Few names carry more weight in the world of action movies than the French filmmakerLuc Besson, a director responsible for some ofthe most acclaimed action movies of all time. While Besson has been behind somebeloved cult classicsand mainstream hits, he’s also delivered some underwhelming action movies across his more than four decades of filmmaking. With genre-bending releases that include fast-paced assassin stories, awe-inspiring sci-fi spectacles, and raw, gritty crime thrillers, even Besson’s failures were wildly ambitious and unique films.
Many ofBesson’s most badass movieswere in the action genre, and while he is also known for writing screenplays for classics likeTaxiandThe Transporter, this ranking is focused on his directorial work. Whilebehind-the-scenes controversies have recontextualized some of Besson’s work in a less-than-perfect light, there’s no denying that he was also one of the most important voices of action filmmaking in the 1990s and beyond. With movies including all-time great performances from the likes of Bruce Willis and Natalie Portman, Besson was responsible for some of the most acclaimed action movies of all time.
The excitement was palpable when Luc Besson announcedValerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, an epic space opera that viewers hoped could recapture the same cinematic magic asThe Fifth Element. As an adaptation of the French sci-fi comic seriesValérian and Laureline,this film squandered so much of its potential that it was hard to feel anything but frustration at its litany of missed opportunities. With Dane DeHaan as Valerian and supermodel Cara Delevingne as Laureline, this universe-saving story was characterized by the sheer lack of chemistry between its two stars.
While the comic book world envisioned by Pierre Christin and illustrator Jean-Claude Mézières was richly imagined, its film version felt derivative and forgettable.Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planetscould have been an ambitious return to form for Besson, yet even its action scenes felt dull, and its ludicrous narrative lacked urgency. With a production budget of $180 million,Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planetswas the most expensive independent film ever made(viaNewsweek) and, although it was an ambitious film by Besson, it will not be remembered as anything but a grand failure.
WhileLuc Besson’sDogManwas a stylish action movie with an intriguing premise, the sad truth was that the result was a film with a weak bark and no bite. Despite a standout performance from Caleb Landry Jones as Doug Munrow, this tale of a man with a love for dogs who was abused by his father as a child took some bizarre turns and failed to live up to the lofty expectations of Besson’s best work in the action genre.
Luc Besson’sDogManshould not be confused with the 2025 children’s animated filmDog Man.
DogMantakes audiences on a journey through Doug’s life and the trauma and vengeance that characterized it. From training packs of dogs to assist him to stealing jewelry to performing cabaret shows in drag,DogManhad plenty of shifting tones, and although there were some compelling action sequences, this were not enough to save the movie from mediocrity. Sadly,DogManwas just another contribution to the underwhelming trajectory of Besson’s later career.
There’s no denying that there were plenty of issues withLucy, although it still ranks among the most thoroughly entertaining releases of Luc Besson’s 21st-century work. With Scarlett Johansson as the titular Lucy, a woman who gains psychokinetic abilities from an experimental synthetic drug,Lucytook the idea that humans only use 10% of their brain to the absolute extreme. With the drug unlocking her untapped potential, Lucy not only becomes super-smart but also actually gains superpowers of unimaginable extremities.
At its core,Lucywas a ridiculous movie based on the outdated and incorrect idea that the average person uses a tiny fraction of their brain capacity, but if you may suspend your disbelief enough, it’s hard not to be won over by its over-the-top nature.Johansson gives a great performance, and Morgan Freeman plays his supporting role as a brain expert professor to perfection. WhileLucywas far from high art, it was also Besson’s most wildly entertaining movie in years.
The Last Battle
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The Last Battle, released in 1983, is a post-apocalyptic film directed by Luc Besson. It follows the protagonist, played by Pierre Jolivet, navigating a desolate world where communication has nearly ceased, facing threats from a character known as “The Brute,” portrayed by Jean Reno.
Le Dernier Combatwas a fascinating directorial debut from Luc Besson that blended action and artistry in a post-apocalyptic story. Shot in black and white and with just two words of dialogue, this was far from the mainstream, action-packed style that would characterize the French filmmaker’s later work. Instead,Le Dernier Combatwas a thoughtful dystopia set in an imagined future where no one is able to speak, and the remaining survivors fight over resources.
