What 1997 movie stars burce Willis and Milla Jovovich?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fifth_Element
The Fifth Element - Wikipedia
2002-11-04
Authority control
<div><div>
<p>"Korben Dallas" redirects here. For the Slovak rock band, see <a href="/wiki/Korben_Dallas_(band)">Korben Dallas (band)</a>.</p>
<table><tbody><tr><th>The Fifth Element</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/wiki/File:Fifth_element_poster_(1997).jpg"></a><p>North American theatrical release poster</p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/French_language">French</a></th><td><i>Le Cinquième Élément</i></td></tr><tr><th>Directed by</th><td><a href="/wiki/Luc_Besson">Luc Besson</a></td></tr><tr><th>Screenplay by</th><td><div>
<ul><li>Luc Besson</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Robert_Mark_Kamen">Robert Mark Kamen</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th>Story by</th><td>Luc Besson</td></tr><tr><th>Produced by</th><td><a href="/wiki/Patrice_Ledoux">Patrice Ledoux</a></td></tr><tr><th>Starring</th><td><div>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bruce_Willis">Bruce Willis</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Gary_Oldman">Gary Oldman</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Ian_Holm">Ian Holm</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Milla_Jovovich">Milla Jovovich</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Chris_Tucker">Chris Tucker</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th>Cinematography</th><td><a href="/wiki/Thierry_Arbogast">Thierry Arbogast</a></td></tr><tr><th>Edited by</th><td>Sylvie Landra</td></tr><tr><th>Music by</th><td><a href="/wiki/%C3%89ric_Serra">Éric Serra</a></td></tr><tr><th><p>Production<br />company</p></th><td><div><p><a href="/wiki/Gaumont_Film_Company">Gaumont</a></p></div></td></tr><tr><th>Distributed by</th><td>Gaumont<br /><a href="/wiki/Buena_Vista_International">Buena Vista International</a><sup><a href="#cite_note-1">[1]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><th><p>Release date</p></th><td><div>
<ul><li>7 May 1997 (France)</li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th><p>Running time</p></th><td>126 minutes<sup><a href="#cite_note-2">[2]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><th>Country</th><td>France</td></tr><tr><th>Language</th><td>English</td></tr><tr><th>Budget</th><td>US$90 million<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBesson199711-3">[3]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-roger-4">[4]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-slate-5">[5]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMazdon2000110Hayward200991-6">[6]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-7">[a]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><th>Box office</th><td>$263.9 million<sup><a href="#cite_note-mojo-8">[7]</a></sup></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p><i><b>The Fifth Element</b></i><sup><a href="#cite_note-9">[b]</a></sup> is a 1997 English-language French <a href="/wiki/Science_fiction_film">science fiction</a> <a href="/wiki/Action_film">action film</a> conceived and directed by <a href="/wiki/Luc_Besson">Luc Besson</a>, as well as co-written by Besson and <a href="/wiki/Robert_Mark_Kamen">Robert Mark Kamen</a>. It stars <a href="/wiki/Bruce_Willis">Bruce Willis</a>, <a href="/wiki/Gary_Oldman">Gary Oldman</a>, <a href="/wiki/Ian_Holm">Ian Holm</a>, <a href="/wiki/Milla_Jovovich">Milla Jovovich</a> and <a href="/wiki/Chris_Tucker">Chris Tucker</a>. Primarily set in the 23rd century, the film's central plot involves the survival of planet Earth, which becomes the responsibility of Korben Dallas (Willis), a taxicab driver and former <a href="/wiki/Special_forces">special forces</a> major, after a young woman (Jovovich) falls into his cab. To accomplish this, Dallas joins forces with her to recover four mystical stones essential for the defence of Earth against the impending attack of a malevolent cosmic entity.
</p><p>Besson started writing the story that was developed as <i>The Fifth Element</i> when he was 16 years old; he was 38 when the film opened in cinemas. Besson wanted to shoot the film in France, but suitable facilities could not be found; filming took place in <a href="/wiki/London">London</a> and <a href="/wiki/Mauritania">Mauritania</a> instead. He hired comic artists <a href="/wiki/Jean_Giraud">Jean "Moebius" Giraud</a> and <a href="/wiki/Jean-Claude_M%C3%A9zi%C3%A8res">Jean-Claude Mézières</a>, whose books inspired parts of the film, for production design. Costume design was by <a href="/wiki/Jean-Paul_Gaultier">Jean-Paul Gaultier</a>.
</p><p><i>The Fifth Element</i> received mainly positive reviews, although some critics were highly negative. The film won in categories at the <a href="/wiki/51st_British_Academy_Film_Awards">British Academy Film Awards</a>, the <a href="/wiki/23rd_C%C3%A9sar_Awards">César Awards</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Cannes_Film_Festival">Cannes Film Festival</a>, and the <a href="/wiki/Lumi%C3%A8res_Award">Lumières Awards</a>, but also received nominations at the <a href="/wiki/18th_Golden_Raspberry_Awards">Golden Raspberry</a> and <a href="/wiki/1997_Stinkers_Bad_Movie_Awards">Stinkers Bad Movie Awards</a>. <i>The Fifth Element</i> was a strong financial success, earning more than US$263 million at the box office on a $90 million budget. At the time of its release, it was the most expensive European film ever made, and it remained the highest-grossing French film at the international box office until the release of <i><a href="/wiki/The_Intouchables">The Intouchables</a></i> in 2011.
</p>
<h2>Plot[<a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Fifth_Element&amp;action=edit&amp;section=1">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>In 1914, aliens known as Mondoshawans meet their human contact, a priest of a secret order, at an <a href="/wiki/Ancient_Egypt">ancient Egyptian</a> temple. They take the only weapon capable of defeating a great evil that appears every five thousand years, and promise to return the weapon before the great evil's re-emergence. The weapon consists of the four <a href="/wiki/Classical_element">classical elements</a>, as four engraved stones, plus a <a href="/wiki/Sarcophagus">sarcophagus</a> containing a "fifth element".
</p><p>In 2263,<sup><a href="#cite_note-10">[c]</a></sup> the great evil appears in deep space as a giant living fireball. It destroys an armed Earth spaceship as it heads to Earth. The Mondoshawans' current human contact on Earth, priest Vito Cornelius, informs the President of the Federated Territories of the great evil's history and of the weapon that can stop it.
</p><p>On their way to Earth, a Mondoshawan spacecraft carrying the weapon is ambushed and destroyed by a crew of Mangalores, alien mercenaries hired by Earth industrialist Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg, who is working for the great evil. A severed hand in metal armor from the wreckage of the spacecraft is brought to New York City. From this, the government uses biotechnology to recreate the original occupant of the sarcophagus, a humanoid woman named Leeloo who remembers her previous life. Alarmed by the unfamiliar surroundings and high security, she escapes and jumps off a ledge, crashing into the <a href="/wiki/Flying_car_(aircraft)">flying taxicab</a> of Korben Dallas, a former major in Earth's <a href="/wiki/Special_Forces">Special Forces</a>.
</p><p>Dallas delivers Leeloo to Cornelius and his apprentice, David, who recognize her as the Fifth Element. As Leeloo recuperates, she tells Cornelius that the stones were not onboard the Mondoshawan ship. Simultaneously, the Mondoshawans inform Earth's government the stones were entrusted to an alien opera singer, the diva Plavalaguna. Zorg reneges on his deal with the Mangalores for failing to obtain the stones and kills some of them. Earth's military sends Dallas to meet Plavalaguna; a rigged radio contest provides a cover, awarding Dallas a luxury vacation aboard a flying hotel on planet Fhloston, accompanied by flamboyant talk-show host Ruby Rhod. It includes a concert by Plavalaguna, and learning that Leeloo shares his mission, Dallas lets her accompany him. Cornelius instructs David to prepare the temple, then stows away on the luxury spaceship. The Mangalore crew, pursuing the stones for themselves, also illegally board the ship.
</p><p>During the concert, the Mangalores attack and Plavalaguna dies. Dallas extracts the stones from her body and kills the Mangalore leader, causing the others to surrender. Zorg arrives, shoots and traumatizes Leeloo, and activates a <a href="/wiki/Time_bomb">time bomb</a>. He flees with a carrying case he presumes contains the stones, but returns when he discovers it is empty. He deactivates his bomb, but a dying Mangalore sets off his own, destroying the hotel and killing Zorg. Meanwhile, Dallas, Cornelius, Leeloo, and Rhod escape with the stones in Zorg's private spaceship.
</p><p>As the great evil approaches Earth, the four meet David at the temple. They deploy the stones, but Leeloo, having learned of humanity's own terrible history of war, has given up on life. Dallas declares his love for her and kisses her. In response, Leeloo combines the power of the stones, emitting divine light onto the great evil and defeating it. She and Dallas are hailed as heroes and, as dignitaries wait to greet them, the two passionately embrace in a recovery chamber.
</p>
<h2>Cast[<a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Fifth_Element&amp;action=edit&amp;section=2">edit</a>]</h2>
<div>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bruce_Willis">Bruce Willis</a> as Korben Dallas</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Milla_Jovovich">Milla Jovovich</a> as Leeloo</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Gary_Oldman">Gary Oldman</a> as Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Ian_Holm">Ian Holm</a> as Vito Cornelius</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Chris_Tucker">Chris Tucker</a> as Ruby Rhod</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Luke_Perry">Luke Perry</a> as Billy Masterson</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Brion_James">Brion James</a> as General Munro</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Tommy_Lister_Jr.">Tommy "Tiny" Lister Jr.</a> as President Lindberg</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Lee_Evans_(comedian)">Lee Evans</a> as Fog</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Charlie_Creed-Miles">Charlie Creed-Miles</a> as David</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Tricky_(musician)">Tricky</a> as Right Arm</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/John_Neville_(actor)">John Neville</a> as General Staedert</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/John_Bluthal">John Bluthal</a> as Professor Pacoli</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Ma%C3%AFwenn">Maïwenn Le Besco</a> as Diva Plavalaguna
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Inva_Mula">Inva Mula</a> provides Diva's singing voice</li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2>Themes[<a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Fifth_Element&amp;action=edit&amp;section=3">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>In an interview, Besson stated <i>The Fifth Element</i> was not a "big theme movie", although the film's theme was an important one. He wanted viewers to reach the point where Leeloo states, "What's the use of saving life when you see what you do with it?" and agree with her.<sup><a href="#cite_note-stephen-11">[8]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Jay_Telotte">Jay P. Telotte</a>, writing in the book <i>Science Fiction Film</i>, credited the film with exploring the theme of political corruption.<sup><a href="#cite_note-12">[9]</a></sup>
</p><p>Brian Ott and Eric Aoki writing in the feminist journal <i><a href="/wiki/Women%27s_Studies_in_Communication">Women's Studies in Communication</a></i> considered gender to be one of the film's central themes. The authors criticized the film for erasing women from the introductory scenes, noting that only two appeared in the first twenty minutes: an androgynous, mostly speechless presidential aide, and Leeloo undergoing reconstruction. When females appear in the film, they are presented as passive objects, such as the sexualised flight and <a href="/wiki/McDonald%27s">McDonald's</a> attendants; or stripped of their femininity, such as the "<a href="/wiki/Butch_and_femme">butch</a>" Major Iceborg.<sup><a href="#cite_note-women-13">[10]</a></sup>
</p><p>Stefan Brandt, in the book <i>Subverting Masculinity</i>, also said that the film "echoes stereotypical beliefs about gender" of all females in the film. He said that Leeloo left her passive role only during her fight with the Mangalores. Except for Tiny Lister's portrayal of the President, Brandt said that all males in the film were shown as unmanly as possible in various ways, such as Ruby Rhod's effeminacy, Vito Cornelius's clumsy form of speech, and General Munro's stupidity; their purpose was to make Korben's masculinity appear "god-like" by comparison.<sup><a href="#cite_note-14">[11]</a></sup>
</p><p>In the book <i>The Films of Luc Besson</i>, Susan Hayward considered <i>The Fifth Element</i> to be a classic story of a man "making his break from the tribe, proving his manhood, overthrowing the malevolent forces, and killing the chief, finally to reap the rewards of security and marriage".<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHayward200998-15">[12]</a></sup> Korben's journey, however, is threatened not only by the Mangalores and Zorg, but also by Leeloo, who does not relent or help him until the last minute, when she accepts his declaration of love.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHayward200998-15">[12]</a></sup> The love story within <i>The Fifth Element</i> was considered to be one of the main narratives in the film, and it faces the same deadline as the main storyline.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHayward200998-15">[12]</a></sup> Hayward also considered the film to grapple with <a href="/wiki/Ecology">environmental damage</a>, in so far as waste and pollution are visible throughout the film.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHayward200991–92-16">[13]</a></sup> Whereas <a href="/wiki/Science-fiction_film">science-fiction films</a> often show a world wherein some new technology or threat either surpasses or fails humanity, <i>The Films of Luc Besson</i> included <i>The Fifth Element</i> among the minority of science-fiction films that "hold up a mirror" and show humankind as responsible.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHayward200992-17">[14]</a></sup> Hayward said the film was skeptical of capitalist <a href="/wiki/Consumerism">consumerism</a>, in so far as the gadgets Zorg collected in his office suggested that he had an unhealthy obsession for <a href="/wiki/Technology">technology</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHayward200992-17">[14]</a></sup> The tension between technology and man is treated as a problem requiring a final resolution.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHayward200992-17">[14]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2>Production[<a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Fifth_Element&amp;action=edit&amp;section=4">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>As a teenager, Besson envisioned the world of <i>The Fifth Element</i> in an attempt to alleviate boredom. He began writing the script when he was 16, though the film was not released in cinemas until he was 38.<sup><a href="#cite_note-18">[15]</a></sup> The original story was set in the year 2300 and was about a "nobody" named Zaltman Bleros (later renamed Korben Dallas) who wins a trip to the <a href="/wiki/Club_Med">Club Med</a> resort on the planet Fhloston Paradise in the Angel constellation. There, he meets Leeloo, a "sand-girl" who has the "beauty of youth" despite being over 2,000 years old.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBesson19978–9-19">[16]</a></sup>
</p><p>Besson continued to work on the story for years. By 1991, when his documentary film <i><a href="/wiki/Atlantis_(1991_film)">Atlantis</a></i> was released, he had a 400-page script. Nicolas Seydoux and <a href="/wiki/Patrice_Ledoux">Patrice Ledoux</a> from <a href="/wiki/Gaumont_Film_Company">Gaumont</a> were the first people to take on the project. In November 1991, while looking for actors for the film, Besson met <a href="/wiki/Franco-Belgian_comics">French comics</a> creators <a href="/wiki/Jean_Giraud">Jean Giraud</a> and <a href="/wiki/Jean-Claude_M%C3%A9zi%C3%A8res">Jean-Claude Mézières</a> and recruited them<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBesson19979–10-20">[17]</a></sup> for the film's production design.<sup><a href="#cite_note-av-21">[18]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-22">[19]</a></sup> Giraud and Mézières's comics inspired the look that Besson wanted for his futuristic <a href="/wiki/New_York_City">New York City</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBizony2001169-23">[20]</a></sup>
</p><p>Mézières had designed <i><a href="/wiki/The_Circles_of_Power">The Circles of Power</a></i> (1994), which contains a character named S'Traks, who drives a flying taxicab through the congested air of the vast metropolis on the planet Rubanis. Mézières showed images of the flying taxi to Besson, who was inspired to change character Korben Dallas's background from a worker in a rocket-ship factory to a taxi driver who flies his cab around a Rubanis-inspired futuristic New York City.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBesson1997158Mézières200465-24">[21]</a></sup> Besson's production also hired five other artists for the project. In addition, the noted fashion designer <a href="/wiki/Jean-Paul_Gaultier">Jean-Paul Gaultier</a> was hired to create the costumes. The team spent a year creating more than 8,000 drawings.
</p><p>During this time, Besson approached both <a href="/wiki/Bruce_Willis">Bruce Willis</a> and <a href="/wiki/Mel_Gibson">Mel Gibson</a> for the lead role. Willis expressed interest, though he was reluctant to take on the role as the film was considered risky after his previous two films, <i><a href="/wiki/Hudson_Hawk">Hudson Hawk</a></i> and <i><a href="/wiki/Billy_Bathgate_(film)">Billy Bathgate</a></i>, had been received poorly. Gibson eventually turned down the role.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBesson199710–11-25">[22]</a></sup> While the production team impressed film companies with their designs, they struggled to find one willing to take on a budget approaching nearly $100 million. In December 1992, production stopped<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBesson1997149-26">[23]</a></sup> without any prior warning, and the team disbanded.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBesson199711-3">[3]</a></sup>
</p>
<div><p><a href="/wiki/File:Fifth_Element_Circles_of_Power.png"></a></p></div>
<p>Besson wrote and directed the commercially successful film <i><a href="/wiki/L%C3%A9on:_The_Professional">Léon: The Professional</a></i> (1994). During that period, he continued to work on the script for <i>The Fifth Element</i>, shortening it. He reduced the film's budget to $90 million before again attempting to find a studio willing to produce it. <a href="/wiki/Columbia_Pictures">Columbia Pictures</a>, which had a partnership in <i>Leon</i>, agreed to finance the film. By this time, Besson had decided to go with a lesser-known lead actor to save on production costs.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBesson199711-3">[3]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-stephen-11">[8]</a></sup> Besson happened to be in <a href="/wiki/Barry_Josephson">Barry Josephson</a>'s office when Willis called regarding a different film. Besson asked to speak to Willis "just to say hello", and told him that <i>The Fifth Element</i> was finally going ahead, explaining his decision to go with a less-expensive actor. After a short silence, Willis said, "If I like the film, we can always come to an arrangement."<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBesson199711-3">[3]</a></sup> After reading the script, Willis agreed to take on the role.
</p><p>Production began in early August 1995. Besson traveled to various places for casting, including Paris, London and Rome.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBesson199713-28">[25]</a></sup> He hired <a href="/wiki/Gary_Oldman">Gary Oldman</a> (who had starred in <i>Léon</i>) for the role of Zorg, describing Oldman as "one of the top five actors in the world".<sup><a href="#cite_note-stephen-11">[8]</a></sup>
</p><p>For the character Leeloo, Besson chose <a href="/wiki/Milla_Jovovich">Milla Jovovich</a> from the 200 to 300 applicants he met in person.<sup><a href="#cite_note-stephen-11">[8]</a></sup> The "Divine Language" spoken by Leeloo is a <a href="/wiki/Fictional_language">fictional language</a> of 400 words, invented by Besson. To practice, Jovovich and Besson held conversations and wrote letters to each other in the language.<sup><a href="#cite_note-29">[26]</a></sup> Besson was then married to <a href="/wiki/Ma%C3%AFwenn">Maïwenn</a> Le Besco, who played the role of Diva Plavalaguna when filming began. He left her to take up with Jovovich during filming.<sup><a href="#cite_note-maiwen-30">[27]</a></sup> Jovovich and Besson later married but divorced two years later in 1999.<sup><a href="#cite_note-H&amp;Q-31">[28]</a></sup>
</p><p>Although he wanted to shoot the film in France, Besson could not find suitable facilities and filmed in London.<sup><a href="#cite_note-32">[29]</a></sup> It was primarily filmed at <a href="/wiki/Pinewood_Studios">Pinewood Studios</a> on seven soundstages<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBesson1997152-33">[30]</a></sup> including the <a href="/wiki/007_Stage">007 Stage</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-34">[31]</a></sup> Construction of sets began in October 1995.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBesson19979–10-20">[17]</a></sup> The opera scene was filmed at the <a href="/wiki/Royal_Opera_House">Royal Opera House</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-35">[32]</a></sup> Scenes depicted as being in Egypt were filmed in <a href="/wiki/Mauritania">Mauritania</a>;<sup><a href="#cite_note-shay-36">[33]</a></sup> the first shoot, a background shot of the desert, occurred there on 5 January 1996.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBesson199718-37">[34]</a></sup> Filming with actors began in late January, and was completed 21 weeks later.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBesson1997116-38">[35]</a></sup> Willis finished filming on 16 May,<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBesson199792-39">[36]</a></sup> while Oldman only commenced filming the following week;<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBesson199796-40">[37]</a></sup> the protagonist (Korben) and antagonist (Zorg) never actually share any screen time.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBesson199768-41">[38]</a></sup> Despite being filmed in London, <i>The Fifth Element</i> was a French production,<sup><a href="#cite_note-faber-42">[39]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMazdon2000109-43">[40]</a></sup> the costliest European film ever made at the time.<sup><a href="#cite_note-alice-44">[41]</a></sup>
