Luc Besson
Born: 1959-03-18 in Paris, France
Known For: Writing
Biography
Luc Besson (born March 18, 1959) is a French director, writer, and producer, known for making highly visual thriller and action films. Besson has received numerous awards and honors, and is often credited as inventing the so-called "Cinema du look" movement in French film. He is best known for directing the action films Léon: The Professional (1994), The Fifth Element (1997), and Lucy (2014), and also produced the Taken (2008–2014) and Transporter (2002–2015) franchises. Born in Paris, Besson spent his childhood traveling Europe with his parents and developing an enthusiasm for ocean diving, before an accident would push him toward the world of cinema. After taking odd jobs in the Parisian film scene of the time, Besson began writing stories that would eventually evolve into some of his greatest film successes: The Fifth Element and Le Grand Bleu. In 1980 he founded his own production company, Les Films du Loup later Les Films du Dauphin, and later still EuropaCorp film company with his longtime collaborator, Pierre-Ange Le Poga.
Filmography
2026
- Down the Arm of God ... (Producer)
- Mr. Kim Goes to the Cinema as Self
- Playground ... (Idea)
2025
- Dracula ... (Director)
- June and John ... (Director)
- Hell in Paradise ... (Producer)
2024
- Weekend in Taipei ... (Producer)
- Donald Trump, Dieu et les siens ... (Producer)
2023
- Dogman ... (Director)
- The Family as Self
2022
- Arthur: Malediction ... (Producer)
- Mostra, Venise as Self
2019
- Anna ... (Writer)
- Engagement ... (Executive Producer)
2018
- James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction as Self
- Kursk ... (Executive Producer)
- Taxi 5 ... (Producer)
- Eva ... (Co-Producer)
2017
- Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets ... (Director)
- Renegades ... (Producer)
- Playground ... (Creator)
- Valérian, histoire d'une création as Self
2016
- The Warriors Gate ... (Writer)
2015
- The Transporter Refueled ... (Characters)
2014
- Taken 3 ... (Producer)
- Lucy ... (Director)
- 3 Days to Kill ... (Story)
- Brick Mansions ... (Screenplay)
- The Homesman ... (Producer)
- Taxi Brooklyn ... (Writer)
2013
- Transporter: The Series ... (Creator)
- The Family ... (Screenplay)
- Collision ... (Producer)
- A Prince (almost) Charming ... (Writer)
2012
2011
- Colombiana ... (Screenplay)
- A Monster in Paris ... (Co-Producer)
- The Lady ... (Director)
- The Source ... (Producer)
- Belmondo, itinéraire... as Self
- Halal State Security ... (Producer)
2010
- From Paris with Love ... (Story)
- The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec ... (Director)
- Arthur 3: The War of the Two Worlds ... (Producer)
- 22 Bullets ... (Co-Producer)
- I Love You Phillip Morris ... (Executive Producer)
- Arthur and the Great Adventure ... (Director)
2009
- Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard ... (Director)
- District 13: Ultimatum ... (Screenplay)
- Home ... (Producer)
- Staten Island ... (Producer)
- Hallelujah! ... (Producer)
- Arthur, the 4D Adventure ... (Writer)
2008
- Taken ... (Producer)
- Transporter 3 ... (Screenplay)
2007
- Taxi 4 ... (Producer)
- The Secret ... (Producer)
- Michou d'Auber ... (Executive Producer)
2006
- Arthur and the Invisibles ... (Writer)
- On n'est pas couché as Self - Guest
- Bandidas ... (Writer)
- Love and Other Disasters ... (Executive Producer)
- Bunker Paradise ... (Producer)
2005
- Transporter 2 ... (Characters)
- Unleashed ... (Author)
- Revolver ... (Adaptation)
- The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada ... (Producer)
- Angel-A ... (Director)
- Colour Me Kubrick ... (Executive Producer)
- Black Box ... (Executive Producer)
- Le court des grands ... (Director)
- Au suivant ! ... (Co-Producer)
2004
- District B13 ... (Screenplay)
- Taxi ... (Producer)
- Crimson Rivers II: Angels of the Apocalypse ... (Writer)
- In Your Image ... (Associate Producer)
- The Story Of My Life ... (Producer)
2003
- Ong-Bak ... (Executive Producer)
- Taxi 3 ... (Screenplay)
- Michel Vaillant ... (Screenplay)
- Fan-Fan the Tulip ... (Writer)
- I, Cesar ... (Co-Producer)
- The Chops ... (Producer)
2002
- The Transporter ... (Screenplay)
- Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra ... (Additional Camera)
- The Truth About Charlie ... (Thanks)
- Blanche ... (Producer)
2001
- Kiss of the Dragon ... (Screenplay)
- Wasabi ... (Producer)
- Yamakasi ... (Screenplay)
- August 15th ... (Producer)
- Mylene Farmer: Music Videos II & III ... (Director)
2000
- Taxi 2 as Boat Owner (uncredited)
- The Dancer ... (Screenplay)
- Exit ... (Associate Producer)
- Bichhoo ... (Original Story)
1999
- The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc ... (Screenplay)
1998
- Vivement dimanche as Self
- Taxi ... (Screenplay)
1997
- The Fifth Element ... (Director)
- Nil by Mouth ... (Producer)
1994
- Léon: The Professional ... (Screenplay)
- NeXt as Self
1993
- Point of No Return ... (Original Story)
- The Lion Child ... (Executive Producer)
1992
- Arrête ton cinéma ... (Producer)
1990
- Nikita ... (Director)
- Stars 90 as Self
- Au coeur de Nikita as Self
1989
- The Big Blue Adventure as Self / Narrator
1988
- The Big Blue as Blond Diver (uncredited)
- Jeu de vilains ... (Producer)
1986
- Kamikaze ... (Writer)
1985
- Victoires de la musique as Self
- Subway as Le Conducteur de Metro (uncredited)
1983
- The Last Battle ... (Writer)
1982
- Champs-Elysées as Self
1981
- Rookie Soldiers on Maneuvers ... (Casting)
- The Penultimate ... (Director)
1974
- Spécial cinéma as Self