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Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

Play trailer 1:44 Poster for Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets PG-13 2017 2h 17m Sci-Fi Adventure Action Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
47% Tomatometer 297 Reviews 53% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
In the 28th century, special operatives Valerian and Laureline work together to maintain order throughout the human territories. Under assignment from the minister of defense, the duo embarks on a mission to Alpha, an ever-expanding metropolis where diverse species gather to share knowledge and culture. When a dark force threatens the peaceful city, Valerian and Laureline must race against time to identify the menace that also jeopardizes the future of the universe.
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Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

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Critics Consensus

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets uses sheer kinetic energy and visual thrills to overcome narrative obstacles and offer a viewing experience whose surreal pleasures sometimes outweigh its flaws.

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Critics Reviews

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Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com Sep 22, 2017
2.5/4
Thing is, every time I had to focus on the two main characters, the noticeable holes in all of this started to grow bigger and become more bothersome. Go to Full Review
Paul Byrnes Sydney Morning Herald Aug 16, 2017
3.5/5
It's an enjoyable mess. Like all modern fantasy based on computer-generated technique, it confuses movement and action. Go to Full Review
Stephen Romei The Australian Aug 11, 2017
3.5/5
Besson loves messing around with time and space. Go to Full Review
Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies Aug 21, 2022
1.5/5
...a nearly 140 minutes slog through poor storytelling, boring characters, laughably bad dialogue, and CGI overload. Go to Full Review
Fletcher Powell KMUW - Wichita Public Radio Jun 21, 2022
If you’d asked me ... if it would matter that I’d spend a good three-quarters of a movie having no idea what was going on, I would have said: Yes. Yes, that would matter. But that was before I’d seen Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. Go to Full Review
Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Mar 23, 2022
2.5/4
The outcome here is uneven: admirable for its ambition and mindless entertainment value, unable to hold up under close scrutiny, and often dazzlingly beautiful. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Gregory Nov 7, 2021 Beautiful special effects. See more Jordan P @Jordanflickmaster Sep 7, 2026 Insane no one has complained about how much of a twerp tool Dane Dehaan is in this film. Why tf would anyone make this beta soy boy a protagonist? His fake deep voice was so fking annoying. On top of him thinking he was all that. He straight up ruined the film. Its an absolute beautiful film, but my god, one person has so much power to foilall that hard work. See more Robert P @Superbad Sep 6, 2026 Valerian = A *2 and 1/2* star movie! See more Kat T @RT81430476 Aug 29, 2026 I've watched this movie several times over the years. This is an amazing adventure through alien cultures. Many different worlds and aliens are depicted, The artistry is brilliant, and the French influence makes it one of a kind. The story is about recovering a lost world and it's people. The two stars of the movie are shown as at odds, but entirely devoted to each other. Saving the female from being eaten by an alien culture really represented how humans tend to care so little about their fellow animals. It reminded me of the repulsion of a roasted piglet with an apple in it's mouth. I loved experiencing all the different locations and creatures they encounter. The imagination that went into this movie is far beyond anything that has been done in any show, before or after this. See more dave O @RT87079070 Aug 10, 2026 Loved this movie. Great story. Original and well made. I liked the main actors, heard people didn’t like their chemistry, fair enough, I thought they were laid back and smooth. Each to their own. I loved this movie See more Josh M @FishingHawk Aug 1, 2026 Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is a baffling example of how a massive budget can produce such an underwhelming film. Despite an intriguing sci-fi premise and a few stunning visuals, almost everything else falls flat. Dane DeHaan delivers a wooden, often unintentionally laughable performance, completely lacking the charisma needed for the lead. His chemistry with Cara Delevingne is virtually nonexistent, making every interaction feel forced. While the opening sequence and occasional world-building shine, the frequently cartoonish CGI undermines the spectacle and often resembles an expensive video game cutscene. The result feels like a Temu version of The Fifth Element mixed with Ender's Game—borrowing ideas without capturing the charm, creativity, or emotional impact of either. A visually impressive but ultimately forgettable disappointment. See more Read all reviews
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

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Movie Info

Synopsis In the 28th century, special operatives Valerian and Laureline work together to maintain order throughout the human territories. Under assignment from the minister of defense, the duo embarks on a mission to Alpha, an ever-expanding metropolis where diverse species gather to share knowledge and culture. When a dark force threatens the peaceful city, Valerian and Laureline must race against time to identify the menace that also jeopardizes the future of the universe.
Director
Luc Besson
Producer
Virginie Silla
Distributor
STX Entertainment
Production Co
EuropaCorp, Fundamental Films, STX Entertainment
Rating
PG-13 (Sci-Fi Violence and Action|Brief Language|Suggestive Material)
Genre
Sci-Fi, Adventure, Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 21, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 7, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$40.4M
Runtime
2h 17m
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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