</p><p>The designs of buildings in New York were derived from both <a href="/wiki/Metabolism_(architecture)">metabolist</a>-inspired masses of modular apartments from the 1960s and the futuristic designs of architect <a href="/wiki/Antonio_Sant%27Elia">Antonio Sant'Elia</a> in the 1910s.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHanson200565-45">[42]</a></sup> Besson demanded that most of the action shots take place in broad daylight, as he was reportedly tired of the dark spaceship corridors and dimly lit planets common in science-fiction films, and wanted a brighter, "cheerfully crazy" look as opposed to a gloomy, realistic one.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBizony2001169-23">[20]</a></sup>
</p><p>Gaultier designed each of the 900 costumes worn by extras in the Fhloston Paradise scenes and checked each costume every morning.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBesson199768-41">[38]</a></sup> His designs, described as "intellectually <a href="/wiki/Transgressive_art">transgressive</a>",<sup><a href="#cite_note-46">[43]</a></sup> were said to challenge sexuality and gender norms.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHayward2009104-47">[44]</a></sup> A single jacket he designed for the film cost $5,000.<sup><a href="#cite_note-48">[45]</a></sup> Jovovich's costume worn from when her character was first revived was inspired by typical hospital dressing and bandages that provided minimal modesty.<sup><a href="#cite_note-49">[46]</a></sup>
</p><p>The original name of the character Ruby Rhod was Loc Rhod, which appears both in the original script and in the novel adapted from the film.<sup><a href="#cite_note-50">[47]</a></sup> Hayward speculated that the name change was a play on data in the periodic table. <a href="/wiki/Rubidium">Rubidium</a> is the first of the <a href="/wiki/Period_5_element">period 5 elements</a>, and exactly halfway along that row is the element <a href="/wiki/Rhodium">rhodium</a>. Using the first half of each element yields "Rubi Rhod".<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHayward200989-51">[48]</a></sup> Others have speculated this name is a play on the character's <a href="/wiki/Gender_bender">gender-bending</a> persona, with a feminine first name and phallic surname.<sup><a href="#cite_note-women-13">[10]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Prince_(musician)">Prince</a> was cast to portray Rhod but could not schedule filming around his touring dates.<sup><a href="#cite_note-52">[49]</a></sup> Chris Tucker and <a href="/wiki/Jamie_Foxx">Jamie Foxx</a> were each considered for the role; Besson liked Foxx but felt that Tucker's smaller body suited the character better.<sup><a href="#cite_note-53">[50]</a></sup>
</p>
<h3>Effects[<a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Fifth_Element&amp;action=edit&amp;section=5">edit</a>]</h3>
<div><p><a href="/wiki/File:The_Fifth_Element.jpg"></a></p><div><p>One of the models used to portray an <a href="/wiki/New_York_City_Police_Department">NYPD</a> car in the film</p></div></div>
<p>Three different teams handled the three different types of special effects used in the film. <a href="/wiki/Nick_Allder">Nick Allder</a> directed mechanical and pyrotechnical effects, <a href="/wiki/Nick_Dudman">Nick Dudman</a> was placed in charge of 'creature' effects, and <a href="/wiki/Mark_Stetson">Mark Stetson</a> headed the visual effects team.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBesson1997152-33">[30]</a></sup> Visual effects company <a href="/wiki/Digital_Domain">Digital Domain</a> was hired, and <a href="/wiki/Karen_Goulekas">Karen Goulekas</a> was given the role of digital effects supervisor.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBizony2001131-54">[51]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/PowerAnimator">Alias</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-shay-36">[33]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Autodesk_Softimage">Autodesk Softimage</a>, Arete, Side Effect's Prisms, <a href="/wiki/RenderMan_(software)">RenderMan</a>, and in-house software, were used by Digital Domain to create effects.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHanson200560-55">[52]</a></sup> Some individual shots used a combination of <a href="/wiki/Live_action">live action</a>, <a href="/wiki/Scale_model">scale models</a>, <a href="/wiki/Computer-generated_imagery">computer-generated imagery</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Particle_system">particle systems</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBizony200128-56">[53]</a></sup> The lanes of traffic in the scenes in New York City were created with particle systems:
</p>
<blockquote><p>We had maybe eighty cityscape shots with CG cars hurtling around, and you couldn't animate them all by hand because there were just too many of them in each scene ... When the cars turned a corner, the velocity changes were automatic, so the animator didn't have to worry about that. They just planned the moves in a very blocky way, and the mathematics smoothed out the rest.</p></blockquote>
<p>Among the scale models used for filming were the buildings representing New York City. Dozens of apartment blocks and 25 skyscrapers, some 20 feet (6.1 m) high, were constructed in 1⁄24 scale.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBizony2001173-58">[55]</a></sup> It took a team of eighty workers five months to build all the models.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBizony2001173-58">[55]</a></sup> The windows of the buildings were cited by the team as one of the most time-consuming tasks, along with details behind the windows, such as furniture, blinds, <a href="/wiki/Lightbox">lightboxes</a>, and tiny pieces of flat artwork.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBizony2001173-58">[55]</a></sup> Virtual sets built within digital environments were created to enhance the use of miniatures.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHanson200564-59">[56]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Motion_control_photography">Motion control cameras</a> moved throughout the scale sets, and the data they collected was exported to track and generate the CG animation and particle systems.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHanson200565-45">[42]</a></sup> Other techniques used included digital <a href="/wiki/Matte_(filmmaking)">matte</a> paintings for backgrounds<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBizony2001106-60">[57]</a></sup> and the <a href="/wiki/Non-uniform_rational_B-spline">NURBS</a> mathematical model for certain animations, including the sequence in which Leeloo's body is reconstructed.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBizony2001139-61">[58]</a></sup>
</p>
<div><div><p>Models and props used in the film</p></div><div><ul>
	<li><div>
	<div><p><a href="/wiki/File:Cars_of_the_The_Fifth_Element_movie.jpg"></a></p></div>
	<p>Cars of the film on display in <a href="/wiki/Paris">Paris</a> for the 20th anniversary
</p>
	</div></li>
	<li><div>
	<div><p><a href="/wiki/File:Stone_of_the_Fifth_Element.jpg"></a></p></div>
	<p>The water elemental stone
</p>
	</div></li>
	<li><div>
	<div><p><a href="/wiki/File:Taxi_of_the_Fifth_Element.jpg"></a></p></div>
	<p>Scale model of Korben's taxi
</p>
	</div></li>
</ul></div></div>
<h3>Soundtrack[<a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Fifth_Element&amp;action=edit&amp;section=6">edit</a>]</h3>
<p>In <i>The Fifth Element</i>, some kind of music is playing during about ninety percent of the film; Besson's films have been described as "intrinsically musical".<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHayward200944-62">[59]</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHayward200947-63">[60]</a></sup> The <a href="/wiki/Film_score">score</a> was composed by <a href="/wiki/%C3%89ric_Serra">Éric Serra</a>. He relies chiefly on the use of orchestral textures, such as the <a href="/wiki/Oboe">oboe</a> and strings heard as the surgeons prepare to regenerate Leeloo, and the <a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pizzicato">pizzicato</a> as she is reconstructed. Serra also used many non-French influences, such as the <a href="/wiki/Stalinism">Stalinist</a> fanfare heard before the spaceport sequence, the <a href="/wiki/Reggae">reggae</a> piece played in preparation for the flight, and the <a href="/wiki/Hula">hula</a> music that greets the passengers as they arrive in Fhloston.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHayward200968-64">[61]</a></sup> More conventional scoring techniques are present in the <a href="/wiki/Leitmotif">leitmotif</a> that first sounds when professor Pacoli mentions the fifth element, the militaristic snares as the warship prepares to attack the dark planet, and the <a href="/wiki/Gustav_Mahler">Mahlerian</a> funereal piece heard when Leeloo learns about war.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHayward200968-64">[61]</a></sup> The music used for the taxicab chase scene, titled "Alech Taadi" by Algerian performer <a href="/wiki/Khaled_(musician)">Khaled</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-65">[62]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHayward200953-66">[63]</a></sup> did not appear on the film soundtrack but is available on Khaled's album <i><a href="/wiki/N%27ssi_N%27ssi">N'ssi N'ssi</a></i>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-67">[64]</a></sup>
</p>
<div>
<div><p></p></div>
<div>
<p>A sample of Inva Mula's vocals in <i>The Diva Dance</i></p></div></div>
<p>The Diva Dance opera performance used music from <a href="/wiki/Gaetano_Donizetti">Gaetano Donizetti</a>'s <i><a href="/wiki/Lucia_di_Lammermoor">Lucia di Lammermoor</a></i>: "<a href="/wiki/Il_dolce_suono">Il dolce suono</a>",<sup><a href="#cite_note-Gemini-68">[65]</a></sup> the <a href="/wiki/Mad_scene">mad scene</a> of Act III, Scene 2. It is one of the few pieces of music in the film that is <a href="/wiki/Diegesis#Film_sound_and_music">diegetic</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHayward200945-69">[66]</a></sup> It was sung by Albanian <a href="/wiki/Soprano">soprano</a> <a href="/wiki/Inva_Mula">Inva Mula</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-70">[67]</a></sup> The role of Plavalaguna was played by French actress Maïwenn Le Besco.<sup><a href="#cite_note-maiwen-30">[27]</a></sup> Part One (titled "Lucia di Lammermoor") and Part Two (titled "The Diva Dance") of this piece are included as separate tracks on <i>The Fifth Element</i> soundtrack but are sequenced to create the effect of the entire performance seen in the film. The end of Part One blends into the beginning of Part Two, creating a smooth transition between the two tracks.<sup><a href="#cite_note-71">[68]</a></sup>
</p><p>Released as an album under <a href="/wiki/Virgin_Records">Virgin Records</a>, the soundtrack peaked at number 99 on the <a href="/wiki/Billboard_200"><i>Billboard</i> 200</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-72">[69]</a></sup> More than 200,000 copies of the lengthy soundtrack were sold in France alone.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHayward200943–44-73">[70]</a></sup> Rodney Batdorf of <a href="/wiki/AllMusic">AllMusic</a> gave the album three out of five stars, stating it was "diverse and accomplished, and it is just as effective outside of the film as it is within it."<sup><a href="#cite_note-all-74">[71]</a></sup> A review from Filmtracks.com also awarded the album three out of five stars.<sup><a href="#cite_note-filmtracks-75">[72]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2>Release and reception[<a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Fifth_Element&amp;action=edit&amp;section=7">edit</a>]</h2>
<h3>Initial screening[<a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Fifth_Element&amp;action=edit&amp;section=8">edit</a>]</h3>
<p>The film premiered on 7 May at the <a href="/wiki/1997_Cannes_Film_Festival">1997 Cannes Film Festival</a>, where it was selected as the opening film.<sup><a href="#cite_note-festival-cannes.com-76">[73]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-todd-77">[74]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Gaumont_Film_Company">Gaumont</a> built an area for the screening that was over 100,000 square feet (9,300 m<sup>2</sup>). Guests were given a "Fifth Element" <a href="/wiki/Swatch">Swatch</a>, which was used as their ticket for entry. The event included a futuristic ballet, a fashion show by Jean-Paul Gaultier, and fireworks. Gaumont spent between $1 million and $3 million on the event, a record at the time.<sup><a href="#cite_note-78">[75]</a></sup> The film's North American release was handled by <a href="/wiki/Sony_Pictures_Motion_Picture_Group#Sony_Pictures_Releasing">Sony Pictures Releasing</a> via its <a href="/wiki/Columbia_Pictures">Columbia Pictures</a> label.<sup><a href="#cite_note-ShoWest97-79">[76]</a></sup>
</p>
<h3>Box office[<a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Fifth_Element&amp;action=edit&amp;section=9">edit</a>]</h3>
<p>The film debuted at number one in the US, earning $17 million on its opening weekend.<sup><a href="#cite_note-faber-42">[39]</a></sup> It became a box-office success, grossing over $263 million, almost three times its budget of $90 million.<sup><a href="#cite_note-mojo-8">[7]</a></sup> About 75% of the receipts for <i>The Fifth Element</i> were from markets outside the United States,<sup><a href="#cite_note-mojo-8">[7]</a></sup> and it was the ninth-highest-grossing film of the year worldwide.<sup><a href="#cite_note-mojo-8">[7]</a></sup> It was the most successful film at the box office in France in 1997,<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMazdon2000110-80">[77]</a></sup> with more than 7.69 million seeing the film.<sup><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHayward200991-81">[78]</a></sup> In Germany, the film was awarded the <a href="/wiki/Goldene_Leinwand">Goldene Leinwand</a>, a sales certification award for selling more than three million tickets at the box office.<sup><a href="#cite_note-82">[79]</a></sup> <i>The Fifth Element</i> became the highest-grossing French film at the foreign box-office,<sup><a href="#cite_note-alice-44">[41]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-palmer-83">[80]</a></sup> a record it held for 16 years until the release of <i>The Intouchables</i> in 2011.<sup><a href="#cite_note-intouchable-84">[81]</a></sup>
</p>
<h3>Critical response[<a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Fifth_Element&amp;action=edit&amp;section=10">edit</a>]</h3>
<p>Despite the popular response, critics were split in their response to <i>The Fifth Element</i>. Kevin Thomas of the <i><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Times">Los Angeles Times</a></i> described the film as an "elaborate, even campy sci-fi extravaganza, which is nearly as hard to follow as last year's <i><a href="/wiki/Mission:_Impossible_(film)">Mission: Impossible</a></i>". He concluded that <i>The Fifth Element</i> was "a lot warmer, more fun, and boasts some of the most sophisticated, witty production and costume design you could ever hope to see".<sup><a href="#cite_note-85">[82]</a></sup> On the American film review <i><a href="/wiki/At_the_Movies_(1986_TV_program)">At the Movies</a></i>, both <a href="/wiki/Roger_Ebert">Roger Ebert</a> and <a href="/wiki/Gene_Siskel">Gene Siskel</a> gave the film a "thumbs up".<sup><a href="#cite_note-86">[83]</a></sup> In his separate review for the <i><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Sun-Times">Chicago Sun-Times</a></i>, Ebert gave the film three stars out of four, calling it "One of the great goofy movies", and concluding, "I would not have missed seeing this film, and I recommend it for its richness of imagery. But at 127 minutes, which seems a reasonable length, it plays long."<sup><a href="#cite_note-roger-4">[4]</a></sup>
</p><p>The film also received reviews that criticized its overblown style. <a href="/wiki/Todd_McCarthy">Todd McCarthy</a> of <i><a href="/wiki/Variety_(magazine)">Variety</a></i> wrote, "A largely misfired European attempt to make an American-style sci-fi spectacular, <i>The Fifth Element</i> consists of a hodgepodge of elements that don't comfortably coalesce."<sup><a href="#cite_note-todd-77">[74]</a></sup> David Edelstein of <i><a href="/wiki/Slate_(magazine)">Slate</a></i> said, "It may or may not be the worst movie ever made, but it is one of the most unhinged."<sup><a href="#cite_note-slate-5">[5]</a></sup>
</p><p>Chris Tucker's performance as Ruby Rhod also divided critics.<sup><a href="#cite_note-87">[84]</a></sup> He was praised in the <i>Los Angeles Times</i><sup><a href="#cite_note-88">[85]</a></sup> and <i><a href="/wiki/Time_(magazine)">Time</a></i>; the latter called him "the summer's most outrageous special effect".<sup><a href="#cite_note-89">[86]</a></sup> Josh Winning of <i><a href="/wiki/Total_Film">Total Film</a></i>, singled out Tucker's performance as the low point of the film, ranking it as number 20 on his 2011 list, "50 Performances That Ruined Movies".<sup><a href="#cite_note-90">[87]</a></sup>
</p><p><i>The Fifth Element</i> holds a 71% approval rating at <a href="/wiki/Rotten_Tomatoes">Rotten Tomatoes</a>, based on 68 reviews, with an average score of 6.4/10. The site's consensus reads: "Visually inventive and gleefully over the top, Luc Besson's <i>The Fifth Element</i> is a fantastic piece of pop sci-fi that never takes itself too seriously."<sup><a href="#cite_note-91">[88]</a></sup> At <a href="/wiki/Metacritic">Metacritic</a>, it has a weighted score of 52 out of 100 based on reviews from 22 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.<sup><a href="#cite_note-92">[89]</a></sup> Audiences polled by <a href="/wiki/CinemaScore">CinemaScore</a> gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.<sup><a href="#cite_note-CinemaScore-93">[90]</a></sup>
</p>
<h3>Plagiarism suit[<a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Fifth_Element&amp;action=edit&amp;section=11">edit</a>]</h3>
<p>Alejandro Jodorowsky and Jean Giraud sued Besson after the film was released, claiming <i>The Fifth Element</i> had plagiarised their comic <i><a href="/wiki/The_Incal">The Incal</a></i>. Giraud sued for 13.1 million euros for unfair competition, 9 million euros in damages and interest, and two to five percent of the net operating revenues of the film. Jodorowsky sued for 700,000 euros. The case was dismissed in 2004 on the grounds that only "tiny fragments" of the comic had been used<sup><a href="#cite_note-94">[91]</a></sup> and Giraud had been hired by Besson to work on the film before the allegations were made.<sup><a href="#cite_note-av-21">[18]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2>Adaptations[<a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Fifth_Element&amp;action=edit&amp;section=12">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>A novel was adapted from the screenplay of <i>The Fifth Element</i>, written by <a href="/wiki/Terry_Bisson">Terry Bisson</a>; it was published by <a href="/wiki/HarperPrism">HarperPrism</a> in 1997.<sup><a href="#cite_note-95">[92]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-96">[93]</a></sup> Rumors arose after the film's release that it would be followed by a sequel, tentatively titled <i>Mr. Shadow</i>. In 2011 Besson said that he never planned a sequel and has no desire to make one.<sup><a href="#cite_note-97">[94]</a></sup>
</p><p><a href="/wiki/Activision">Activision</a> created a <a href="/wiki/The_Fifth_Element_(video_game)">video game adaptation</a> of <i>The Fifth Element</i> in 1998 for the <a href="/wiki/PlayStation_(console)">PlayStation</a> game console and <a href="/wiki/Personal_computer">PC</a>. The PlayStation version generally received negative reviews,<sup><a href="#cite_note-98">[95]</a></sup> but the PC version was better received.<sup><a href="#cite_note-99">[96]</a></sup> Lauren Fielder from <i><a href="/wiki/GameSpot">GameSpot</a></i> described the PlayStation version as "quite possibly the worst game I've ever played".<sup><a href="#cite_note-100">[97]</a></sup> Doug Perry from <i><a href="/wiki/IGN">IGN</a></i> wrote: "Take <i><a href="/wiki/Tomb_Raider">Tomb Raider</a></i>, add in Leeloo Multipass and boring puzzles, and you've got <i>Fifth Element</i>."<sup><a href="#cite_note-101">[98]</a></sup>
</p><p>A racing game based on the film, <i><a href="/wiki/New_York_Race">New York Race</a></i>, was released in 2001.<sup><a href="#cite_note-eurogamer-102">[99]</a></sup> <i><a href="/wiki/Eurogamer">Eurogamer</a></i> gave the game 6 out of 10, concluding: "<i>New York Race</i> is a fun little arcade racer, which oozes style, but it's something you'll grow tired of extremely quickly and as such remains fun only in short bursts."<sup><a href="#cite_note-eurogamer-102">[99]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2>Accolades[<a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Fifth_Element&amp;action=edit&amp;section=13">edit</a>]</h2>
<p><i>The Fifth Element</i> was nominated for <a href="/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Sound_Editing">Best Sound Editing</a> at the <a href="/wiki/70th_Academy_Awards">70th Academy Awards</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-103">[100]</a></sup> and for Best Sound Editing at the 1998 <a href="/wiki/Motion_Picture_Sound_Editors">Golden Reel Awards</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-104">[101]</a></sup> but lost to <i><a href="/wiki/Titanic_(1997_film)">Titanic</a></i> in both cases. It won the <a href="/wiki/BAFTA_Award_for_Best_Special_Visual_Effects">BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-105">[102]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-nyawards-106">[103]</a></sup> and the <a href="/wiki/Lumi%C3%A8res_Award_for_Best_Director">Lumières Award for Best Director</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-107">[104]</a></sup> It was nominated for seven <a href="/wiki/C%C3%A9sar_Award">César</a> awards, winning three: <a href="/wiki/C%C3%A9sar_Award_for_Best_Director">Best Director</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-108">[105]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/C%C3%A9sar_Award_for_Best_Cinematography">Best Cinematography</a> and <a href="/wiki/C%C3%A9sar_Award_for_Best_Production_Design">Best Production Design</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-nyawards-106">[103]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-109">[106]</a></sup> It was nominated for Film of the Year at the 1997 <a href="/wiki/European_Film_Awards">European Film Awards</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-110">[107]</a></sup> as well as the <a href="/wiki/Hugo_Award_for_Best_Dramatic_Presentation">Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-111">[108]</a></sup> and the <a href="/wiki/Satellite_Award_for_Best_Visual_Effects">Satellite Award for Best Visual Effects</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-112">[109]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Thierry_Arbogast">Thierry Arbogast</a> was awarded the <a href="/wiki/Vulcan_Award">Technical Grand Prize</a> at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival for his work on both <i>The Fifth Element</i> and <i><a href="/wiki/She%27s_So_Lovely">She's So Lovely</a></i>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-nyawards-106">[103]</a></sup> The film received four <a href="/wiki/Saturn_Award">Saturn Award</a> nominations: <a href="/wiki/Saturn_Award_for_Best_Science_Fiction_Film">Best Science Fiction Film</a>, <a href="/wiki/Saturn_Award_for_Best_Costume">Best Costume</a>, <a href="/wiki/Saturn_Award_for_Best_Special_Effects">Best Special Effects</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-113">[110]</a></sup> and <a href="/wiki/Saturn_Award_for_Best_Supporting_Actress">Best Supporting Actress</a> for Milla Jovovich.<sup><a href="#cite_note-post-114">[111]</a></sup> Jovovich's fight against the Mangalores was nominated for the <a href="/wiki/MTV_Movie_Award_for_Best_Fight">MTV Movie Award for Best Fight</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-post-114">[111]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-115">[112]</a></sup> and the actress was also nominated for Best Actress – Newcomer at the <a href="/wiki/Blockbuster_Entertainment_Awards">Blockbuster Entertainment Awards</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-116">[113]</a></sup>
