The Fifth Element

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The Fifth Element

PG-13

Released May 9, 1997

2h 7m

Sci-Fi

Adventure

Action

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

70 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

The Earth is about to be destroyed by a huge ball of fire racing toward the planet. Cornelius, an old monk, knows how to stop the burning sphere with the help of Korben Dallas, a taxi driver and former secret agent and a woman named Leeloo.

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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.

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Duane Byrge

The Hollywood Reporter

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 10, 2018

Full Review

Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

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

Rated: 3/4

May 10, 2017

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Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

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

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Thomas Lethbridge

Screen Rant

Released in 1997, it's remarkable how well Luc Besson's The Fifth Element still holds up, nearly three decades after its initial release.

Rated: 8/10

Nov 15, 2024

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

As irresistible—if occasionally annoying—popcorn-munching escapism, The Fifth Element remains an experience of diversionary entertainment, and almost exclusively about rehashing previously explored surfaces with a new sheen.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 6, 2023

Full Review

Travis Johnson

Flicks (AU, NZ, UK)

A sci-fi film a million aesthetic miles away from the industrial dystopias, dusty wastelands, and sterile starships of most screen SF of the time.

Jun 7, 2022

Full Review

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Mariel

Amazing to see on the big screen!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/02/25

Full Review

G W

Stands the test of time. Bruce Willis...,stands the test of time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/08/25

Full Review

Tim

no spoken word, but so much emotion...highly recommended!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/18/24

Full Review

Edward

This movie does exactly what it was intended to doENTERTAIN!!! To adversely critique this movie would not accomplish anything more than show ones inability to be entertained in a campy fashion.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/13/24

Full Review

Jasaire

I remember watching this movie as a child and so I much needed to see this movie again and only on the big screen. Although I am a Cartoon Historian, I love movies with animated effects, fictional character and costumes and an amazing plot and story line.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/04/25

Full Review

Aaron B

Still one of the Best Movies of All Time! Soooooo Cool to see it on the big screen!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/30/24

Full Review

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Luc Besson

Director

Bruce Willis

Korben Dallas

Gary Oldman

Jean-Baptiste Emmanuel Zorg

Ian Holm

Father Vito Cornelius

Milla Jovovich

Leeloo

Chris Tucker

Ruby Rhod

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Synopsis

The Earth is about to be destroyed by a huge ball of fire racing toward the planet. Cornelius, an old monk, knows how to stop the burning sphere with the help of Korben Dallas, a taxi driver and former secret agent and a woman named Leeloo.

Director: Luc Besson
Producer: Patrice Ledoux
Screenwriter: Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Gaumont
Rating: PG-13 (Intense Sci-Fi Violence|Brief Nudity|Some Sexuality)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Action, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 9, 1997, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Nov 17, 2024
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $63.7M
Runtime: 2h 7m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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