The Fifth Element

1997

The Fifth Element

Critics Consensus

Visually inventive and gleefully over the top, Luc Besson's The Fifth Element is a fantastic piece of pop sci-fi that never takes itself too seriously.

71%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 65

87%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 587,084
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The Fifth Element Photos

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Movie Info

Good and evil battle for the future of 23rd century Earth in this visually striking big-budget science fiction epic. In the movie's prologue, which is set in 1914, scientists gather in Egypt at the site of an event that transpired centuries earlier. Aliens, it seemed, arrived to collect four stones representing the four basic elements (earth, air, fire and water) - warning their human contacts that the objects were no longer safe on Earth. A few hundred years later (in the 23rd century), a huge ball of molten lava and flame is hurtling toward Earth, and scientist-holy man Victor Cornelius (Ian Holm) declares that in order to prevent it from destroying the planet, the same four elemental stones must be combined with the fifth element, as embodied by a visitor from another world named Leeloo (Milla Jovovich). However, if the force of evil presents itself to the stones instead, the Earth will be destroyed, and an evil being named Zorg (Gary Oldman) will trigger the disaster. Despite her remarkable powers, Leeloo needs help with her mission, and she chooses her accomplice, military leader-turned-cab driver Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis), when she literally falls through the roof of his taxi. Writer and director Luc Besson began writing the script for The Fifth Element when he was only 16 years old, though he was 38 before he was able to bring it to the screen. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Cast

Bruce Willis
as Korben Dallas
Ian Holm
as Cornelius
Gary Oldman
as Zorg
Chris Tucker
as Ruby Rhod
Luke Perry
as Billy
Brion James
as Gen. Munro
Milla Jovovich
as Leeloo
Lee Evans
as Fog
Charlie Creed-Miles
as David
Tricky
as Right Arm
John Neville
as Gen. Staedert
John Bluthal
as Prof. Pacoli
Maïwenn
as Diva
Tommy "Tiny" Lister
as Pres. Lindberg
Christopher Fairbank
as Mactilburgh
Mathieu Kassovitz
as Mugger
Kim Chan
as Thai
Richard Leaf
as Neighbour
Julie T. Wallace
as Major Iceborg
Al Matthews
as General Tudor
John Bennett
as Priest
Ivan Heng
as Left Arm
Sonita Henry
as President's Aide
Tim McMullan
as Scientist's Aide
Hon Ping Tang
as Munro's Captain
George Khan
as Head Scientist
John Hughes
as Head of Military
Roberto Bryce
as Omar
Said Talidi
as Aziz
Justin Lee Burrows
as Mondoshawan
Richard Ashton
as Mondoshawan
Jerome Blake
as Mondoshawan
Kevin Molloy
as Mondoshawan/Ground Crew
Bill Reimbold
as Mactilburgh's Assistant
Colin Brooks
as Staedert's Captain
Anthony Chinn
as Mactilburgh's Technician
Sam Douglas
as Chief NY Cop
Derek Ezenagu
as NY Cop
Roger Monk
as Flying Cop/Military Technician
David Kennedy
as Flying Cop
David Barrass
as Flying Cop
Mac MacDonald
as Flying Cop
Jean-Luc Caron
as Flying Cop
Riz Meedin
as Flying Cop
John Bluthall
Jerry Ezekiel
as Flying Cop
Indra Ove
as VIP Stewardess
Nicole Merry
as VIP Stewardess
Robert Bryce
Stacey McKenzie
as VIP Stewardess
Rachel Willis
as Stewardess
Sean Buckley
as Scientist
Genevieve Maylam
as Stewardess
Josie Perez
as Stewardess
Natasha Brice
as Stewardess
Sophia Goth
as Check-In Attendant
Jean-Luc Caron
Martin McDougall
as Warship Captain
Peter Dunwell
as Diva's Manager
Paul Priestley
as Cop
Jason Salkey
as Cop
Stewart Harvey-Wilson
as Ruby Rhod Assistant
Dave Fishley
as Ruby Rhod Assistant
Gia Clarke
Carlton Chance
as Ruby Rhod Assistant
Gin Clarke
as Diva's Assistant
Vladimir McCrary
as Human Aknot
Clifton Lloyd-Bryan
as Mangalore Aknot/Airport Guard
Aron Paramor
as Mangalore Akanit
Alan Ruscoe
as Mangalore Kino
Christopher Adamson
as Airport Cop
Eve Salvail
as Tawdry Girl
Kaleem Janjua
as Shuttle Pilot
Tyrone Tyrell
as Shuttle Co-Pilot
David Fishley
Kevin Brewerton
as Shuttle Mechanic
Vince Pellegrino
as Ground Crew
Ian Beckett
as Baby Ray
Sonny Caldinez
as Emperor Kodar Japhet
Zeta Graff
as Princess Achen
Eddie Ellwood
as Roy Von Bacon
Yui
as Fhloston Hostess
Laura De Palma
as Fhloston Hostess
Michael Culkin
as Hefty Man
Lenny McLean
as Police Chief
Robert Oates
as Fhloston Commander
John Sharian
as Fhloston Captain
Fred Williams
as Hotel Manager
Sibyl Buck
as Zorg's Secretary
Sarah Carrington
as Scientist
Grant James
as Scientist
Ali Yassine
as Scientist
Tom 'Tiny' Lister
C. Keith Martin
Dane Messam
as Military Technician
Nathan Hamlett
as Military Technician
Cecil Cheng
as Military Technician
Scott Woods
as Lab Guard
Leon Dekker
as Lab Guard
David Garvey
as Staedert's Technician
Stanley Kowalski
as Staedert's Technician
Omar Hibbert Williams
as Staedert's Technician
Robert Clapperton
as Robot Barman
Robert Alexander
as Warship Technician
Mia Frye
as TV Stewardess
Leo Williams
as Power Operator
Keith Martin
as Power Operator
J.D. Dawodu
as Zorg's Man
Patrick Nicholls
as Zorg's Man
Shaun Davis
as Zorg's Man
Roy Garcia Singh
as Zorg's Man
Alex Georgijev
as Zorg's Man
Marie Guillard
as Burger Assistant
Renee Montemayor
as Burger Assistant
Stina Richardson
as Burger Assistant
Omar Williams
Inva Mulla Tchako
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News & Interviews for The Fifth Element