</p><p>Conversely, Jovovich received a <a href="/wiki/Golden_Raspberry_Awards">Golden Raspberry</a> nomination for <a href="/wiki/Golden_Raspberry_Award_for_Worst_Supporting_Actress">Worst Supporting Actress</a>, and Chris Tucker was nominated for <a href="/wiki/Golden_Raspberry_Award_for_Worst_New_Star">Worst New Star</a> for his performances in both <i>The Fifth Element</i> and <i><a href="/wiki/Money_Talks_(1997_film)">Money Talks</a></i>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-117">[114]</a></sup> The film also received four nominations at the 1997 <a href="/wiki/Stinkers_Bad_Movie_Awards">Stinkers Bad Movie Awards</a>: Worst Picture, Worst Director, Worst Supporting Actor for Tucker and Worst Supporting Actress for Jovovich.<sup><a href="#cite_note-118">[115]</a></sup>
</p>
<table>
<tbody><tr>
<th>Year
</th>
<th>Event
</th>
<th>Award
</th>
<th>Nominee
</th>
<th>Result
</th></tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/70th_Academy_Awards">1998</a>
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Academy_Awards">Academy Awards</a>
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Sound_Editing">Best Sound Editing</a>
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Mark_Mangini">Mark Mangini</a>
</td>
<td>Nominated
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1998
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Blockbuster_Entertainment_Awards">Blockbuster Entertainment Awards</a>
</td>
<td>Best Actress – Newcomer
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Milla_Jovovich">Milla Jovovich</a>
</td>
<td>Nominated
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/51st_British_Academy_Film_Awards">1997</a>
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/British_Academy_of_Film_and_Television_Arts">British Academy of Film and Television Arts</a>
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/BAFTA_Award_for_Best_Special_Visual_Effects">Best Special Visual Effects</a>
</td>
<td>Mark Mangini
</td>
<td>Won
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/1997_Cannes_Film_Festival">1997</a>
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Cannes_Film_Festival">Cannes Film Festival</a>
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Vulcan_Award">Technical Grand Prize</a>
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Thierry_Arbogast">Thierry Arbogast</a>
</td>
<td>Won
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/23rd_C%C3%A9sar_Awards">1998</a>
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/C%C3%A9sar_Award">César Award</a>
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/C%C3%A9sar_Award_for_Best_Cinematography">Best Cinematography</a>
</td>
<td>Thierry Arbogast
</td>
<td>Won
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/C%C3%A9sar_Award_for_Best_Director">Best Director</a>
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Luc_Besson">Luc Besson</a>
</td>
<td>Won
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/C%C3%A9sar_Award_for_Best_Production_Design">Best Production Design</a>
</td>
<td>Dan Weil
</td>
<td>Won
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/C%C3%A9sar_Award_for_Best_Costume_Design">Best Costume Design</a>
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Jean-Paul_Gaultier">Jean-Paul Gaultier</a>
</td>
<td>Nominated
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/C%C3%A9sar_Award_for_Best_Editing">Best Editing</a>
</td>
<td>Sylvie Landra
</td>
<td>Nominated
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/C%C3%A9sar_Award_for_Best_Film">Best Film</a>
</td>
<td>Luc Besson
</td>
<td>Nominated
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/C%C3%A9sar_Award_for_Best_Music_Written_for_a_Film">Best Music Written for a Film</a>
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/%C3%89ric_Serra">Éric Serra</a>
</td>
<td>Nominated
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/C%C3%A9sar_Award_for_Best_Sound">Best Sound</a>
</td>
<td>Daniel Brisseau
</td>
<td>Nominated
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1997
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/European_Film_Awards">European Film Awards</a>
</td>
<td>Film of the Year
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Patrice_Ledoux">Patrice Ledoux</a>
</td>
<td>Nominated
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/18th_Golden_Raspberry_Awards">1998</a>
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Golden_Raspberry_Awards">Golden Raspberry Awards</a>
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Golden_Raspberry_Award_for_Worst_Supporting_Actress">Worst Supporting Actress</a>
</td>
<td>Milla Jovovich
</td>
<td>Nominated
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/Golden_Raspberry_Award_for_Worst_New_Star">Worst New Star</a>
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Chris_Tucker">Chris Tucker</a>
</td>
<td>Nominated
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1998
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Motion_Picture_Sound_Editors">Golden Reel Awards</a>
</td>
<td>Best Sound Editing
</td>
<td>Mark Mangini
</td>
<td>Nominated
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1998
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Hugo_Awards">Hugo Awards</a>
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Hugo_Award_for_Best_Dramatic_Presentation">Best Dramatic Presentation</a>
</td>
<td><i>The Fifth Element</i>
</td>
<td>Nominated
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1997
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Lumi%C3%A8res_Award">Lumières Award</a>
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Lumi%C3%A8res_Award_for_Best_Director">Best Director</a>
</td>
<td>Luc Besson
</td>
<td>Won
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/1998_MTV_Movie_Awards">1998</a>
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/MTV_Movie_Awards">MTV Movie Awards</a>
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/MTV_Movie_Award_for_Best_Fight">Best Fight</a>
</td>
<td>Milla Jovovich vs. Aliens
</td>
<td>Nominated
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1998
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Satellite_Award">Satellite Award</a>
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Satellite_Award_for_Best_Visual_Effects">Best Visual Effects</a>
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Mark_Stetson">Mark Stetson</a>
</td>
<td>Nominated
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1998
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Saturn_Award">Saturn Award</a>
</td>
<td>Best Science Fiction Film
</td>
<td><i>The Fifth Element</i>
</td>
<td>Nominated
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Best Costumes
</td>
<td>Jean-Paul Gaultier
</td>
<td>Nominated
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Best Special Effects
</td>
<td>Special effects team
</td>
<td>Nominated
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Best Supporting Actress
</td>
<td>Milla Jovovich
</td>
<td>Nominated
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1997
</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Stinkers_Bad_Movie_Awards">Stinkers Bad Movie Awards</a>
</td>
<td>Worst Picture
</td>
<td><i>The Fifth Element</i>
</td>
<td>Nominated
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Worst Director
</td>
<td>Luc Besson
</td>
<td>Nominated
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Worst Supporting Actor
</td>
<td>Chris Tucker
</td>
<td>Nominated
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Worst Supporting Actress
</td>
<td>Milla Jovovich
</td>
<td>Nominated
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<h2>Home media[<a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Fifth_Element&amp;action=edit&amp;section=14">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>The original home video release of <i>The Fifth Element</i> took place in North America on 10 December 1997, on VHS, <a href="/wiki/LaserDisc">LaserDisc</a>, and DVD.<sup><a href="#cite_note-dvd-119">[116]</a></sup> The original DVD presented the film in its original 2.39:1 <a href="/wiki/Anamorphic_widescreen">anamorphic widescreen</a> format, though carried no special features.<sup><a href="#cite_note-120">[117]</a></sup> The film was released in Sony's <a href="/wiki/Superbit">Superbit</a> format in October 2001.<sup><a href="#cite_note-ign-121">[118]</a></sup> In his review, Conrad Jeremy from <i>IGN</i> gave the picture quality of the original DVD release 9 out of 10, though awarded the Superbit version a perfect score for picture quality. Overall, the Superbit version was given 8 out of 10; the final score was brought down by the version's complete lack of special features.<sup><a href="#cite_note-ign-121">[118]</a></sup>
</p><p>An "Ultimate Edition" set of two DVDs was released on 11 January 2005.<sup><a href="#cite_note-dvd-119">[116]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-dvdtalk-122">[119]</a></sup> The only difference between the Superbit version and the Ultimate Edition disc one is the addition of a "fact track", which when turned on displays trivia about the film, cast, and crew as the film plays. The second disc provides various special features, focusing on visual production, special effects, fashion in the film, <a href="/wiki/Featurette">featurettes</a>, and interviews with Willis, Jovovich, and Tucker, as well as featurettes on the four different alien races in the film and Diva Plavalaguna. Ian Jane of <i><a href="/wiki/DVD_Talk">DVD Talk</a></i> praised the Ultimate Edition for its special features.<sup><a href="#cite_note-dvdtalk-122">[119]</a></sup>
</p><p>The first <a href="/wiki/Blu-ray">Blu-ray</a> release of the film on 20 June 2006 was criticised as having poor picture quality by Blu-ray standards, and for its lack of special features.<sup><a href="#cite_note-blu-123">[120]</a></sup> In what has been called "an extremely rare move", Sony responded to complaints by making a remastered Blu-ray version available, released on 17 July 2007, and also offered a replacement exchange program for customers unhappy with the original Blu-ray release.<sup><a href="#cite_note-124">[121]</a></sup> Ben Williams from Blu-ray.com stated the remastered version "absolutely" made up for the substandard initial release, and praised its high video and audio quality; however, he criticised the continued lack of special features.<sup><a href="#cite_note-blu-123">[120]</a></sup>
</p><p>The 20th-anniversary <a href="/wiki/4K_resolution">4K</a> remaster was released on <a href="/wiki/Ultra_HD_Blu-ray">Ultra HD Blu-ray</a> on 11 July 2017.<sup><a href="#cite_note-125">[122]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2>Legacy[<a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Fifth_Element&amp;action=edit&amp;section=15">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>The film has been described by <a href="/wiki/CBS_News">CBS News</a>, Rotten Tomatoes, and ComingSoon.com as a science-fiction <a href="/wiki/Cult_film">cult classic</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-cbs-126">[123]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-127">[124]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-128">[125]</a></sup> In 2007 the <a href="/wiki/Visual_Effects_Society">Visual Effects Society</a> placed <i>The Fifth Element</i> at number 50, tied with <i><a href="/wiki/Darby_O%27Gill_and_the_Little_People">Darby O'Gill and the Little People</a></i>, on their list of the fifty most influential visual effects films of all time.<sup><a href="#cite_note-129">[126]</a></sup> In 2014 <i><a href="/wiki/Time_Out_(magazine)">Time Out</a></i> listed the film at number 42 on their "100 best sci-fi movies" list.<sup><a href="#cite_note-130">[127]</a></sup>
</p><p>Film critic <a href="/wiki/Mark_Kermode">Mark Kermode</a> reported that <i>The Fifth Element</i> was one of the most divisive films among his readers, regarded as both the best and the worst summer blockbuster of all time. Years later, Kermode recalled: "I remember very clearly being in Cannes when <i>[The] Fifth Element</i> was first played, and it <i>really</i> divided the audience."<sup><a href="#cite_note-131">[128]</a></sup> Stephen Cass of <i><a href="/wiki/Discover_(magazine)">Discover</a></i> ranked the film the third-best science-fiction film on subscription service <a href="/wiki/Hulu">Hulu</a>, writing, "People seem to either like or loathe <i>The Fifth Element </i> ... Lavish visuals and entertaining performances from Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, and Gary Oldman make this movie worth watching."<sup><a href="#cite_note-132">[129]</a></sup> In some circles, the film has gained a "<a href="/wiki/Cult_film">so-bad-it's-good</a>" status; Meredith Woerner of <a href="/wiki/Io9">io9</a> listed <i>The Fifth Element</i> as one of "The 20 Best Worst Science-Fiction Movies of All Time".<sup><a href="#cite_note-133">[130]</a></sup>
</p>
<h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Fifth_Element&amp;action=edit&amp;section=16">edit</a>]</h3>
<p>Willis spoke favourably of the film in a 1999 interview, concluding: "It was a real fun movie to make."<sup><a href="#cite_note-special-134">[131]</a></sup> Tucker and Jovovich also spoke favourably of both their experiences making the film and working with Besson in interviews on the <i>Ultimate Edition</i> DVD; Jovovich described Besson as "the first really amazing director I had worked with".<sup><a href="#cite_note-135">[132]</a></sup> Asked in a 2014 interview if he liked the film, Gary Oldman stated, "Oh no. I can't bear it."<sup><a href="#cite_note-136">[133]</a></sup> He had explained in 2011: "It was me singing for my supper because Luc had come in and partly financed [my film] <i><a href="/wiki/Nil_by_Mouth_(film)">Nil by Mouth</a></i>."<sup><a href="#cite_note-137">[134]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2>Notes and references[<a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Fifth_Element&amp;action=edit&amp;section=17">edit</a>]</h2>
<div><ol>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b> Conflicting sources stated the film's budget to be various figures between US$50 million and $100 million. The most frequently cited figure and also the figure cited by Besson in his book, <i>The Story of The Fifth Element</i> is $90 million.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b> <a href="/wiki/French_language">French</a>: <i>Le Cinquième Élément</i>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b> The film's opening scene states the year is 1914 and the following scene in space states it is "300 years later". However, Korben's alarm clock shows the year as 2263. The year is given as 2257 on the DVD sleeve notes published by Pathé in 1997, and as 2259 by Besson in <i>The Story of The Fifth Element</i>.
</li>
</ol></div>
<div><ol>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141012215118/http://cinema.encyclopedie.films.bifi.fr/index.php?pk=28733">"Le Cinquième élément"</a> [The Fifth Element]. <i><a href="/wiki/Cin%C3%A9-Ressources">Ciné-Ressources</a></i> (in French). Archived from <a href="http://cinema.encyclopedie.films.bifi.fr/index.php?pk=28733">the original</a> on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.classification.gov.au/Pages/View.aspx?sid=efS4GKZLZW5p%2b3Q1vBuCSg%253d%253d&amp;ncdctx=0VmOzoahxx%2b8qmylqLZ0EWLLIIx0N1daLqvpGxOrywuxHmycQQCl0YYgCNyvFNIxamsC5lQNLVh7BwRvZVqV1A%253d%253d">"Fifth Element, The Le Cinquieme Elemente"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Australian_Classification_Board">Australian Classification Board</a></i>. Retrieved 11 April 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBesson199711_3-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBesson199711_3-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBesson199711_3-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBesson199711_3-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#CITEREFBesson1997">Besson 1997</a>, p. 11.
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-roger_4-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-roger_4-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite><a href="/wiki/Roger_Ebert">Ebert, Roger</a> (9 May 1997). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140828023452/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-fifth-element-1997">"The Fifth Element"</a>. <i>RogerEbert.com</i>. Archived from <a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-fifth-element-1997">the original</a> on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-slate_5-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-slate_5-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Edelstein, David (11 May 1997). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141027030934/http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/movies/1997/05/unmitigated_gaul.html">"Unmitigated Gaul: The Fifth Element and Irma Vep"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Slate_(magazine)">Slate</a></i>. Archived from <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/movies/1997/05/unmitigated_gaul.html">the original</a> on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMazdon2000110Hayward200991_6-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFMazdon2000">Mazdon 2000</a>, p. 110; <a href="#CITEREFHayward2009">Hayward 2009</a>, p. 91.
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-mojo_8-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-mojo_8-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-mojo_8-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-mojo_8-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150122210247/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=fifthelement.htm">"The Fifth Element (1997)"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Box_Office_Mojo">Box Office Mojo</a></i>. Archived from <a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=fifthelement.htm">the original</a> on 22 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-stephen_11-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-stephen_11-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-stephen_11-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-stephen_11-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Schaefer, Stephen. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121119012610/http://www.industrycentral.net/director_interviews/LB01.HTM">"Filmmaker Luc Besson explains how a childhood fantasy became a hit sci-fi epic"</a>. <i>IndustryCentral</i>. Archived from <a href="http://www.industrycentral.net/director_interviews/LB01.HTM">the original</a> on 19 November 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b> <cite><a href="/wiki/Jay_Telotte">Telotte, J. P</a> (2001). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=izKtL3IFBXcC&amp;q=science+fiction+themes+%22fifth+element%22&amp;pg=PA16"><i>Science Fiction Film</i></a>. Cambridge University Press. p. 16. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-521-59647-3"><bdi>978-0-521-59647-3</bdi></a>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20161224211559/https://books.google.com/books?id=izKtL3IFBXcC">Archived</a> from the original on 24 December 2016.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-women_13-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-women_13-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Ott, Brian L; Aoki, Eric (2001). <a href="https://mountainscholar.org/bitstream/handle/10217/644/SCOMblo00002.pdf?sequence=1&amp;isAllowed=y">"Counter-Imagination as Interpretive Practice: Futuristic Fantasy and <i>The Fifth Element</i>"</a> (PDF). <i><a href="/wiki/Women%27s_Studies_in_Communication">Women's Studies in Communication</a></i>. <b>27</b> (2): 149–176. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)">doi</a>:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080%2F07491409.2004.10162471">10.1080/07491409.2004.10162471</a>. <a href="/wiki/Hdl_(identifier)">hdl</a>:<a href="//hdl.handle.net/10217%2F644">10217/644</a>. <a href="/wiki/S2CID_(identifier)">S2CID</a> <a href="https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:53953295">53953295</a>. Retrieved 3 August 2019.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b> <cite>Brandt, Stefan (2000). "American Culture X: Identity, homosexuality, and the search for a new American hero". In West, Russell; Lay, Frank (eds.). <i>Subverting Masculinity: Hegemonic and Alternative Visions of Masculinity in Contemporary Culture</i>. Amsterdam: Rodopi. pp. 67–93. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-420-1234-9"><bdi>978-90-420-1234-9</bdi></a>.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHayward200998_15-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHayward200998_15-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHayward200998_15-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#CITEREFHayward2009">Hayward 2009</a>, p. 98.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHayward200991–92_16-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFHayward2009">Hayward 2009</a>, pp. 91–92.
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHayward200992_17-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHayward200992_17-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHayward200992_17-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#CITEREFHayward2009">Hayward 2009</a>, p. 92.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140804003851/http://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-fifth-element-v154944">"The Fifth Element (1997)"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/AllMovie">AllMovie</a></i>. Archived from <a href="https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-fifth-element-v154944">the original</a> on 4 August 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBesson19978–9_19-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFBesson1997">Besson 1997</a>, pp. 8–9.
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBesson19979–10_20-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBesson19979–10_20-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#CITEREFBesson1997">Besson 1997</a>, pp. 9–10.
