The French film director, film producer and screenwriter, as the son of diving instructors, became familiar with the fascinating underwater world of the oceans from an early age. A diving accident led Luc Besson to the cultural life of French and American metropolises at the age of 17, where he discovered film as his true medium. Since the early 1980s, Besson had made a name for himself as a filmmaker with internationally successful films. The action thriller “Nikita” (1990), in the style of the French Cinema du Look, became one of the most successful cinema films of the 1990s. Besson also directed commercials for luxury brands such as L’Oréal (1987) and CHANEL (1998). His most popular films include “Subway” (1985), “The Fifth Element” (1997), “Unleashed” (2005) and “From Paris with Love” (2010)…
Luc Besson was born on March 18, 1959 in Paris. His parents worked as diving instructors.
Young Besson followed his parents on diving courses around the world. He learned to dive himself and was so fascinated by the underwater world that he wanted to become a marine biologist. At the age of 17, Besson suffered a diving accident that temporarily forced him to give up the sport. He returned to Paris, where he became enthusiastic about metropolitan life and the medium of film. He therefore began taking odd jobs in the film world. After a three-year stay in the USA, Besson founded his own film production company, Les Films de Loupes, which shortly afterwards traded under the name Les Films de Dauphins. Besson first attracted attention as a director with his debut “Avant dernier” (1981), followed by “The Last Fight” (Le Dernier Combat) from 1983. His international breakthrough came in 1985 with “Subway” with Isabelle Adjani and Christopher Lambert in the main roles. The thriller was awarded the César in the categories of best leading actor, best production designer and best sound.
With “In the Rush of the Deep” (Le Grand Bleu) he presented his first blockbuster. In addition to directing, Besson also worked as a screenwriter and producer. His action thriller “Nikita”, in the style of the French Cinema du Look, became the internationally most successful French-language cinema film of the 1990s. His works became characteristic. For the individual film works, Besson makes notes about the progress of the shooting. At the beginning of his films, the camera always focused on a key motif in the subsequent narrative, without identifying it too precisely. “The Fifth Element” (Le Cinquième Élément) followed in 1997 with Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich and Gary Oldman. The lavishly designed science fiction thriller became one of the most successful European films to date with box office earnings of over 260 million dollars. Besson now often worked with actors Jean Reno and Gary Oldman. Éric Serra was mostly responsible for the music of his films.
In his first marriage he was married to the actress Anne Parillaud, who also played the leading role in “Nikita”. From a relationship with Maïwenn Le Besco, their daughter Shana was born in 1993 and made her film debut in 2004. In his second marriage, he was married to Milla Jovovich from 1997 to 1999. In his third marriage, Besson married Virginie Silla in 2004, with whom he had three daughters. Besson also directed commercials for luxury brands such as L’Oréal in 1987 with Milla Jovovich, Chanel No. 5 1998 with Estella Warren or Estée Lauder with Carolyn Murphy. In 1998, however, he realized the action comedy “Taxi” as a producer. The film experienced three sequels and a US remake entitled “New York Taxi”. In 2000 he founded the film production company EuropaCorp together with Pierre-Ange Le Pogam. In the years that followed, he shone with productions such as “Kiss of the Dragon” (2001), “The Transporter” (2002), “High Tension” (2003) and “Unleashed” from 2005.
In 2003 he was responsible for the music video “Love Profusion” by the American singer Madonna. Together with the French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Besson presented his film “Home” in 2009 on the International Environment Day on June 5th. After the action thriller “From Paris with Love” (2010), for which Besson had written the screenplay, the adventure film “Adèle and the Mystery of the Pharaoh” followed in the same year. In 2014 he celebrated an international cinema success with “Lucy”. “Valerian – The City of a Thousand Planets” and “Anna” followed in 2017 and 2019.
Filmography
Production
1990: Nikita (Co-Producer)
1998: Taxi
2000: Taxi Taxi
2000: The Dancer
2001: Kiss of the Dragon
2001: Wasabi – A Bull in Japan
2001: Yamakasi – The Modern Samurai
2002: La turbulence des fluides
2002: The Transporters
2003: Taxi 3
2003: Fanfan der Hussar (Fanfan la tulipe)
2003: Michel Vaillant (co-producer)
2003: High Tension
2004: The Crimson Rivers 2 – The Angels of the Apocalypse
2004: Ghetto Gangz – (Banlieue 13)
2005: Unleashed
2005: Revolvers
2005: Three Burials
2005: Transporter – The Mission
2006: Bandidas
2007: Taxi 4
2008: 96 Hours (Taken)
2008: Transporter 3 (Le Transporteur 3)
2009: Ghettogangz 2 – Ultimatum (Banlieue 13 – Ultimatum)
2009: Home
2010: From Paris with Love
2010: Adèle and the Mystery of the Pharaoh
Directing
1981: Avant dernier
1983: The Last Fight (Le Dernier Combat)
1985: Subways
1988: Intoxicated by the Deep (Le Grand Bleu)
1990: Nikita
1991: Atlantis
1994: Léon – The Professional
1997: The Fifth Element (Le Cinquième Élément)
1999: The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc
2005: Angel A
2006: Arthur and the Minimoys
2009: Arthur and the Minimoys 2 – The Return of Evil M.
2010: Adèle and the Mystery of the Pharaoh
Commercials
1984: DIM Underwear
1987: L’Oréal (Model: Milla Jovovich)
1998: Chanel No. 5 (Model: Estella Warren)
2003: Estée Lauder Beyond Paradise (Model: Carolyn Murphy)
Music videos
1984: Isabelle Adjani – Pull Marine
1993: Mylène Farmer – Que mon cœur lâche (My Soul is Slashed)
2003: Madonna-Love Profusion
Is Luc Besson still making movies?
These were superseded in 2000 when he co-founded EuropaCorp with his longtime collaborator Pierre-Ange Le Pogam. As writer, director, or producer, Besson has been involved in the creation of more than 50 films.
What is Luc Besson doing now?
Besson, who splits his time between Paris and Los Angeles, is currently developing several projects spanning movies and TV series via his banner LBT.
Is Leon The Professional based on a true story?
The celebrated ‘Lolita’-esque hitman saga was partially inspired by a relationship the French filmmaker—and accused rapist—was having at the time with a teenager.
