The Fifth Element

Name: The Fifth Element
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Romance
Released: May 9, 1997
Duration: 126 min
Rating: 52
Cast: Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, Milla Jovovich

1997

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 587 Ratings

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8.7

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8.7	User Score Universal acclaim based on 587 Ratings

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The Fifth Element

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) | Release Date: May 9, 1997 | PG-13

Starring: Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, Milla Jovovich

Summary: New York cab driver Korben Dallas didn't mean to be a hero. But he just picked up the kind of fare that only comes along every five thousand years - a perfect beauty, a perfect being, a perfect weapon. Now, together, they must save the world. (Columbia TriStar)

Director: Luc Besson

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 126 min

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Critic Reviews

Kevin Thomas

The cast is a delight, but it's Willis who is the film's true "fifth element," giving it life, depth and humanity. Read full review

Marc Savlov

Although the film tends to suffer from a severe case of overt preachiness in the third reel (shades of James Cameron's "The Abyss"), it's still a wonderfully visual, exciting ride. Read full review

Michael Wilmington

It's ludicrous, but it's fun. Besson is a filmmaker so in love with his own daffy excesses that he's able to pull us, laughing, right into his world of loony pop. [9 May 1997]

Jimmy Chertkow

The story is such a cut-rate kid's sci-fi fairy tale that at one point Evil actually calls Gary Oldman on the phone (and it isn't played for laughs). Read full review

Janet Maslin

As a yammering, swishy talk show host, Chris Tucker is flat-out incomprehensible, while Mr. Oldman preens evilly enough to leave tooth marks on the scenery. Read full review

Susan Wloszczyna

But for all the fancy-schmancy effects (budget: $90 million-plus), the vision of a hypercongested metropolis is not much more sophisticated than an episode of "The Jetsons." [9 May 1997]

Scott Rosenberg

As you sit through the interminable two-hours-plus that constitute The Fifth Element -- a colossally stupid, overbearingly pompous new movie by Luc Besson -- you can expect to become acquainted with boredom on the most elemental level. Read full review

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User Reviews

TheKiddy

Nov 6, 2010

I loved this movie. I saw it in the theaters and have watched it on TV a zillion times since. There was an article in the NY Times recently about unforgettable movie lines. The article wasn't particularly good - it forgot about Better Davis's "fasten your seatbelt, it's gonna be a bumpyI loved this movie. I saw it in the theaters and have watched it on TV a zillion times since. There was an article in the NY Times recently about unforgettable movie lines. The article wasn't particularly good - it forgot about Better Davis's "fasten your seatbelt, it's gonna be a bumpy ride" and so on. But it got me thinking. And what popped into my mind (forgive me) were two lines from The Fifth Element that I found unforgettable: "Negative, I am a meat popsicle." and "Does anyone else want to negotiate?" And then there is the memorable "It sa, it sa, it sa..." I am really curious what it is that so turned the critics off. I am a fan for life of this whimsical, silly, funny, well-acted and yes, sentimental, film. Love might not save the world, but wait - it's on again this week! Who cares!?!… Expand

37 of 39 users found this helpful372

ShaneH.

Sep 2, 2006

This is my absolute favorite movie of all time. There are no slow scenes in the entire movie. I find myself gkued to the screen every time I watch it. It is also a Sci-Fi lovers paradise.

2 of 2 users found this helpful

gloukas

Apr 23, 2017

Wow....this is one of those times critics got it ABSOLUTELY wrong. How could they give this an average 52??? This is one of the best and most incredible innovative and amazing movies. Especially for its time. The special effects, still look amazing. The plot and writing incredible. Acting isWow....this is one of those times critics got it ABSOLUTELY wrong. How could they give this an average 52??? This is one of the best and most incredible innovative and amazing movies. Especially for its time. The special effects, still look amazing. The plot and writing incredible. Acting is fun and fitting to the style. The Fifth Element is one of the all time greatest movies ever made and it was huge surprise, going into the theater (when it originally opened) I thought the trailers made it look bad. But there was so much more depth. Incredible.… Expand

7 of 7 users found this helpful70

Strigarum

Jun 19, 2020

This movie is just perfect, it was a pain to make according to luc besson but the actors all work perfectly together, and that's with Bruce Willis! a guy notorious for being hard to work with.

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

gracjanski

Jan 31, 2021

the best part of the movie is the world, they created: Many details and good ideas. The action was great, the story interesting. Some jokes were good, some didnt. Milla Jovovic as a perfect being didnt fit in my view.

11 of 11 users found this helpful110

Kai82

Jun 9, 2021

An excellent popcorn movie, that became a classic over the years and an interesting case. It is a movie I truly liked even after many rewatches but it strangely also misses to win me over completely (Clarification: Difference between 8/10 to a 10/10). More strangely many people agree as itAn excellent popcorn movie, that became a classic over the years and an interesting case. It is a movie I truly liked even after many rewatches but it strangely also misses to win me over completely (Clarification: Difference between 8/10 to a 10/10). More strangely many people agree as it was nominated for positive and negative awards at the same time. I enjoyed the worldbuilding, characters, humor, ideas and story in general. Much harder is to pinpoint what I did not like or better said prevented a better rating. After putting some thought into this I will say it takes a bit too long at the start and misses to reach the level of the best movies in the science fiction genre (To be fair I even have a guilty conscience to write this). Story: After a set up in 1914 we jump to the year 2263 where our protagonist Korben Dallas who works as (flying) cab driver and gets in the adventure of a lifetime when the women Leeloo falls into his life;-). Meanwhile the ultra rich Jean Baptiste Emanuel Zorg makes a deal with a shady figure to gain even more power. All of this is linked to an ancient story. Here I will stop because of spoilers. The story is like I already said excellent popcorn material. When the slower start is over it has a great mixture of action, humor, character (interactions) within the entertaining story. Worldbuilding: I like the universe it creates. It feels like something that could be as the technology has evolved but mankind has still the same problems or struggles. The special and practical effects work well and enhance the experience. I never doubted anything in the movie. Characters: The whole cast did a great job and you can see how much fun they had. I read an article that they had so much takes they could not use because of laughing. Lets start with Bruce Willis as Korben Dallas. He gives a really good performance and is enjoyable. Milla Jovovich as Leeloo impressed me even more. Back then she was not that famous and her performance made her widely know and impressed many including me. Today she was the star in many films and is a quite well regarded action film heroine. Also truly enjoyable is Gary Oldman as Jean Baptiste Emanuel Zorg. He is such a good villain and has memorable scenes like for example his weapon presentation. One of my favorite villains of that time and would be also fitting in a James Bond movie. Then there is Chris Tucker as Ruby Rod. Truly great comedy performance that enhance the cast. Lastly I want to praise Maiwenn Le Besco as (Diva) Plavalaguna. Has only a smaller role but her performance transcended the movie and is even today well known. A truly good overall performance. Visuals / soundtrack: The movie is visually impressing. You can clearly see director Luc Bessons vision and ideas. Like I already said it was always believable and look amazing. The soundtrack is excellent too. It uses a lot of orchestral music and is worth owning. Like said above too the opera music has transcended the medium and countless covers / homages are existing. Overall it is the kind of movie that I rewatch once in a while and will praise on one hand but it will never appear on my top 10 list or rated higher. It is however a must see at least for its style, ideas and some excellent scenes.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

JonathanG.

Aug 2, 2009

While watching The Fifth Element, Europe

0 of 2 users found this helpful

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7	#7 Most Discussed Movie of 1997
6	#6 Most Shared Movie of 1997