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-av_21-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-av_21-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Heller, Jason (10 March 2012). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141111072039/http://www.avclub.com/article/rip-moebius-comics-legend-and-imetal-hurlant-ico-f-70686">"R.I.P. Moebius, comics legend and Métal Hurlant co-founder"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_A.V._Club">The A.V. Club</a></i>. Archived from <a href="https://www.avclub.com/article/rip-moebius-comics-legend-and-imetal-hurlant-ico-f-70686">the original</a> on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-22">^</a></b> <cite>Anders, Charlie (1 July 2012). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141111071418/http://io9.com/5922655/luc-besson-adapting-classic-time-travel-comic-created-by-fifth-element-concept-artist">"Luc Besson adapting classic time-travel comic created by Fifth Element concept artist"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Io9">io9</a></i>. Archived from <a href="http://io9.com/5922655/luc-besson-adapting-classic-time+travel-comic-created-by-fifth-element-concept-artist">the original</a> on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBizony2001169_23-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBizony2001169_23-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#CITEREFBizony2001">Bizony 2001</a>, p. 169.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBesson1997158Mézières200465_24-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFBesson1997">Besson 1997</a>, p. 158; <a href="#CITEREFMézières2004">Mézières 2004</a>, p. 65.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBesson199710–11_25-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFBesson1997">Besson 1997</a>, pp. 10–11.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBesson1997149_26-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFBesson1997">Besson 1997</a>, p. 149.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMézières200465_27-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFMézières2004">Mézières 2004</a>, p. 65.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBesson199713_28-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFBesson1997">Besson 1997</a>, p. 13.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-29">^</a></b> <cite>Rogers, Stephen D (15 November 2011). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=GTXrDQAAQBAJ&amp;q=%22hold+conversations+in+The+Divine+Language%22&amp;pg=PT93"><i>The Dictionary of Made-Up Languages: From Elvish to Klingon, The Anwa, Reella, Ealray, Yeht (Real) Origins of Invented Lexicons</i></a>. Adams Media. p. 51. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4405-2817-0"><bdi>978-1-4405-2817-0</bdi></a>.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-maiwen_30-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-maiwen_30-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Change, Kee (5 May 2012). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141208052359/http://anthemmagazine.com/film-critic-maiwenns-polisse/">"Film Critic: Maïwenn's 'Polisse'"</a>. <i>Anthem Magazine</i>. Archived from <a href="http://anthemmagazine.com/film-critic-maiwenns-polisse/">the original</a> on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-H&amp;Q_31-0">^</a></b> <cite>Buys, Sara (January 2003). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141026085410/http://www.millaj.com/art/harpersqueen0103.shtml">"Milla's Tale"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Harpers_%26_Queen">Harpers &amp; Queen</a></i>. Archived from <a href="http://www.millaj.com/art/harpersqueen0103.shtml">the original</a> on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-32">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141129041056/http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/paris-prosecutors-probe-luc-bessons-film-city-studios.aspx?pageID=238&amp;nID=59891&amp;NewsCatID=351">"Paris prosecutors probe Luc Besson's 'Film City' studios"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/H%C3%BCrriyet_Daily_News">Hürriyet Daily News</a></i>. 20 December 2013. Archived from <a href="http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/paris-prosecutors-probe-luc-bessons-film-city-studios.aspx?pageID=238&amp;nID=59891&amp;NewsCatID=351">the original</a> on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBesson1997152_33-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBesson1997152_33-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#CITEREFBesson1997">Besson 1997</a>, p. 152.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-34">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.pinewoodgroup.com/production/fifth-element">"The Fifth Element"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Pinewood_Studios">Pinewood Studios</a></i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141113111819/http://www.pinewoodgroup.com/production/fifth-element">Archived</a> from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-35">^</a></b> <cite>Shipman, Chris (11 October 2011). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141116111132/http://www.roh.org.uk/news/top-films-featuring-opera-20-16">"Top films featuring opera 20-16"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Royal_Opera_House">Royal Opera House</a></i>. Archived from <a href="http://www.roh.org.uk/news/top-films-featuring-opera-20-16">the original</a> on 16 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-shay_36-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-shay_36-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Elrick, Ted (1997). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=RWcqAQAAIAAJ&amp;q=cinefex+%22fifth+element%22+mauritania">"Elemental Images"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Cinefex">Cinefex</a></i> (70): 130.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBesson199718_37-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFBesson1997">Besson 1997</a>, p. 18.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBesson1997116_38-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFBesson1997">Besson 1997</a>, p. 116.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBesson199792_39-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFBesson1997">Besson 1997</a>, p. 92.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBesson199796_40-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFBesson1997">Besson 1997</a>, p. 96.
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBesson199768_41-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBesson199768_41-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#CITEREFBesson1997">Besson 1997</a>, p. 68.
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-faber_42-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-faber_42-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Drazin, Charles (2011). <a href="https://archive.org/details/frenchcinema0000draz"><i>The Faber Book of French Cinema</i></a>. <a href="/wiki/Faber_and_Faber">Faber and Faber</a>. p. <a href="https://archive.org/details/frenchcinema0000draz/page/382">382</a>. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-571-21849-3"><bdi>978-0-571-21849-3</bdi></a>. <q>fifth element french films.</q></cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMazdon2000109_43-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFMazdon2000">Mazdon 2000</a>, p. 109.
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-alice_44-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-alice_44-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite>LaPlante, Alice (1999). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=9uBnZHmg3VYC&amp;q=%22fifth+element%22+expensive+french&amp;pg=PA58"><i>Playing for Profit: How Digital Entertainment is Making Big Business Out of Child's Play</i></a>. John Wiley &amp; Sons. p. 58. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-471-29614-0"><bdi>978-0-471-29614-0</bdi></a>.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHanson200565_45-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHanson200565_45-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#CITEREFHanson2005">Hanson 2005</a>, p. 65.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-46">^</a></b> Hayward, p. 96.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHayward2009104_47-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFHayward2009">Hayward 2009</a>, p. 104.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-48">^</a></b> <cite>Spindler, Amy M (8 May 1997). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150201041638/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/08/garden/french-futurists-no-honor-at-home.html?pagewanted=2">"French Futurists: No Honor at Home"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_New_York_Times">The New York Times</a></i>. Archived from <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/08/garden/french-futurists-no-honor-at-home.html?pagewanted=2">the original</a> on 1 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-49">^</a></b> <cite>Satenstein, Liana (11 May 2022). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220511201006/https://www.vogue.com/article/behind-the-moment-milla-jovovich">"Milla Jovovich Talks Her Epic The Fifth Element Costume"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Vogue_(magazine)">Vogue</a></i>. Archived from <a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/behind-the-moment-milla-jovovich">the original</a> on 11 May 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-50">^</a></b> <cite>Yu, Justin (28 December 2009). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141014135521/http://www.cnet.com/au/news/the-404-yuletide-mini-sode-where-the-404-is-the-fifth-element/">"The 404 Yuletide Mini-sode: Where The 404 is the Fifth Element"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/CNET">CNET</a></i>. Archived from <a href="https://www.cnet.com/au/news/the-404-yuletide-mini-sode-where-the-404-is-the-fifth-element/">the original</a> on 14 October 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHayward200989_51-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFHayward2009">Hayward 2009</a>, p. 89.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-52">^</a></b> <cite>Romano, Nick (24 April 2016). <a href="https://ew.com/article/2016/04/24/fifth-element-prince-ruby-rhod-luc-besson/">"The Fifth Element: Prince Ruby Rhod casting didn't work out, says director Luc Besson"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Entertainment_Weekly">Entertainment Weekly</a></i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210212014659/https://ew.com/article/2016/04/24/fifth-element-prince-ruby-rhod-luc-besson/">Archived</a> from the original on 12 February 2021.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-53">^</a></b> <cite>Greenblatt, Leah (19 July 2017). <a href="https://ew.com/movies/2017/07/19/fifth-element-oral-history-luc-besson/">"There will never be another Fifth Element – and more amazing stories about the making of Luc Besson's 1997 classic"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Entertainment_Weekly">Entertainment Weekly</a></i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210609192520/https://ew.com/movies/2017/07/19/fifth-element-oral-history-luc-besson/">Archived</a> from the original on 9 June 2021.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBizony2001131_54-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFBizony2001">Bizony 2001</a>, p. 131.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHanson200560_55-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFHanson2005">Hanson 2005</a>, p. 60.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBizony200128_56-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFBizony2001">Bizony 2001</a>, p. 28.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBizony2001140_57-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFBizony2001">Bizony 2001</a>, p. 140.
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBizony2001173_58-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBizony2001173_58-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBizony2001173_58-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#CITEREFBizony2001">Bizony 2001</a>, p. 173.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHanson200564_59-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFHanson2005">Hanson 2005</a>, p. 64.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBizony2001106_60-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFBizony2001">Bizony 2001</a>, p. 106.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBizony2001139_61-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFBizony2001">Bizony 2001</a>, p. 139.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHayward200944_62-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFHayward2009">Hayward 2009</a>, p. 44.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHayward200947_63-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFHayward2009">Hayward 2009</a>, p. 47.
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHayward200968_64-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHayward200968_64-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#CITEREFHayward2009">Hayward 2009</a>, p. 68.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-65">^</a></b> <cite>Cornea, Christine (2007). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=OF-jcN8vbXEC&amp;q=%22Alech+Taadi%22&amp;pg=PA207"><i>Science Fiction Cinema: Between Fantasy and Reality</i></a>. Rutgers University Press. p. 207. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8135-4173-0"><bdi>978-0-8135-4173-0</bdi></a>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20161224214258/https://books.google.com/books?id=OF-jcN8vbXEC">Archived</a> from the original on 24 December 2016.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHayward200953_66-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFHayward2009">Hayward 2009</a>, p. 53.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-67">^</a></b> <cite>Sheridan, Tim. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130621195145/http://www.allmusic.com/album/nssi-nssi-mw0000112685">"Khaled: N'ssi N'ssi"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/AllMusic">AllMusic</a></i>. Archived from <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/nssi-nssi-mw0000112685">the original</a> on 21 June 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-Gemini_68-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130729164445/http://vitas.com.ru/gemini_press_release_eng.htm">"Gemini Sun Records is Proud to Announce Vitas"</a>. <i>Press release</i>. Gemini Sun Records. Archived from <a href="http://vitas.com.ru/gemini_press_release_eng.htm">the original</a> on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHayward200945_69-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFHayward2009">Hayward 2009</a>, p. 45.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-70">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120620213230/http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-fifth-element-virgin-mw0000020753">"The Fifth Element [Virgin]"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/AllMusic">AllMusic</a></i>. Archived from <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-fifth-element-virgin-mw0000020753">the original</a> on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-71">^</a></b> <cite>Éric Serra (6 May 1997). <i>The Fifth Element</i> (Soundtrack). Virgin Records.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-72">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141210024235/http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-fifth-element-virgin-mw0000020753/awards">"The Fifth Element [Virgin] – Awards"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/AllMusic">AllMusic</a></i>. Archived from <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-fifth-element-virgin-mw0000020753/awards">the original</a> on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHayward200943–44_73-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFHayward2009">Hayward 2009</a>, pp. 43–44.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-all_74-0">^</a></b> <cite>Batdorf, Rodney. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141210024843/http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-fifth-element-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0000020753">"The Fifth Element [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/AllMusic">AllMusic</a></i>. Archived from <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-fifth-element-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0000020753">the original</a> on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-filmtracks_75-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141217142609/http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/fifth_element.html">"The Fifth Element"</a>. <i>FilmTracks</i>. 10 May 1997. Archived from <a href="http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/fifth_element.html">the original</a> on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-festival-cannes.com_76-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141111051123/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4789/year/1997.html">"Festival de Cannes: The Fifth Element"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Cannes_Film_Festival">Cannes Film Festival</a></i>. Archived from <a href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4789/year/1997.html">the original</a> on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-todd_77-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-todd_77-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite><a href="/wiki/Todd_McCarthy">McCarthy, Todd</a> (7 May 1997). <a href="https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/the-fifth-element-1200449952/">"Review: "The Fifth Element""</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Variety_(magazine)">Variety</a></i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141218193101/http://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/the-fifth-element-1200449952/">Archived</a> from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-78">^</a></b> <cite>Gray, Timothy (13 May 2013). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141225170234/http://variety.com/2013/film/features/the-fickle-fetes-1200466152/">"Cannes parties are legendary, but sometimes the shindig can outperform the pic"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Variety_(magazine)">Variety</a></i>. Archived from <a href="https://variety.com/2013/film/features/the-fickle-fetes-1200466152/">the original</a> on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-ShoWest97_79-0">^</a></b> <cite>Cox, Dan (5 March 1997). <a href="https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/sony-wows-exhibs-with-star-studded-lineup-1117343157/">"Sony wows exhibs with star-studded lineup"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Variety_(magazine)">Variety</a></i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200717052029/https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/sony-wows-exhibs-with-star-studded-lineup-1117343157/">Archived</a> from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMazdon2000110_80-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFMazdon2000">Mazdon 2000</a>, p. 110.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHayward200991_81-0">^</a></b> <a href="#CITEREFHayward2009">Hayward 2009</a>, p. 91.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-82">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141105211353/https://www.goldene-leinwand.de/filme/das-fuenfte-element/?articles%5Bsearchvalue%5D=Element">"Das fünfte Element"</a> [The Fifth Element]. <i><a href="/wiki/Goldene_Leinwand">Goldene Leinwand</a></i> (in German). Archived from <a href="https://www.goldene-leinwand.de/filme/das-fuenfte-element/?articles%5Bsearchvalue%5D=Element">the original</a> on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-palmer_83-0">^</a></b> <cite>Palmer, Tim (2011). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=neyI_geiqksC&amp;q=%22fifth+element%22&amp;pg=PA116"><i>Brutal Intimacy: Analyzing Contemporary French Cinema</i></a>. Wesleyan University Press. p. 116. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8195-6827-4"><bdi>978-0-8195-6827-4</bdi></a>.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-intouchable_84-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141006092854/http://www.ozap.com/actu/-intouchables-plus-gros-succes-de-l-histoire-pour-un-film-non-anglophone/440005">"'Intouchables': plus gros succès de l'histoire pour un film non-anglophone"</a> [Untouchable: biggest success in history for a non-English speaking film]. <i>PureMédias</i> (in French). 21 March 2012. Archived from <a href="http://www.ozap.com/actu/-intouchables-plus-gros-succes-de-l-histoire-pour-un-film-non-anglophone/440005">the original</a> on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-85">^</a></b> <cite>Thomas, Kevin (9 May 1997). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141108011617/http://articles.latimes.com/1997-05-09/entertainment/ca-56892_1_fifth-element">"'Element': A Voyage as Fun, Stylish as It Is Confusing"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Times">Los Angeles Times</a></i>. Archived from <a href="https://articles.latimes.com/1997-05-09/entertainment/ca-56892_1_fifth-element">the original</a> on 8 November 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-86">^</a></b> <cite>"Week of May 10, 1997: <i>The Fifth Element</i> review". <i><a href="/wiki/At_the_Movies_(1986_TV_program)">At the Movies</a></i>. Season 11. Episode 35. 10 May 1997.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-87">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.newsweek.com/motor-mouth-man-172650">"Motor Mouth Man"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Newsweek">Newsweek</a></i>. 7 September 1997. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141109173640/http://www.newsweek.com/motor-mouth-man-172650">Archived</a> from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2021.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-88">^</a></b> <cite>Smith, Steven (8 May 1997). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141220222502/http://articles.latimes.com/1997-05-08/entertainment/ca-56524_1_luc-besson">"In His Element"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Times">Los Angeles Times</a></i>. Archived from <a href="https://articles.latimes.com/1997-05-08/entertainment/ca-56524_1_luc-besson">the original</a> on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-89">^</a></b> <cite>Communications, Emmis (1998). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=4V0EAAAAMBAJ&amp;pg=PA96">"Chris Tucker"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_(magazine)">Los Angeles</a></i> (November): 96. Retrieved 11 December 2014.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-90">^</a></b> <cite>Winning, Josh (2 November 2011). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131120152910/http://www.totalfilm.com/features/50-performances-that-ruined-movies/chris-tucker-the-fifth-element-1997">"50 Performances That Ruined Movies"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Total_Film">Total Film</a></i>. Archived from <a href="http://www.totalfilm.com/features/50-performances-that-ruined-movies/chris-tucker-the-fifth-element-1997">the original</a> on 20 November 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-91">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fifth_element/">"The Fifth Element Movie Reviews, Pictures"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Rotten_Tomatoes">Rotten Tomatoes</a></i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150206220028/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fifth_element/">Archived</a> from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2021.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-92">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-fifth-element">"The Fifth Element"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Metacritic">Metacritic</a></i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150219030926/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-fifth-element">Archived</a> from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-CinemaScore_93-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/">"CinemaScore"</a>. Archived from <a href="https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/">the original</a> on 20 December 2018.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-94">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140327093539/http://www.toutenbd.com/article.php3?id_article=697">"Moebius perd son procès contre Besson"</a> [Moebius loses trial against Besson]. <i>ToutenBD</i> (in French). 