The Professional

Name: The Professional
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: November 18, 1994
Duration: 110 min
Rating: 64
Cast: Gary Oldman, Jean Reno, Natalie Portman

1994

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 12 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 549 Ratings

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8.6

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8.6	User Score Universal acclaim based on 549 Ratings

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The Professional

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Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: November 18, 1994 | Unrated

Starring: Gary Oldman, Jean Reno, Natalie Portman

Summary: A go-for-broke thriller about a professional assassin whose work becomes dangerously personal. Calling himself a "cleaner", the mysterious Leon (Reno) is New York's top hitman. When his next-door neighbors are murdered, Leon becomes the unwilling guardian of the family's sole survivor - 12-year-old Mathilda (Portman), but Mathilda doesn'tA go-for-broke thriller about a professional assassin whose work becomes dangerously personal. Calling himself a "cleaner", the mysterious Leon (Reno) is New York's top hitman. When his next-door neighbors are murdered, Leon becomes the unwilling guardian of the family's sole survivor - 12-year-old Mathilda (Portman), but Mathilda doesn't just want protection; she wants revenge. Training her in the deadly tricks of his trade, Leon helps her track the psychotic agent (Oldman) who murdered her family. [Sony]… Expand

Director: Luc Besson

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: Unrated

Runtime: 110 min

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Critic Reviews

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Ah, monsieur, you can lead a Frenchman to the Big Apple, but you can't make him a New Yorker -- and that's exactly what makes The Professional so fascinating. Read full review

Hal Hinson

Oldman is the least inhibited actor of his generation, and as this deranged detective, he keeps absolutely nothing in reserve. Read full review

Joshua Klein

Few action films can claim such complexities without conceding the bang-bang stuff that brings in the big money. Read full review

Christopher Harris

Takes its viewers on a bouncing high-wire act between intense violence and sugar-sweet tenderness, with some light-hearted comedy along the way. Read full review

Roger Ebert

Besson has a natural gift for plunging into drama with a charged-up visual style. Read full review

Lisa Nesselson

Widescreen lensing favors tight close-ups, and multiple shoot-'em-ups are edited with panache. Read full review

Janet Maslin

Lacks the sexy elan of "La Femme Nikita" and suffers from infinitely worse culture shock. [18 Nov 1994, p.C18] Read full review

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User Reviews

gams

Aug 26, 2010

This movie is soo amazing! I **** love it.
It's in the top in my list of favorites movies, and I think that is one of the best movies of all times.
I saw it like 64165465643 times haha and it always surprise me

18 of 19 users found this helpful181

Incendid

May 17, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I have been dying to buy Leon for years now and when i saw it on the top shelf at my local music store (why it was there i don't know) i bought it straight away, went home and watched it and it was awesome. The directing was as smooth as a circle, the writing inventive, the action was limited but awesome when it was there, the acting holds up mostly and then there is the greatest villain of them all, Gary Oldman. Starting with the acting, Jean Reno aced his performance and really did portray the 'cleaner' profession, i really do wish all films based around hit-men could be like this, i really do. The writing, it sustained a brisk pace throughout the movie and plotted twists and turns in different places creating this fantastic film. But there is one character who i find unusually disturbing and this was Matilda played by Natalie Portman, Matilda was weird, disturbing and a little bit looney, but on the other hand she is still a innocent kid who loves to copycat and play games, yet she acts like an adult to lure Leon into her trap where who knows what would have happened. Matilda disturbed me yet showed me the innocence of childhood and that is exactly what a charterer like her should do, divide your opinion and question their every move. Then there is Gary Oldman, and he honestly was more disturbing, you could see the insanity in his eyes, yet he could be disturbingly calm or the complete opposite and we never actually get to know his character which i love to see, every film needs a character like this, i think it just keeps the audience on the edge of their seat just connecting the dots. To conclude i feel as if Leon has made it into my top 10 favourite films of all time so i award it with a 10/10.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

DanS.

May 13, 2008

Leon The Professional is an absolute masterpiece. A powerful film filled with action, drama, emotions, and music. It has great direction, a wonderful script, unforgettable performances, and a great score. A true work of art from Luc Besson. It's a perfect film and it's my favorite Leon The Professional is an absolute masterpiece. A powerful film filled with action, drama, emotions, and music. It has great direction, a wonderful script, unforgettable performances, and a great score. A true work of art from Luc Besson. It's a perfect film and it's my favorite movie of all-time. Make sure you watch the uncut version and not the edited version.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful

miccael

Jul 13, 2021

This is amazing movie with perfect french directing, really good editing and transitions, shots in general are good and pacing is smooth enough.
The "hate" mostly comes from culture shock of 12 year old posing as 18 year old and really trying to force on the man. You can clearly see thatThis is amazing movie with perfect french directing, really good editing and transitions, shots in general are good and pacing is smooth enough.
The "hate" mostly comes from culture shock of 12 year old posing as 18 year old and really trying to force on the man. You can clearly see that Jean Reno was not acting at the moment when he saw Natalie Portman's character Mathilda dressing up as women. It was shot with first take. And not sure if the role of Leon was supposed to be uncomfortable with this girl, the actor's genuine feeling seem to be exactly that throughout the movie. Gary Oldman is great, too lets no forget :)… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Viper8787

Apr 27, 2014

A great movie. This one was a blind buy for me on Blu-Ray but I am glad that I picked this one up because I really enjoyed it. I think this is one of Natalie Portman's first movies and she is amazing in this movie. She is not one of my favourite actresses but she is really good in thisA great movie. This one was a blind buy for me on Blu-Ray but I am glad that I picked this one up because I really enjoyed it. I think this is one of Natalie Portman's first movies and she is amazing in this movie. She is not one of my favourite actresses but she is really good in this movie and is why I ended up enjoying this movie so much.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

Spangle

Jun 27, 2014

Leon: The Professional is a very good action thriller that has one major area of success. That area is acting. Gary Oldman is absolutely phenomenal in portraying a crazed DEA agent and truly is a superstar here in this cast, not to say that Jean Reno or Natalie Portman were not good, becauseLeon: The Professional is a very good action thriller that has one major area of success. That area is acting. Gary Oldman is absolutely phenomenal in portraying a crazed DEA agent and truly is a superstar here in this cast, not to say that Jean Reno or Natalie Portman were not good, because they were great as well. Not as good as Oldman, but they were no slouches either. For this one, the few actiony sequences were well done and very exciting and the thriller element was certainly there as the thrills, at times, really left you on the edge of your seat. The film is also very heartwarming as both Leon and Mathilda are in tough spots and really fill the holes in one another's hearts. At times, it can be a little creepy, but for the most part, their father-daughter esque relationship is charming, even if a bit odd to many. Overall, Leon: The Professional is a good film that has great performances, though that does not necessarily overshadow the other good qualities it brings to the table.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Sydmwswy

Jun 23, 2022

Very artificial and not even close to acceptable
Toxic movies that I hate forever I really believe that films like this harm not only the cinema but also our world.
The worst Gary Oldman in the history of cinema is in this movie. The young actor of the film will never become a character.Very artificial and not even close to acceptable
Toxic movies that I hate forever I really believe that films like this harm not only the cinema but also our world.

The worst Gary Oldman in the history of cinema is in this movie. The young actor of the film will never become a character. The hero of the film does not even become a style. The film does not have a script. But there is nothing else to fill the empty space of the movie. Watching this movie is like sitting down and staring at a spot after getting a massage and enjoying a vulgar trance. And then let's go drink our coffee. There is nothing in the movie, even the movies Leon sees in the cinema are not good.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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