
- The Family (2013) Screenplay
- The Family (2013) Producer
- A Prince (almost) Charming (2013) Writer
- Collision (2013) Producer
- Taken 2 (2012) Producer
- Taken 2 (2012) Screenplay
- Taken 2 (2012) Writer
- Lockout (2012) Writer
- Lockout (2012) Executive Producer
- Lockout (2012) Thanks
- No Limit (2012) Creator
- No Limit (2012) Writer
- Blind Man (2012) Original Story
- Blind Man (2012) Producer
- Colombiana (2011) Screenplay
- Colombiana (2011) Producer
- A Monster in Paris (2011) Co-Producer
- Belmondo, itinéraire... (2011) as Self
- The Lady (2011) Director
- The Lady (2011) Producer
- The Source (2011) Producer
- Halal State Security (2011) Producer
- From Paris with Love (2010) Story
- The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec (2010) Director
- The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec (2010) Screenplay
- The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec (2010) Producer
- 22 Bullets (2010) Co-Producer
- Arthur 3: The War of the Two Worlds (2010) Director
- Arthur 3: The War of the Two Worlds (2010) Writer
- Arthur 3: The War of the Two Worlds (2010) Producer
- I Love You Phillip Morris (2010) Executive Producer
- Arthur and the Great Adventure (2010) Director
- Arthur and the Great Adventure (2010) Writer
- Arthur and the Great Adventure (2010) Producer
- District 13: Ultimatum (2009) Screenplay
- District 13: Ultimatum (2009) Producer
- Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard (2009) Director
- Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard (2009) Writer
- Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard (2009) Producer
- Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard (2009) Characters
- Home (2009) Producer
- Staten Island (2009) Producer
- Hallelujah! (2009) Producer
- Arthur, the 4D Adventure (2009) Producer
- Arthur, the 4D Adventure (2009) Original Film Writer
- Arthur, the 4D Adventure (2009) Writer
- Arthur, the 4D Adventure (2009) Director
- Taken (2008) Producer
- Taken (2008) Writer
- Transporter 3 (2008) Screenplay
- Transporter 3 (2008) Characters
- Transporter 3 (2008) Producer
- Michou d'Auber (2007) Executive Producer
- Taxi 4 (2007) Screenplay
- Taxi 4 (2007) Producer
- The Secret (2007) Producer
- Arthur and the Invisibles (2006) Director
- Arthur and the Invisibles (2006) Producer
- Arthur and the Invisibles (2006) Novel
- Arthur and the Invisibles (2006) Writer
- On n'est pas couché (2006) as Self - Guest
- Bandidas (2006) Writer
- Bandidas (2006) Producer
- Love and Other Disasters (2006) Executive Producer
- Bunker Paradise (2006) Producer
- Transporter 2 (2005) Characters
- Transporter 2 (2005) Producer
- Transporter 2 (2005) Writer
- Unleashed (2005) Producer
- Unleashed (2005) Author
- Revolver (2005) Adaptation
- Angel-A (2005) Director
- Angel-A (2005) Screenplay
- Angel-A (2005) Producer
- The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005) Producer
- Colour Me Kubrick (2005) Executive Producer
- Le court des grands (2005) Director
- Black Box (2005) Executive Producer
- Au suivant ! (2005) Co-Producer
- District B13 (2004) Producer
- District B13 (2004) Screenplay
- Taxi (2004) Producer
- Taxi (2004) Original Film Writer
- Crimson Rivers II: Angels of the Apocalypse (2004) Writer
- Crimson Rivers II: Angels of the Apocalypse (2004) Producer
- In Your Image (2004) Associate Producer
- The Story Of My Life (2004) Producer
- Ong-Bak (2003) Executive Producer
- Taxi 3 (2003) Screenplay
- Taxi 3 (2003) Producer
- Michel Vaillant (2003) Screenplay
- Fan-Fan the Tulip (2003) Writer
- Fan-Fan the Tulip (2003) Producer
- I, Cesar (2003) Co-Producer
- The Chops (2003) Producer
- The Transporter (2002) Screenplay
- The Transporter (2002) Producer
- Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (2002) Additional Camera
- The Truth About Charlie (2002) Thanks
- Blanche (2002) Producer
- Kiss of the Dragon (2001) Screenplay
- Kiss of the Dragon (2001) Producer
- Wasabi (2001) Screenplay
- Wasabi (2001) Producer
- Yamakasi (2001) Screenplay
- Yamakasi (2001) Idea
- August 15th (2001) Producer
- Mylene Farmer: Music Videos II & III (2001) Director
- Taxi 2 (2000) as Boat Owner (uncredited)
- Taxi 2 (2000) Screenplay
- Taxi 2 (2000) Producer
- Bichhoo (2000) Original Story
- The Dancer (2000) Screenplay
- The Dancer (2000) Producer
- Exit (2000) Associate Producer
- The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999) Screenplay
- The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999) Producer
- The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999) Director
- Vivement dimanche (1998) as Self
- Taxi (1998) Screenplay
- Taxi (1998) Producer
- The Fifth Element (1997) Director
- The Fifth Element (1997) Screenplay
- The Fifth Element (1997) Story
- Nil by Mouth (1997) Producer
- Léon: The Professional (1994) Screenplay
- Léon: The Professional (1994) Director
- NeXt (1994) as Self
- Point of No Return (1993) Original Story
- The Lion Child (1993) Executive Producer
- Arrête ton cinéma (1992) Producer
- Arrête ton cinéma (1992) Thanks
- Mylène Farmer: My Soul is Slashed (1992) Director
- Atlantis (1991) Director
- Atlantis (1991) Editor
- Atlantis (1991) Cinematography
- Cold Moon (1991) Producer
- Stars 90 (1990) as Self
- Nikita (1990) Director
- Nikita (1990) Co-Producer
- Nikita (1990) Writer
- Au coeur de Nikita (1990) as Self
- The Big Blue Adventure (1989) as Self / Narrator
- The Big Blue Adventure (1989) Idea
- The Big Blue (1988) as Blond Diver (uncredited)
- The Big Blue (1988) Director
- The Big Blue (1988) Story
- The Big Blue (1988) Screenplay
- The Big Blue (1988) Co-Producer
- Jeu de vilains (1988) Producer
- Kamikaze (1986) Writer
- Kamikaze (1986) Producer
- Victoires de la musique (1985) as Self
- Subway (1985) as Le Conducteur de Metro (uncredited)
- Subway (1985) Director
- Subway (1985) Producer
- Subway (1985) Dialogue
- Subway (1985) Screenplay
- The Last Battle (1983) Director
- The Last Battle (1983) Writer
- The Last Battle (1983) Producer
- Champs-Elysées (1982) as Self
- The Penultimate (1981) Director
- The Penultimate (1981) Writer
- The Penultimate (1981) Producer
- Rookie Soldiers on Maneuvers (1981) Casting
- Spécial cinéma (1974) as Self
- Playground Idea
- Father Joe Writer
- Father Joe Producer
- Disorder Screenplay
- Disorder Producer
- Lucy 2 Writer
- The Last Man Director
- The Last Man Screenplay
- Titi l'extra-terrestre Screenplay