28 May 2004. Archived from <a href="http://www.toutenbd.com/article.php3?id_article=697">the original</a> on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-95">^</a></b> <cite><i>The fifth element: a novel</i>. <i><a href="/wiki/WorldCat">WorldCat</a></i>. <a href="/wiki/OCLC_(identifier)">OCLC</a> <a href="//www.worldcat.org/oclc/36966341">36966341</a>.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-96">^</a></b> <cite><a href="/wiki/Terry_Bisson">Bisson, Terry</a> (1997). <i>The Fifth Element: A Novel</i>. HarperPrism. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-06-105838-7"><bdi>978-0-06-105838-7</bdi></a>.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-97">^</a></b> <cite>Ryan, Mike (26 August 2011). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141110134758/http://news.moviefone.com/2011/08/26/luc-besson-reflects-on-his-female-leads-and-explains-why-a-fift/">"Luc Besson Reflects on His Female Leads and Explains Why a 'Fifth Element' Sequel Will Never Happen"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Moviefone">Moviefone</a></i>. Archived from <a href="http://news.moviefone.com/2011/08/26/luc-besson-reflects-on-his-female-leads-and-explains-why-a-fift/">the original</a> on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-98">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/197318-the-fifth-element/index.html">"The Fifth Element for PlayStation"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/GameRankings">GameRankings</a></i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141223074824/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/197318-the-fifth-element/index.html">Archived</a> from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-99">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/198963-the-fifth-element/index.html">"The Fifth Element"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/GameRankings">GameRankings</a></i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141110074550/http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/198963-the-fifth-element/index.html">Archived</a> from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-100">^</a></b> <cite>Fielder, Lauren (21 October 1998). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141210155536/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/fifth-element-the-review/1900-2546460/">"Fifth Element, The Review (PS)"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/GameSpot">GameSpot</a></i>. Archived from <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/fifth-element-the-review/1900-2546460/">the original</a> on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-101">^</a></b> <cite>Perry, Doug (1 October 1998). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141110074006/http://www.ign.com/articles/1998/10/02/fifth-element">"Fifth Element"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/IGN">IGN</a></i>. Archived from <a href="http://au.ign.com/articles/1998/10/02/fifth-element">the original</a> on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-eurogamer_102-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-eurogamer_102-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Taylor, Martin (11 December 2014). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141110061317/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_nyrace">"NY Race"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Eurogamer">Eurogamer</a></i>. Archived from <a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_nyrace">the original</a> on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-103">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090208011732/http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/BasicSearchInput.jsp">"The Fifth Element"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Academy_of_Motion_Picture_Arts_and_Sciences">Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences</a></i>. Archived from <a href="http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/BasicSearchInput.jsp">the original</a> on 8 February 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite> Note: Search for "The Fifth Element".
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-104">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141109175104/http://markmangini.com/Mark_Mangini/Resume_files/Hollywood%20Reporter.pdf">"Mark Mangini"</a> (PDF). <i><a href="/wiki/The_Hollywood_Reporter">The Hollywood Reporter</a></i>: C-11. 9 March 1998. <a href="/wiki/ISSN_(identifier)">ISSN</a> <a href="//www.worldcat.org/issn/0018-3660">0018-3660</a>. Archived from <a href="http://markmangini.com/Mark_Mangini/Resume_files/Hollywood%20Reporter.pdf">the original</a> (PDF) on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-105">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141109175340/http://awards.bafta.org/award/1998/film/achievement-in-special-visual-effects">"Achievement in Special Visual Effects in 1998"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/British_Academy_of_Film_and_Television_Arts">British Academy of Film and Television Arts</a></i>. Archived from <a href="http://awards.bafta.org/award/1998/film/achievement-in-special-visual-effects">the original</a> on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-nyawards_106-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-nyawards_106-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-nyawards_106-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141109175239/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/154944/The-Fifth-Element/awards">"The Fifth Element (1997)"</a>. Movies &amp; TV Dept. <i><a href="/wiki/The_New_York_Times">The New York Times</a></i>. 2014. Archived from <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/154944/The-Fifth-Element/awards">the original</a> on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-107">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140112160411/http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm-12302/palmares/">"Le Cinquième élément"</a> [The Fifth Element]. <i><a href="/wiki/AlloCin%C3%A9">AlloCiné</a></i>. Archived from <a href="http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm-12302/palmares/">the original</a> on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-108">^</a></b> <cite>Williams, Michael (1 March 1998). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141225145633/http://variety.com/1998/film/news/resnais-seizes-7-cesars-1117468216/">"Resnais seizes 7 Cesars"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Variety_(magazine)">Variety</a></i>. Archived from <a href="https://variety.com/1998/film/news/resnais-seizes-7-cesars-1117468216/">the original</a> on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-109">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.academie-cinema.org/en/ceremony/awards.html">"Palmares2014 - 39 th Cesar Award Ceremony"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/C%C3%A9sar_Award">César Award</a></i>. <a href="https://archive.today/20130804161808/http://www.academie-cinema.org/en/ceremony/awards.html">Archived</a> from the original on 4 August 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite> Note: Choose '1998' from the drop-down box.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-110">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141109174930/http://www.europeanfilmacademy.org/1997.95.0.html">"1997"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/European_Film_Awards">European Film Awards</a></i>. Archived from <a href="http://www.europeanfilmacademy.org/1997.95.0.html">the original</a> on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-111">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141006111937/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1998-hugo-awards/">"1998 Hugo Awards"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Hugo_Awards">Hugo Awards</a></i>. 26 July 2007. Archived from <a href="http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1998-hugo-awards/">the original</a> on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-112">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141006092904/http://www.pressacademy.com/award_cat/1998/">"1998"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/International_Press_Academy">International Press Academy</a></i>. Archived from <a href="http://www.pressacademy.com/award_cat/1998/">the original</a> on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-113">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.kegfx.com/Keg/Awards/Index.html">"VFX Awards"</a>. <i>KEG FX</i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326021100/http://kegfx.com/Keg/Awards/Index.html">Archived</a> from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-post_114-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-post_114-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Justin, Sarachik (21 October 2011). <a href="http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20111023095800/http://www.christianpost.com/news/milla-jovovich-blasts-summit-entertainment-for-ignoring-three-musketeers-58988/">"Milla Jovovich Blasts Summit Entertainment for Ignoring 'Three Musketeers'"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_Christian_Post">The Christian Post</a></i>. Archived from <a href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/milla-jovovich-blasts-summit-entertainment-for-ignoring-three-musketeers-58988/">the original</a> on 23 October 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-115">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/1998/">"1998 MTV Movie Awards"</a>. <a href="/wiki/MTV">MTV</a>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150126072819/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/1998/">Archived</a> from the original on 26 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite> Note: Click on the 'Winners' tab.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-116">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=rg0EAAAAMBAJ&amp;q=%22blockbuster+entertainment+awards%22+nominees+billboard&amp;pg=RA1-PA64">"1996 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Nominees Announced"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Billboard_(magazine)">Billboard</a></i>. 17 January 1998. p. 64. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170324033712/https://books.google.com/books?id=Rg0EAAAAMBAJ">Archived</a> from the original on 24 March 2017.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-117">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141017202441/http://razzies.com/asp/content/XcNewsPlus.asp?cmd=view&amp;articleid=37">"1997 Archive"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Golden_Raspberry_Awards">Golden Raspberry Awards</a></i>. 23 August 2000. Archived from <a href="http://razzies.com/asp/content/XcNewsPlus.asp?cmd=view&amp;articleid=37">the original</a> on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-118">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20000818030700/http://www.thestinkers.com/1997.html">"The Stinkers 1997 Ballot"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Stinkers_Bad_Movie_Awards">Stinkers Bad Movie Awards</a></i>. Archived from <a href="http://www.thestinkers.com/1997.html">the original</a> on 18 August 2000.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-dvd_119-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-dvd_119-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141109173734/http://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/movies/2412/The-Fifth-Element-%281997%29.html">"The Fifth Element (1997)"</a>. <i>DVDs Release Dates</i>. Archived from <a href="http://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/movies/2412/The-Fifth-Element-(1997).html">the original</a> on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-120">^</a></b> <cite>Beierle, Aaron (28 June 2000). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141211130330/http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/787/fifth-element-the/">"The Fifth Element"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/DVD_Talk">DVD Talk</a></i>. Archived from <a href="https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/787/fifth-element-the/">the original</a> on 11 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-ign_121-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ign_121-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Jeremy, Conrad (11 October 2001). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140715005028/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/10/11/fifth-element-superbit-the">"Fifth Element (Superbit), The"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/IGN">IGN</a></i>. Archived from <a href="http://au.ign.com/articles/2001/10/11/fifth-element-superbit-the">the original</a> on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-dvdtalk_122-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-dvdtalk_122-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Jane, Ian. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141209100858/http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/13970/fifth-element-ultimate-edition-the/">"The Fifth Element – Ultimate Edition"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/DVD_Talk">DVD Talk</a></i>. Archived from <a href="https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/13970/fifth-element-ultimate-edition-the/">the original</a> on 9 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-blu_123-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-blu_123-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Williams, Ben (5 August 2007). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141110125323/http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Fifth-Element-Blu-ray/456/">"The Fifth Element Blu-ray"</a>. Blu-ray.com. Archived from <a href="http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Fifth-Element-Blu-ray/456/#Review">the original</a> on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-124">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141110120506/http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Sony/Disc_Announcements/Disc_Re-Issues/Sony_Offers_New_Fifth_Element_Blu-ray_Remaster_and_Replacement_Exchange_Program_/705">"Sony Offers New 'Fifth Element' Blu-ray Remaster and 'Replacement Exchange Program'"</a>. <i>High-Def Digest</i>. 18 June 2007. Archived from <a href="http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Sony/Disc_Announcements/Disc_Re-Issues/Sony_Offers_New_Fifth_Element_Blu-ray_Remaster_and_Replacement_Exchange_Program_/705">the original</a> on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-125">^</a></b> <cite>Kyle Newton (27 July 2017). <a href="http://ultrahd.highdefdigest.com/47008/thefifthelementultrahdbluray.html">"The Fifth Element - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray"</a>. <i>High-Def Digest</i>. <a href="https://archive.today/20170729234039/http://ultrahd.highdefdigest.com/47008/thefifthelementultrahdbluray.html">Archived</a> from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-cbs_126-0">^</a></b> <cite>Teichner, Martha (22 January 2012). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141021083156/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/jean-paul-gaultier-fashions-wild-child/">"Jean Paul Gaultier: Fashion's wild child"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/CBS_News">CBS News</a></i>. Archived from <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jean-paul-gaultier-fashions-wild-child/">the original</a> on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-127">^</a></b> <cite>Yamato, Jen (13 August 2007). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141030091431/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/resident_evil_extinction/news/1662363/milla_jovovich_on_resident_evil_and_her_ultraviolet_beef/">"Milla Jovovich on Resident Evil And Her Ultraviolet Beef"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Rotten_Tomatoes">Rotten Tomatoes</a></i>. Archived from <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/resident_evil_extinction/news/1662363/milla_jovovich_on_resident_evil_and_her_ultraviolet_beef/">the original</a> on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-128">^</a></b> <cite>Woerner, Meredith (14 October 2010). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120807183748/http://io9.com/5663948/luc-bessons-next-film-is-the-fifth-element-to-the-power-of-ten">"Luc Besson's next film is 'The Fifth Element to the power of ten'"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Io9">io9</a></i>. Archived from <a href="http://io9.com/5663948/luc-bessons-next-film-is-the-fifth-element-to-the-power-of-ten">the original</a> on 7 August 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2014.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-129">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-visual-effects-society-unveils-50-most-influential-visual-effects-films-of-all-time-58100072.html">"The Visual Effects Society Unveils '50 Most Influential Visual Effects Films of All Time'"</a>. PR Newswire. 11 May 2007. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20161203060150/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-visual-effects-society-unveils-50-most-influential-visual-effects-films-of-all-time-58100072.html">Archived</a> from the original on 3 December 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-130">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141213001750/http://www.timeout.com/london/film/the-100-best-sci-fi-movies-50-41">"The 100 best sci-fi movies: 50-41"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Time_Out_(magazine)">Time Out</a></i>. 22 July 2014. Archived from <a href="https://www.timeout.com/london/film/the-100-best-sci-fi-movies-50-41">the original</a> on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-131">^</a></b> <cite><a href="/wiki/Mark_Kermode">Kermode, Mark</a> (28 August 2012). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150130034640/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/legacy/markkermode/2012/08/summer_blockbusters_-_your_bes.html">"Summer Blockbusters – Your Best and Worst"</a>. <a href="/wiki/BBC">BBC</a>. Archived from <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/legacy/markkermode/2012/08/summer_blockbusters_-_your_bes.html">the original</a> on 30 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-132">^</a></b> <cite>Cass, Stephen (24 December 2008). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141023115614/http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/sciencenotfiction/2008/12/24/5-best-science-fiction-movies-on-hulu-3-the-fifth-element/">"5 Best Science Fiction Movies on Hulu: #3, The Fifth Element"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Discover_(magazine)">Discover</a></i>. Archived from <a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/sciencenotfiction/2008/12/24/5-best-science-fiction-movies-on-hulu-3-the-fifth-element/">the original</a> on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-133">^</a></b> <cite>Woerner, Meredith (18 September 2008). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140815091851/http://io9.com/5052003/the-20-best-worst-science-fiction-movies-of-all-time">"The 20 Best Worst Science Fiction Movies of All Time"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Io9">io9</a></i>. Archived from <a href="http://io9.com/5052003/the-20-best-worst-science-fiction-movies-of-all-time">the original</a> on 15 August 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-special_134-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/11692611692/The-Fifth-Element-Luc-Besson-and-Bruce-Willis">"The Fifth Element: Luc Besson and Bruce Willis"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Special_Broadcasting_Service">Special Broadcasting Service</a></i>. 25 January 1999. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141208034021/http://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/11692611692/The-Fifth-Element-Luc-Besson-and-Bruce-Willis">Archived</a> from the original on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-135">^</a></b> <cite><i>The Fifth Element – Ultimate Edition (The Star Element)</i> (DVD). <a href="/wiki/Columbia_TriStar_Motion_Picture_Group">Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group</a>. 2005.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-136">^</a></b> <cite>Hochman, David (25 June 2014). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150123231957/http://www.playboy.com/articles/gary-oldman-playboy-interview">"Playboy Interview: Gary Oldman"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Playboy">Playboy</a></i>. Archived from <a href="http://www.playboy.com/articles/gary-oldman-playboy-interview">the original</a> on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-137">^</a></b> <cite>Hamm, Matt (28 September 2011). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150228100359/http://www.liveforfilms.com/2011/09/28/gary-oldman-a-life-in-pictures-bafta/">"Gary Oldman 'A Life in Pictures' @ BAFTA"</a>. <i>Live For Films</i>. Archived from <a href="http://www.liveforfilms.com/2011/09/28/gary-oldman-a-life-in-pictures-bafta/">the original</a> on 28 February 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.</cite>
</li>
</ol></div>
<h2>Bibliography[<a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Fifth_Element&amp;action=edit&amp;section=18">edit</a>]</h2>
<div>
<ul><li><cite><a href="/wiki/Luc_Besson">Besson, Luc</a> (1997). <i>The Story of the Fifth Element: The Adventure and Discovery of a Film</i>. London: Titan Books. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-85286-863-5"><bdi>978-1-85286-863-5</bdi></a>.</cite></li>
<li><cite><a href="/wiki/Piers_Bizony">Bizony, Piers</a> (2001). <i>Digital Domain: The Leading Edge of Visual Effects</i>. London: Aurum Press. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8230-7928-5"><bdi>978-0-8230-7928-5</bdi></a>.</cite></li>
<li><cite><a href="/wiki/Matt_Hanson">Hanson, Matt</a> (2005). <i>Building Sci-Fi Moviescapes: The Science Behind the Fiction</i>. Waltham, Massachusetts: Focal Press. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-240-80772-0"><bdi>978-0-240-80772-0</bdi></a>.</cite></li>
<li><cite>Hayward, Susan; Powrie, Phil (2009). <i>The Films of Luc Besson: Master of Spectacle</i>. Manchester: Manchester University Press. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7190-7029-7"><bdi>978-0-7190-7029-7</bdi></a>.</cite></li>
<li><cite>Mazdon, Lucy (2000). <a href="https://archive.org/details/encorehollywoodr00lucy"><i>Encore Hollywood: Remaking French Cinema</i></a>. London: British Film Institute. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-85170-801-0"><bdi>978-0-85170-801-0</bdi></a>.</cite></li>
<li><cite><a href="/wiki/Jean-Claude_M%C3%A9zi%C3%A8res">Mézières, Jean-Claude</a>; <a href="/wiki/Pierre_Christin">Christin, Pierre</a> (2004). "The Circles of Power". <i>Valerian: The New Future Trilogy</i>. Valérian: Spatio-Temporal Agent. Trans. Timothy Ryan Smith. New York: iBooks. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7434-8674-3"><bdi>978-0-7434-8674-3</bdi></a>.</cite></li></ul>
</div>
<h2>External links[<a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Fifth_Element&amp;action=edit&amp;section=19">edit</a>]</h2>
<ul><li><a href="https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thefifthelement">Official website</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119116/"><i>The Fifth Element</i></a> at <a href="/wiki/IMDb">IMDb</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.allmovie.com/movie/v154944"><i>The Fifth Element</i></a> at <a href="/wiki/AllMovie">AllMovie</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/328897/enwp"><i>The Fifth Element</i></a> at the <a href="/wiki/Turner_Classic_Movies">TCM Movie Database</a></li></ul>
</div>||||I|||| Jump to content
 Toggle sidebar
 Search
 * Create account
 Personal tools
 * Create account
 * Log in

