Léon: The Professional (1994)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: Pivoting on the unusual relationship between seasoned hitman and his 12-year-old apprentice -- a breakout turn by young Natalie Portman -- Luc Besson's Léon is a stylish and oddly affecting thriller.
Léon: The Professional Videos
Léon: The Professional Photos
Movie Info
Watch it now
People Who Like this movie also like
Cast
as Leon
as Stansfield
as Mathilda
as Tony
as Malky
as Mathilda's Father
as Mathilda's Mother
as Mathilda's Sister
as Mathilda's Brother
as Mathilda's Brother
as Stansfield's Man
as Old Lady
as Fatman
as Mathilda's Taxi Driver
as Leon's Taxi Driver
as Policeman
as Policeman
as Security Man
as Orphanage Headmistress
as Stairway Swat
as Important Jogger
as Security Guard
as SWAT Team
as SWAT Team
as SWAT Team
as SWAT
as Stansfield's Man
as Receptionist
as Client #1
as Tony's Barber
News & Interviews for Léon: The Professional
Critic Reviews for Léon: The Professional
All Critics (59) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (42) | Rotten (17) | DVD (16)
Leave it to french writer-director Luc Besson (La Femme Nikita) to put a kinky twist on Orphan Annie and Daddy Warbucks.
Ultimately, like La Femme Nikita, there may be less here than meets the eye. But what does meet the eye is pretty darn thrilling.
The sheer craziness and excessiveness of the movie -- no crazier, perhaps, than many of the American action movies it copies -- never finds a center of gravity.
The Professional is strictly amateur-hour.
Like Quentin Tarantino, Besson has a singular style and directorial sensibility that keeps you watching.
The most objectionable thing is Gary Oldman's performance, baroque in its awfulness. Almost as bad is the director's attempt to construct a visual style -- and, for that matter, characters -- by piling one mannerism on top of another.
Audience Reviews for Léon: The Professional
Typical actioner in that one guy takes out a whole bunch of other guys, that has at its core the relationship between a man/boy assassin and a child wise beyond her years ... it was a touch difficult to watch. Besson hides his knocking-on-the-door-of-depravity Lolita tale behind the old conceit "she wanted it." Handle this one with care.
Super Reviewer
With a very interesting, yet simple premise, "Leon: The Professional" is a very smart, stylistic thriller about a young girl whose family has been murdered. Trying to cope with that while being on the run by a hitman who is saving her life, the bonding between the two is unlike anything you will get in most films out there, from any generation. I loved this picture from start to finish. From it's extremely drab look, to the creepy vibe Leon gives, even though you know his intentions are great, this is one film you surely shouldn't miss. In the end, this is one of the best films in this genre that I have ever seen. Jean Reno and Natalie Portman are phenomenal, the script is undeniably brilliant, and the score will have your heart racing, even in moments you would least expect. The final act of this film had me on the edge of my seat, and I believe it will do that for everyone. I highly recommend this film to fans and non-fans of this genre. "Leon: The Professional" is a brilliant picture.
Super Reviewer
Cute - a 12 year old hitman. Natalie Portman plays Mathilda - a kid who is orphaned by a crooked cop. Leon is the loner "cleaner" and Leon and Mathilda become a family with Mathilda learning the trade.
Super Reviewer
Léon: The Professional Quotes
| Mathilda: | Is life always this hard, or is it just when you're a kid? |
| Leon: | Always like this |
| Stansfield: | "I don't have time for this MICKEY MOUSE BULLSH*T!" |
| Stansfield: | I don't have time for this MICKEY MOUSE BULLSH*T! |
| Stansfield: | Its when you really start to fear death that you learn to appreciate life. |
| Stansfield: | I like these calm little moments before the storm. It reminds me of Beethoven. Can you hear it? It's like when you put your head to the grass and you can hear the growin' and you can hear the insects. Do you like Beethoven? |