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 Critics

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 415 Ratings

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8.8

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8.8	User Score Universal acclaim based on 415 Ratings

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THE PROFESSIONAL

Movie Details & Credits

Unrated

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: November 18, 1994

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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Awards & Rankings

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Entertainment Weekly - 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

Washington Post - 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

The A.V. Club - Joshua Klein

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

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) - 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

Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert

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

Variety - Lisa Nesselson

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

The New York Times - 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

12 of 12 users found this helpful120

WalterKovacs

Dec 26, 2017

The scenes in this film are so well done it makes for one of my top ten films. The performances are amazing and intense. It is a great film for anyone, a definite must see.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

M.Daye

Feb 4, 2006

Perhaps it is a little naïve in places, but nonetheless, Luc Besson's sleek thriller Léon remains a firm favourite of mine. A film to learn from.

2 of 2 users found this helpful

chw

Jul 17, 2014

Leon: The Professional was a very good movie. Since I saw this after The Family, I didn't know what to expect, but it actually turned out to be a good movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AlvaradoKTA

Jun 6, 2012

I loved this movie before I even watched it. Leon is French-produced, meaning you wont see any of Hollywood's cliches. Leon's not some undefeatable 6th sensed assassin .Instead he is human with emotions who cares for the world he lives in, he just has an immoral "profession". You canI loved this movie before I even watched it. Leon is French-produced, meaning you wont see any of Hollywood's cliches. Leon's not some undefeatable 6th sensed assassin .Instead he is human with emotions who cares for the world he lives in, he just has an immoral "profession". You can understand his decisions and begin to care for him and the girl. I even started caring for the plant Leon keeps. His relationship with the girl also really grows on you.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

edpoopstuff

Jul 14, 2015

the story shows so much emotion on everything and the characters they did were amazing, jean reno showing how sweet an assassin can be and gary oldman playing also a good role in this story or him just making that role good. not just him either the little girl and her family were allthe story shows so much emotion on everything and the characters they did were amazing, jean reno showing how sweet an assassin can be and gary oldman playing also a good role in this story or him just making that role good. not just him either the little girl and her family were all mesmerizing to me. all of this was just really good to me… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

hootis

Jan 5, 2013

This movie is highly regarded, but I can not see anything to justify it. There are plenty of better movies that you can waste an hour with, many that are bad but they at least fit their roles. This movie is just a misfit that doesn't easily hold one's attention. There must be somethingThis movie is highly regarded, but I can not see anything to justify it. There are plenty of better movies that you can waste an hour with, many that are bad but they at least fit their roles. This movie is just a misfit that doesn't easily hold one's attention. There must be something I'm missing, like a popular release or good actors or something, but its just not very appealing.… Expand

0 of 22 users found this helpful022

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