 Pages for logged out editors learn more

 * Talk
 * Contributions
 Navigation
 * Main page
 * Contents
 * Current events
 * Random article
 * About Wikipedia
 * Contact us
 * Donate
 Contribute
 * Help
 * Learn to edit
 * Community portal
 * Recent changes
 * Upload file
 Tools
 * What links here
 * Related changes
 * Upload file
 * Special pages
 * Permanent link
 * Page information
 * Cite this page
 * Wikidata item
 Print/export
 * Download as PDF
 * Printable version
 In other projects
 * Wikimedia Commons
 * Wikiquote
 Languages
 On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Go to top.

 Contents

 move to sidebar hide
 * (Top)
 * 1 Plot
 * 2 Cast
 * 3 Themes
 * 4 Production
 + 4.1 Effects
 + 4.2 Soundtrack
 * 5 Release and reception
 + 5.1 Initial screening
 + 5.2 Box office
 + 5.3 Critical response
 + 5.4 Plagiarism suit
 * 6 Adaptations
 * 7 Accolades
 * 8 Home media
 * 9 Legacy
 + 9.1 Cast comments
 * 10 Notes and references
 * 11 Bibliography
 * 12 External links
 Toggle the table of contents

 The Fifth Element

 53 languages
 * العربية
 * Aragonés
 * Беларуская (тарашкевіца)
 * Български
 * Català
 * Čeština
 * Cymraeg
 * Dansk
 * Deutsch
 * Eesti
 * Ελληνικά
 * Español
 * Esperanto
 * Euskara
 * فارسی
 * Français
 * Frysk
 * Galego
 * 한국어
 * Հայերեն
 * Hrvatski
 * Italiano
 * עברית
 * ქართული
 * Kreyòl ayisyen
 * Latviešu
 * Lietuvių
 * Magyar
 * მარგალური
 * مصرى
 * Bahasa Melayu
 * Nederlands
 * 日本語
 * Norsk bokmål
 * Plattdüütsch
 * Polski
 * Português
 * Română
 * Русский
 * Shqip
 * Simple English
 * Slovenčina
 * Slovenščina
 * Српски / srpski
 * Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски
 * Suomi
 * Svenska
 * Türkçe
 * Українська
 * Vepsän kel’
 * Tiếng Việt
 * 粵語
 * 中文
 Edit links
 * Article
 * Talk
 English
 * Read
 * Edit
 * View history
 More
 * Read
 * Edit
 * View history
 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 This article is about the film. For other uses, see Fifth Element (disambiguation).
 "Korben Dallas" redirects here. For the Slovak rock band, see Korben Dallas (band).