As a visually expressive depiction of a resource-stricken landscape,Le Dernier Combatpaired the stylistic beauty ofBlade Runnerwith the kill-or-be-killed mentality ofMad Max. Through playful experimentation and 1980s pop culture references,Le Dernier Combatcaptured the mix of art and action that has made Besson such an intriguing addition to the action movie landscape these past 40-plus years. While it’s challenging, almost silent movie-style presentation may put some viewers off;Le Dernier Combatdeserves to reach a much bigger audience.
Everything about the stylish thrillerAnnaworks well and more than delivers for those accustomed to Luc Besson’s unique brand of action-packed cinema. For those very familiar with his work,Annadidn’t contain anything viewers hadn’t already seen, although its impressive cast, including Cillian Murphy and Helen Mirren, as well as strong leading performance from Sasha Luss, made it a high point of his late career. Telling the story of a strikingly beautiful Russian woman with the potential to become one of the world’s most feared assassins,Annawas a stylish female-led showcase of Besson’s continued skill for well-choreographed action.
While critics were less than kind towardAnna, and it was widely dismissed as implausible, this feels like a flimsy way to disregard a movie that was never targeted at the likes of James Bond, John McClane, or John Wick. As a conventional action movie with a few exciting twists and turns,Annafeels like Besson is reminding audiences that, when he wants to, he’s more than capable of delivering a fun-filled action flick. WhileBesson’s personal controversies may have overshadowed the release of this film,Annawas an enjoyable addition to his body of work.
La Femme Nikita
La Femme Nikitawasa prime example of the French Cinéma du look film movement, of which Luc Besson is often associated. Continuing on the same stylistic trajectory as previous works likeSubwayandThe Big Blue,La Femme Nikitaencapsulated Besson’s tendency to value style over substance and place more importance on spectacle than narrative heft. This shift in filmmaking priorities led to an action film with a truly beautiful aesthetic that leaned totally into the outrageous nature of the action genre.
With an incredible lead performance from Anne Parillaud as Nikita,La Femme Nikitatold the story of a woman facing life in prison who instead is recruited as a professional assassin. While this arrangement works at first, the lines between Nikita’s professional and personal life fall apart when a mission goes wrong.La Femme Nikitawas a character-led action triumph that represented the pinnacle of Besson’s French-language releases.
As one of the greatest sci-fi movies of the 1990s, Luc Besson proved he could blend stylish, action-packed sequences with immersive world-building withThe Fifth Element. This star-studded cult classic featured incredible performances from the likes of Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, and Milla Jovovich, and although it divided critics at the time of its release, it has since gained a reputation as one of the best summer blockbusters of all time.
The Fifth Elementstars Bruce Willis as the futuristic cab driver Korben Dallas, who unwittingly finds himself entangled in a battle to protect Leeloo, the key to an ancient cosmic weapon capable of stopping an approaching force of pure evil, all while being pursued by the ruthless Zorg.Based on a story that Besson first conceived at 16 years old,The Fifth Elementwas an essential addition to his filmography and a prime showcase of his action movie credentials. With a richly imagined cinematic world,The Fifth Elementwas one of Besson’s crowning achievements as a filmmaker.
While the re-examination ofLéon: The Professionalin the wake of the #MeToo movement provides some uncomfortable realizations, such as Luc Besson’s then 16-year-old wife serving as its inspiration, it’s impossible to deny its legacy as an all-time great action movie. Featuring anastounding performance by then-child actress Natalie Portman,Léon: The Professional’s portrayal of an unusual relationship between a professional hitman and his 12-year-old apprentice signaled the dawning of a brand new Hollywood starlet.
Natalie Portman’s Candid Léon: The Professional Critiques Addressed By Director
Léon: The Professional director Luc Besson responds to Oscar-winner Natalie Portman’s retrospective critique of his classic 1994 crime thriller.
The astounding action sequences inLéon: The Professionalshowcased Besson as a French filmmaker of enormous talent who could no longer be ignored by Hollywood. With tightly choreographed gunfights,Léon: The Professionalstood in contrast to the over-the-top shootouts of so many other action movies as Besson imbued these sequences with real emotional stakes that highlighted character motivations over sheer spectacle. In a career filled with stylish action movies, despite its uncomfortable behind-the-scenes details,Léon: The Professionalstands asLuc Besson’sgreatest work.