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Critic Reviews for The Fifth Element

All Critics (65) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (46) | Rotten (19)

  • Narratively challenged, visually monotonous and aurally overpowering, The Fifth Element is a staggering accretion of all the wrong elements and some rather dopey ones as well.

    May 9, 2018 | Full Review…

    Duane Byrge

    Hollywood Reporter
    Top Critic

  • The Fifth Element has enough eye-appeal for two good movies.

    May 10, 2017 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Gene Siskel

    Chicago Tribune
    Top Critic

  • In this movie and many like it, the only elements that count are impact, impact, impact and impact. The fifth element is gibberish.

    Jul 14, 2014

    Joe Morgenstern

    Wall Street Journal
    Top Critic

  • A hodgepodge of elements that don't comfortably coalesce.

    Sep 4, 2008

    Todd McCarthy

    Variety
    Top Critic

  • Besson's futuristic fable is flawed by a messy narrative which strains to incorporate far too many grotesque and eccentric characters.

    Jan 26, 2006 | Full Review…

    Geoff Andrew

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • The Fifth Element has to be the most creative visualization since Tim Burton's first Batman in 1989. On top of that, it's a whole lot of fun.

    Jun 18, 2002 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Mick LaSalle

    San Francisco Chronicle
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (65)

Audience Reviews for The Fifth Element

  • Sep 14, 2017
    A very uneven movie, It had a story that's been done a few times and it never feels different, It had some ok action scenes but nothing great, I enjoyed the cast plus I have always had a crush on Milla Jovovich so it's all good, The tone was annoying as the humour even though was good it always came after a dramatic scene so it felt awkward but apart from that it's just another average 90's sci fi flick.
    Jamie C Super Reviewer
  • Sep 14, 2016
    Luc Besson's mesmerizing sci-fi original is visually innovative and an assortment of humor, action and exuberance. The unorthodox soundtrack and advanced vibe caps off a film that's just pure fun and amusement. 4/5
    Eugene B Super Reviewer
  • Jul 18, 2015
    Over the top and campy as hell, The Fifth Element relies on cliché and non-substantial action to entertain, which ultimately failed to make it fresh. You've tried Besson.
    Sylvester K Super Reviewer
  • Apr 17, 2015
    Ever since I first watched The Fifth Element in the late 90s, I've been inspired by Gary Oldman's Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg.
    Gimly M Super Reviewer
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