 The Fifth Element 
 North American theatrical release poster
 
 French Le Cinquième Élément 
 
 Directed by Luc Besson 
 Screenplay by * Luc Besson 
 * Robert Mark Kamen 
 Story by Luc Besson 
 Produced by Patrice Ledoux 
 * Bruce Willis 
 * Gary Oldman 
 Starring * Ian Holm 
 * Milla Jovovich 
 * Chris Tucker 
 Cinematography Thierry Arbogast 
 Edited by Sylvie Landra 
 Music by Éric Serra 
 Production Gaumont 
 company  
 Distributed by Gaumont 
 Buena Vista International[1]
 Release date * 7 May 1997 (France) 
 Running time 126 minutes[2] 
 Country France 
 Language English 
 Budget US$90 million[3][4][5][6][a]
 Box office $263.9 million[7] 
 

 The Fifth Element[b] is a 1997 English-language French science fiction action film conceived and directed by Luc Besson, as well as co-written by Besson and Robert Mark Kamen. It stars Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm, Milla Jovovich and Chris Tucker. Primarily set in the 23rd century, the film's central plot involves the survival of planet Earth, which becomes the responsibility of Korben Dallas (Willis), a taxicab driver and former special forces major, after a young woman (Jovovich) falls into his cab. To accomplish this, Dallas joins forces with her to recover four mystical stones essential for the defence of Earth against the impending attack of a malevolent cosmic entity.

 Besson started writing the story that was developed as The Fifth Element when he was 16 years old; he was 38 when the film opened in cinemas. Besson wanted to shoot the film in France, but suitable facilities could not be found; filming took place in London and Mauritania instead. He hired comic artists Jean "Moebius" Giraud and Jean-Claude Mézières, whose books inspired parts of the film, for production design. Costume design was by Jean-Paul Gaultier.

 The Fifth Element received mainly positive reviews, although some critics were highly negative. The film won in categories at the British Academy Film Awards, the César Awards, the Cannes Film Festival, and the Lumières Awards, but also received nominations at the Golden Raspberry and Stinkers Bad Movie Awards. The Fifth Element was a strong financial success, earning more than US$263 million at the box office on a $90 million budget. At the time of its release, it was the most expensive European film ever made, and it remained the highest-grossing French film at the international box office until the release of The Intouchables in 2011.

 Plot [ edit ]

 In 1914, aliens known as Mondoshawans meet their human contact, a priest of a secret order, at an ancient Egyptian temple. They take the only weapon capable of defeating a great evil that appears every five thousand years, and promise to return the weapon before the great evil's re-emergence. The weapon consists of the four classical elements, as four engraved stones, plus a sarcophagus containing a "fifth element".

 In 2263,[c] the great evil appears in deep space as a giant living fireball. It destroys an armed Earth spaceship as it heads to Earth. The Mondoshawans' current human contact on Earth, priest Vito Cornelius, informs the President of the Federated Territories of the great evil's history and of the weapon that can stop it.

 On their way to Earth, a Mondoshawan spacecraft carrying the weapon is ambushed and destroyed by a crew of Mangalores, alien mercenaries hired by Earth industrialist Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg, who is working for the great evil. A severed hand in metal armor from the wreckage of the spacecraft is brought to New York City. From this, the government uses biotechnology to recreate the original occupant of the sarcophagus, a humanoid woman named Leeloo who remembers her previous life. Alarmed by the unfamiliar surroundings and high security, she escapes and jumps off a ledge, crashing into the flying taxicab of Korben Dallas, a former major in Earth's Special Forces.

 Dallas delivers Leeloo to Cornelius and his apprentice, David, who recognize her as the Fifth Element. As Leeloo recuperates, she tells Cornelius that the stones were not onboard the Mondoshawan ship. Simultaneously, the Mondoshawans inform Earth's government the stones were entrusted to an alien opera singer, the diva Plavalaguna. Zorg reneges on his deal with the Mangalores for failing to obtain the stones and kills some of them. Earth's military sends Dallas to meet Plavalaguna; a rigged radio contest provides a cover, awarding Dallas a luxury vacation aboard a flying hotel on planet Fhloston, accompanied by flamboyant talk-show host Ruby Rhod. It includes a concert by Plavalaguna, and learning that Leeloo shares his mission, Dallas lets her accompany him. Cornelius instructs David to prepare the temple, then stows away on the luxury spaceship. The Mangalore crew, pursuing the stones for themselves, also illegally board the ship.

 During the concert, the Mangalores attack and Plavalaguna dies. Dallas extracts the stones from her body and kills the Mangalore leader, causing the others to surrender. Zorg arrives, shoots and traumatizes Leeloo, and activates a time bomb. He flees with a carrying case he presumes contains the stones, but returns when he discovers it is empty. He deactivates his bomb, but a dying Mangalore sets off his own, destroying the hotel and killing Zorg. Meanwhile, Dallas, Cornelius, Leeloo, and Rhod escape with the stones in Zorg's private spaceship.

 As the great evil approaches Earth, the four meet David at the temple. They deploy the stones, but Leeloo, having learned of humanity's own terrible history of war, has given up on life. Dallas declares his love for her and kisses her. In response, Leeloo combines the power of the stones, emitting divine light onto the great evil and defeating it. She and Dallas are hailed as heroes and, as dignitaries wait to greet them, the two passionately embrace in a recovery chamber.

 Cast [ edit ]

 * Bruce Willis as Korben Dallas
 * Milla Jovovich as Leeloo
 * Gary Oldman as Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
 * Ian Holm as Vito Cornelius
 * Chris Tucker as Ruby Rhod
 * Luke Perry as Billy Masterson
 * Brion James as General Munro
 * Tommy "Tiny" Lister Jr. as President Lindberg
 * Lee Evans as Fog
 * Charlie Creed-Miles as David
 * Tricky as Right Arm
 * John Neville as General Staedert
 * John Bluthal as Professor Pacoli
 * Maïwenn Le Besco as Diva Plavalaguna
 + Inva Mula provides Diva's singing voice

 Themes [ edit ]

 In an interview, Besson stated The Fifth Element was not a "big theme movie", although the film's theme was an important one. He wanted viewers to reach the point where Leeloo states, "What's the use of saving life when you see what you do with it?" and agree with her.[8] Jay P. Telotte, writing in the book Science Fiction Film, credited the film with exploring the theme of political corruption.[9]

 Brian Ott and Eric Aoki writing in the feminist journal Women's Studies in Communication considered gender to be one of the film's central themes. The authors criticized the film for erasing women from the introductory scenes, noting that only two appeared in the first twenty minutes: an androgynous, mostly speechless presidential aide, and Leeloo undergoing reconstruction. When females appear in the film, they are presented as passive objects, such as the sexualised flight and McDonald's attendants; or stripped of their femininity, such as the "butch" Major Iceborg.[10]

 Stefan Brandt, in the book Subverting Masculinity, also said that the film "echoes stereotypical beliefs about gender" of all females in the film. He said that Leeloo left her passive role only during her fight with the Mangalores. Except for Tiny Lister's portrayal of the President, Brandt said that all males in the film were shown as unmanly as possible in various ways, such as Ruby Rhod's effeminacy, Vito Cornelius's clumsy form of speech, and General Munro's stupidity; their purpose was to make Korben's masculinity appear "god-like" by comparison.[11]

 In the book The Films of Luc Besson, Susan Hayward considered The Fifth Element to be a classic story of a man "making his break from the tribe, proving his manhood, overthrowing the malevolent forces, and killing the chief, finally to reap the rewards of security and marriage".[12] Korben's journey, however, is threatened not only by the Mangalores and Zorg, but also by Leeloo, who does not relent or help him until the last minute, when she accepts his declaration of love.[12] The love story within The Fifth Element was considered to be one of the main narratives in the film, and it faces the same deadline as the main storyline.[12] Hayward also considered the film to grapple with environmental damage, in so far as waste and pollution are visible throughout the film.[13] Whereas science-fiction films often show a world wherein some new technology or threat either surpasses or fails humanity, The Films of Luc Besson included The Fifth Element among the minority of science-fiction films that "hold up a mirror" and show humankind as responsible.[14] Hayward said the film was skeptical of capitalist consumerism, in so far as the gadgets Zorg collected in his office suggested that he had an unhealthy obsession for technology.[14] The tension between technology and man is treated as a problem requiring a final resolution.[14]

 Production [ edit ]

 As a teenager, Besson envisioned the world of The Fifth Element in an attempt to alleviate boredom. He began writing the script when he was 16, though the film was not released in cinemas until he was 38.[15] The original story was set in the year 2300 and was about a "nobody" named Zaltman Bleros (later renamed Korben Dallas) who wins a trip to the Club Med resort on the planet Fhloston Paradise in the Angel constellation. There, he meets Leeloo, a "sand-girl" who has the "beauty of youth" despite being over 2,000 years old.[16]

 Besson continued to work on the story for years. By 1991, when his documentary film Atlantis was released, he had a 400-page script. Nicolas Seydoux and Patrice Ledoux from Gaumont were the first people to take on the project. In November 1991, while looking for actors for the film, Besson met French comics creators Jean Giraud and Jean-Claude Mézières and recruited them[17] for the film's production design.[18][19] Giraud and Mézières's comics inspired the look that Besson wanted for his futuristic New York City.[20]

 Mézières had designed The Circles of Power (1994), which contains a character named S'Traks, who drives a flying taxicab through the congested air of the vast metropolis on the planet Rubanis. Mézières showed images of the flying taxi to Besson, who was inspired to change character Korben Dallas's background from a worker in a rocket-ship factory to a taxi driver who flies his cab around a Rubanis-inspired futuristic New York City.[21] Besson's production also hired five other artists for the project. In addition, the noted fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier was hired to create the costumes. The team spent a year creating more than 8,000 drawings.

 During this time, Besson approached both Bruce Willis and Mel Gibson for the lead role. Willis expressed interest, though he was reluctant to take on the role as the film was considered risky after his previous two films, Hudson Hawk and Billy Bathgate, had been received poorly. Gibson eventually turned down the role.[22] While the production team impressed film companies with their designs, they struggled to find one willing to take on a budget approaching nearly $100 million. In December 1992, production stopped[23] without any prior warning, and the team disbanded.[3]

 Korben's flying taxicab (top), which was inspired by the comic album The Circles of Power, drawn by artist Jean-Claude Mézières.[24]

 Besson wrote and directed the commercially successful film Léon: The Professional (1994). During that period, he continued to work on the script for The Fifth Element, shortening it. He reduced the film's budget to $90 million before again attempting to find a studio willing to produce it. Columbia Pictures, which had a partnership in Leon, agreed to finance the film. By this time, Besson had decided to go with a lesser-known lead actor to save on production costs.[3][8] Besson happened to be in Barry Josephson's office when Willis called regarding a different film. Besson asked to speak to Willis "just to say hello", and told him that The Fifth Element was finally going ahead, explaining his decision to go with a less-expensive actor. After a short silence, Willis said, "If I like the film, we can always come to an arrangement."[3] After reading the script, Willis agreed to take on the role.

 Production began in early August 1995. Besson traveled to various places for casting, including Paris, London and Rome.[25] He hired Gary Oldman (who had starred in Léon) for the role of Zorg, describing Oldman as "one of the top five actors in the world".[8]

 For the character Leeloo, Besson chose Milla Jovovich from the 200 to 300 applicants he met in person.[8] The "Divine Language" spoken by Leeloo is a fictional language of 400 words, invented by Besson. To practice, Jovovich and Besson held conversations and wrote letters to each other in the language.[26] Besson was then married to Maïwenn Le Besco, who played the role of Diva Plavalaguna when filming began. He left her to take up with Jovovich during filming.[27] Jovovich and Besson later married but divorced two years later in 1999.[28]

 Although he wanted to shoot the film in France, Besson could not find suitable facilities and filmed in London.[29] It was primarily filmed at Pinewood Studios on seven soundstages[30] including the 007 Stage.[31] Construction of sets began in October 1995.[17] The opera scene was filmed at the Royal Opera House.[32] Scenes depicted as being in Egypt were filmed in Mauritania;[33] the first shoot, a background shot of the desert, occurred there on 5 January 1996.[34] Filming with actors began in late January, and was completed 21 weeks later.[35] Willis finished filming on 16 May,[36] while Oldman only commenced filming the following week;[37] the protagonist (Korben) and antagonist (Zorg) never actually share any screen time.[38] Despite being filmed in London, The Fifth Element was a French production,[39][40] the costliest European film ever made at the time.[41]

 The designs of buildings in New York were derived from both metabolist-inspired masses of modular apartments from the 1960s and the futuristic designs of architect Antonio Sant'Elia in the 1910s.[42] Besson demanded that most of the action shots take place in broad daylight, as he was reportedly tired of the dark spaceship corridors and dimly lit planets common in science-fiction films, and wanted a brighter, "cheerfully crazy" look as opposed to a gloomy, realistic one.[20]

 Gaultier designed each of the 900 costumes worn by extras in the Fhloston Paradise scenes and checked each costume every morning.[38] His designs, described as "intellectually transgressive",[43] were said to challenge sexuality and gender norms.[44] A single jacket he designed for the film cost $5,000.[45] Jovovich's costume worn from when her character was first revived was inspired by typical hospital dressing and bandages that provided minimal modesty.[46]

 The original name of the character Ruby Rhod was Loc Rhod, which appears both in the original script and in the novel adapted from the film.[47] Hayward speculated that the name change was a play on data in the periodic table. Rubidium is the first of the period 5 elements, and exactly halfway along that row is the element rhodium. Using the first half of each element yields "Rubi Rhod".[48] Others have speculated this name is a play on the character's gender-bending persona, with a feminine first name and phallic surname.[10] Prince was cast to portray Rhod but could not schedule filming around his touring dates.[49] Chris Tucker and Jamie Foxx were each considered for the role; Besson liked Foxx but felt that Tucker's smaller body suited the character better.[50]

 Effects [ edit ]

 One of the models used to portray an NYPD car in the film

 Three different teams handled the three different types of special effects used in the film. Nick Allder directed mechanical and pyrotechnical effects, Nick Dudman was placed in charge of 'creature' effects, and Mark Stetson headed the visual effects team.[30] Visual effects company Digital Domain was hired, and Karen Goulekas was given the role of digital effects supervisor.[51] Alias,[33] Autodesk Softimage, Arete, Side Effect's Prisms, RenderMan, and in-house software, were used by Digital Domain to create effects.[52] Some individual shots used a combination of live action, scale models, computer-generated imagery, and particle systems.[53] The lanes of traffic in the scenes in New York City were created with particle systems:

 We had maybe eighty cityscape shots with CG cars hurtling around, and you couldn't animate them all by hand because there were just too many of them in each scene ... When the cars turned a corner, the velocity changes were automatic, so the animator didn't have to worry about that. They just planned the moves in a very blocky way, and the mathematics smoothed out the rest.

 Among the scale models used for filming were the buildings representing New York City. Dozens of apartment blocks and 25 skyscrapers, some 20 feet (6.1 m) high, were constructed in 1 ⁄ 24 scale.[55] It took a team of eighty workers five months to build all the models.[55] The windows of the buildings were cited by the team as one of the most time-consuming tasks, along with details behind the windows, such as furniture, blinds, lightboxes, and tiny pieces of flat artwork.[55] Virtual sets built within digital environments were created to enhance the use of miniatures.[56] Motion control cameras moved throughout the scale sets, and the data they collected was exported to track and generate the CG animation and particle systems.[42] Other techniques used included digital matte paintings for backgrounds[57] and the NURBS mathematical model for certain animations, including the sequence in which Leeloo's body is reconstructed.[58]

 Models and props used in the film

 * Cars of the film on display in Paris for the 20th anniversary

 * The water elemental stone

 * Scale model of Korben's taxi

 Soundtrack [ edit ]

 In The Fifth Element, some kind of music is playing during about ninety percent of the film; Besson's films have been described as "intrinsically musical".[59] [60] The score was composed by Éric Serra. He relies chiefly on the use of orchestral textures, such as the oboe and strings heard as the surgeons prepare to regenerate Leeloo, and the pizzicato as she is reconstructed. Serra also used many non-French influences, such as the Stalinist fanfare heard before the spaceport sequence, the reggae piece played in preparation for the flight, and the hula music that greets the passengers as they arrive in Fhloston.[61] More conventional scoring techniques are present in the leitmotif that first sounds when professor Pacoli mentions the fifth element, the militaristic snares as the warship prepares to attack the dark planet, and the Mahlerian funereal piece heard when Leeloo learns about war.[61] The music used for the taxicab chase scene, titled "Alech Taadi" by Algerian performer Khaled,[62][63] did not appear on the film soundtrack but is available on Khaled's album N'ssi N'ssi.[64]

 "The Diva Dance"
 A sample of Inva Mula's vocals in The Diva Dance
 Problems playing this file? See media help.

 The Diva Dance opera performance used music from Gaetano Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor: "Il dolce suono",[65] the mad scene of Act III, Scene 2. It is one of the few pieces of music in the film that is diegetic.[66] It was sung by Albanian soprano Inva Mula.[67] The role of Plavalaguna was played by French actress Maïwenn Le Besco.[27] Part One (titled "Lucia di Lammermoor") and Part Two (titled "The Diva Dance") of this piece are included as separate tracks on The Fifth Element soundtrack but are sequenced to create the effect of the entire performance seen in the film. The end of Part One blends into the beginning of Part Two, creating a smooth transition between the two tracks.[68]

 Released as an album under Virgin Records, the soundtrack peaked at number 99 on the Billboard 200.[69] More than 200,000 copies of the lengthy soundtrack were sold in France alone.[70] Rodney Batdorf of AllMusic gave the album three out of five stars, stating it was "diverse and accomplished, and it is just as effective outside of the film as it is within it."[71] A review from Filmtracks.com also awarded the album three out of five stars.[72]

 Release and reception [ edit ]

 Initial screening [ edit ]

 The film premiered on 7 May at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival, where it was selected as the opening film.[73][74] Gaumont built an area for the screening that was over 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2). Guests were given a "Fifth Element" Swatch, which was used as their ticket for entry. The event included a futuristic ballet, a fashion show by Jean-Paul Gaultier, and fireworks. Gaumont spent between $1 million and $3 million on the event, a record at the time.[75] The film's North American release was handled by Sony Pictures Releasing via its Columbia Pictures label.[76]

 Box office [ edit ]

 The film debuted at number one in the US, earning $17 million on its opening weekend.[39] It became a box-office success, grossing over $263 million, almost three times its budget of $90 million.[7] About 75% of the receipts for The Fifth Element were from markets outside the United States,[7] and it was the ninth-highest-grossing film of the year worldwide.[7] It was the most successful film at the box office in France in 1997,[77] with more than 7.69 million seeing the film.[78] In Germany, the film was awarded the Goldene Leinwand, a sales certification award for selling more than three million tickets at the box office.[79] The Fifth Element became the highest-grossing French film at the foreign box-office,[41][80] a record it held for 16 years until the release of The Intouchables in 2011.[81]

 Critical response [ edit ]

 Despite the popular response, critics were split in their response to The Fifth Element. Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times described the film as an "elaborate, even campy sci-fi extravaganza, which is nearly as hard to follow as last year's Mission: Impossible". He concluded that The Fifth Element was "a lot warmer, more fun, and boasts some of the most sophisticated, witty production and costume design you could ever hope to see".[82] On the American film review At the Movies, both Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel gave the film a "thumbs up".[83] In his separate review for the Chicago Sun-Times, Ebert gave the film three stars out of four, calling it "One of the great goofy movies", and concluding, "I would not have missed seeing this film, and I recommend it for its richness of imagery. But at 127 minutes, which seems a reasonable length, it plays long."[4]

 The film also received reviews that criticized its overblown style. Todd McCarthy of Variety wrote, "A largely misfired European attempt to make an American-style sci-fi spectacular, The Fifth Element consists of a hodgepodge of elements that don't comfortably coalesce."[74] David Edelstein of Slate said, "It may or may not be the worst movie ever made, but it is one of the most unhinged."[5]

 Chris Tucker's performance as Ruby Rhod also divided critics.[84] He was praised in the Los Angeles Times[85] and Time; the latter called him "the summer's most outrageous special effect".[86] Josh Winning of Total Film, singled out Tucker's performance as the low point of the film, ranking it as number 20 on his 2011 list, "50 Performances That Ruined Movies".[87]

 The Fifth Element holds a 71% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes, based on 68 reviews, with an average score of 6.4/10. The site's consensus reads: "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."[88] At Metacritic, it has a weighted score of 52 out of 100 based on reviews from 22 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[89] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.[90]

 Plagiarism suit [ edit ]

 Alejandro Jodorowsky and Jean Giraud sued Besson after the film was released, claiming The Fifth Element had plagiarised their comic The Incal. Giraud sued for 13.1 million euros for unfair competition, 9 million euros in damages and interest, and two to five percent of the net operating revenues of the film. Jodorowsky sued for 700,000 euros. The case was dismissed in 2004 on the grounds that only "tiny fragments" of the comic had been used[91] and Giraud had been hired by Besson to work on the film before the allegations were made.[18]

 Adaptations [ edit ]

 A novel was adapted from the screenplay of The Fifth Element, written by Terry Bisson; it was published by HarperPrism in 1997.[92][93] Rumors arose after the film's release that it would be followed by a sequel, tentatively titled Mr. Shadow. In 2011 Besson said that he never planned a sequel and has no desire to make one.[94]

 Activision created a video game adaptation of The Fifth Element in 1998 for the PlayStation game console and PC. The PlayStation version generally received negative reviews,[95] but the PC version was better received.[96] Lauren Fielder from GameSpot described the PlayStation version as "quite possibly the worst game I've ever played".[97] Doug Perry from IGN wrote: "Take Tomb Raider, add in Leeloo Multipass and boring puzzles, and you've got Fifth Element."[98]

 A racing game based on the film, New York Race, was released in 2001.[99] Eurogamer gave the game 6 out of 10, concluding: "New York Race is a fun little arcade racer, which oozes style, but it's something you'll grow tired of extremely quickly and as such remains fun only in short bursts."[99]

 Accolades [ edit ]

 The Fifth Element was nominated for Best Sound Editing at the 70th Academy Awards,[100] and for Best Sound Editing at the 1998 Golden Reel Awards,[101] but lost to Titanic in both cases. It won the BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects,[102][103] and the Lumières Award for Best Director.[104] It was nominated for seven César awards, winning three: Best Director,[105] Best Cinematography and Best Production Design.[103][106] It was nominated for Film of the Year at the 1997 European Film Awards,[107] as well as the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation,[108] and the Satellite Award for Best Visual Effects.[109] Thierry Arbogast was awarded the Technical Grand Prize at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival for his work on both The Fifth Element and She's So Lovely.[103] The film received four Saturn Award nominations: Best Science Fiction Film, Best Costume, Best Special Effects,[110] and Best Supporting Actress for Milla Jovovich.[111] Jovovich's fight against the Mangalores was nominated for the MTV Movie Award for Best Fight,[111][112] and the actress was also nominated for Best Actress – Newcomer at the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards.[113]

 Conversely, Jovovich received a Golden Raspberry nomination for Worst Supporting Actress, and Chris Tucker was nominated for Worst New Star for his performances in both The Fifth Element and Money Talks.[114] The film also received four nominations at the 1997 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards: Worst Picture, Worst Director, Worst Supporting Actor for Tucker and Worst Supporting Actress for Jovovich.[115]

 Year Event Award Nominee Result 
 1998 Academy Awards Best Sound Editing Mark Mangini Nominated
 1998 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Best Actress – Newcomer Milla Jovovich Nominated
 1997 British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Special Visual Effects Mark Mangini Won 
 1997 Cannes Film Festival Technical Grand Prize Thierry Arbogast Won 
 1998 César Award Best Cinematography Thierry Arbogast Won 
 Best Director Luc Besson Won 
 Best Production Design Dan Weil Won 
 Best Costume Design Jean-Paul Gaultier Nominated 
 Best Editing Sylvie Landra Nominated 
 Best Film Luc Besson Nominated 
 Best Music Written for a Film Éric Serra Nominated 
 Best Sound Daniel Brisseau Nominated 
 1997 European Film Awards Film of the Year Patrice Ledoux Nominated
 1998 Golden Raspberry Awards Worst Supporting Actress Milla Jovovich Nominated
 Worst New Star Chris Tucker Nominated 
 1998 Golden Reel Awards Best Sound Editing Mark Mangini Nominated
 1998 Hugo Awards Best Dramatic Presentation The Fifth Element Nominated
 1997 Lumières Award Best Director Luc Besson Won 
 1998 MTV Movie Awards Best Fight Milla Jovovich vs. Aliens Nominated
 1998 Satellite Award Best Visual Effects Mark Stetson Nominated
 1998 Saturn Award Best Science Fiction Film The Fifth Element Nominated
 Best Costumes Jean-Paul Gaultier Nominated 
 Best Special Effects Special effects team Nominated 
 Best Supporting Actress Milla Jovovich Nominated 
 1997 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards Worst Picture The Fifth Element Nominated
 Worst Director Luc Besson Nominated 
 Worst Supporting Actor Chris Tucker Nominated 
 Worst Supporting Actress Milla Jovovich Nominated 
 

 Home media [ edit ]

 The original home video release of The Fifth Element took place in North America on 10 December 1997, on VHS, LaserDisc, and DVD.[116] The original DVD presented the film in its original 2.39:1 anamorphic widescreen format, though carried no special features.[117] The film was released in Sony's Superbit format in October 2001.[118] In his review, Conrad Jeremy from IGN gave the picture quality of the original DVD release 9 out of 10, though awarded the Superbit version a perfect score for picture quality. Overall, the Superbit version was given 8 out of 10; the final score was brought down by the version's complete lack of special features.[118]

 An "Ultimate Edition" set of two DVDs was released on 11 January 2005.[116][119] The only difference between the Superbit version and the Ultimate Edition disc one is the addition of a "fact track", which when turned on displays trivia about the film, cast, and crew as the film plays. The second disc provides various special features, focusing on visual production, special effects, fashion in the film, featurettes, and interviews with Willis, Jovovich, and Tucker, as well as featurettes on the four different alien races in the film and Diva Plavalaguna. Ian Jane of DVD Talk praised the Ultimate Edition for its special features.[119]

 The first Blu-ray release of the film on 20 June 2006 was criticised as having poor picture quality by Blu-ray standards, and for its lack of special features.[120] In what has been called "an extremely rare move", Sony responded to complaints by making a remastered Blu-ray version available, released on 17 July 2007, and also offered a replacement exchange program for customers unhappy with the original Blu-ray release.[121] Ben Williams from Blu-ray.com stated the remastered version "absolutely" made up for the substandard initial release, and praised its high video and audio quality; however, he criticised the continued lack of special features.[120]

 The 20th-anniversary 4K remaster was released on Ultra HD Blu-ray on 11 July 2017.[122]

 Legacy [ edit ]

 The film has been described by CBS News, Rotten Tomatoes, and ComingSoon.com as a science-fiction cult classic.[123][124][125] In 2007 the Visual Effects Society placed The Fifth Element at number 50, tied with Darby O'Gill and the Little People, on their list of the fifty most influential visual effects films of all time.[126] In 2014 Time Out listed the film at number 42 on their "100 best sci-fi movies" list.[127]

 Film critic Mark Kermode reported that The Fifth Element was one of the most divisive films among his readers, regarded as both the best and the worst summer blockbuster of all time. Years later, Kermode recalled: "I remember very clearly being in Cannes when [The] Fifth Element was first played, and it really divided the audience."[128] Stephen Cass of Discover ranked the film the third-best science-fiction film on subscription service Hulu, writing, "People seem to either like or loathe The Fifth Element ... Lavish visuals and entertaining performances from Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, and Gary Oldman make this movie worth watching."[129] In some circles, the film has gained a "so-bad-it's-good" status; Meredith Woerner of io9 listed The Fifth Element as one of "The 20 Best Worst Science-Fiction Movies of All Time".[130]

 Cast comments [ edit ]

 Willis spoke favourably of the film in a 1999 interview, concluding: "It was a real fun movie to make."[131] Tucker and Jovovich also spoke favourably of both their experiences making the film and working with Besson in interviews on the Ultimate Edition DVD; Jovovich described Besson as "the first really amazing director I had worked with".[132] Asked in a 2014 interview if he liked the film, Gary Oldman stated, "Oh no. I can't bear it."[133] He had explained in 2011: "It was me singing for my supper because Luc had come in and partly financed [my film] Nil by Mouth."[134]

 Notes and references [ edit ]

 1. ^ Conflicting sources stated the film's budget to be various figures between US$50 million and $100 million. The most frequently cited figure and also the figure cited by Besson in his book, The Story of The Fifth Element is $90 million.
 2. ^ French : Le Cinquième Élément
 3. ^ The film's opening scene states the year is 1914 and the following scene in space states it is "300 years later". However, Korben's alarm clock shows the year as 2263. The year is given as 2257 on the DVD sleeve notes published by Pathé in 1997, and as 2259 by Besson in The Story of The Fifth Element .
 1. ^ "Le Cinquième élément" [The Fifth Element]. Ciné-Ressources (in French). Archived from the original on 12 October 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 2. ^ "Fifth Element, The Le Cinquieme Elemente". Australian Classification Board . Retrieved 11 April 2015 .
 3. ^ a b c d Besson 1997 , p. 11.
 4. ^ a b Ebert, Roger (9 May 1997). "The Fifth Element". RogerEbert.com. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014 . Retrieved 28 January 2015 .
 5. ^ a b Edelstein, David (11 May 1997). "Unmitigated Gaul: The Fifth Element and Irma Vep". Slate. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014 . Retrieved 28 January 2015 .
 6. ^ Mazdon 2000 , p. 110; Hayward 2009 , p. 91.
 7. ^ a b c d "The Fifth Element (1997)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 22 January 2015 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 8. ^ a b c d Schaefer, Stephen. "Filmmaker Luc Besson explains how a childhood fantasy became a hit sci-fi epic". IndustryCentral. Archived from the original on 19 November 2012 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 9. ^ Telotte, J. P (2001). Science Fiction Film. Cambridge University Press. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-521-59647-3. Archived from the original on 24 December 2016.
 10. ^ a b Ott, Brian L; Aoki, Eric (2001). "Counter-Imagination as Interpretive Practice: Futuristic Fantasy and The Fifth Element" (PDF) . Women's Studies in Communication. 27 (2): 149–176. doi:10.1080/07491409.2004.10162471. hdl:10217/644. S2CID 53953295 . Retrieved 3 August 2019 .
 11. ^ Brandt, Stefan (2000). "American Culture X: Identity, homosexuality, and the search for a new American hero". In West, Russell; Lay, Frank (eds.). Subverting Masculinity: Hegemonic and Alternative Visions of Masculinity in Contemporary Culture. Amsterdam: Rodopi. pp. 67–93. ISBN 978-90-420-1234-9.
 12. ^ a b c Hayward 2009 , p. 98.
 13. ^ Hayward 2009 , pp. 91–92.
 14. ^ a b c Hayward 2009 , p. 92.
 15. ^ "The Fifth Element (1997)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 4 August 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 16. ^ Besson 1997 , pp. 8–9.
 17. ^ a b Besson 1997 , pp. 9–10.
 18. ^ a b Heller, Jason (10 March 2012). "R.I.P. Moebius, comics legend and Métal Hurlant co-founder". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 19. ^ Anders, Charlie (1 July 2012). "Luc Besson adapting classic time-travel comic created by Fifth Element concept artist". io9. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 20. ^ a b Bizony 2001 , p. 169.
 21. ^ Besson 1997 , p. 158; Mézières 2004 , p. 65.
 22. ^ Besson 1997 , pp. 10–11.
 23. ^ Besson 1997 , p. 149.
 24. ^ Mézières 2004 , p. 65.
 25. ^ Besson 1997 , p. 13.
 26. ^ Rogers, Stephen D (15 November 2011). The Dictionary of Made-Up Languages: From Elvish to Klingon, The Anwa, Reella, Ealray, Yeht (Real) Origins of Invented Lexicons. Adams Media. p. 51. ISBN 978-1-4405-2817-0.
 27. ^ a b Change, Kee (5 May 2012). "Film Critic: Maïwenn's 'Polisse'". Anthem Magazine. Archived from the original on 8 December 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 28. ^ Buys, Sara (January 2003). "Milla's Tale". Harpers & Queen. Archived from the original on 26 October 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 29. ^ "Paris prosecutors probe Luc Besson's 'Film City' studios". Hürriyet Daily News. 20 December 2013. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 30. ^ a b Besson 1997 , p. 152.
 31. ^ "The Fifth Element". Pinewood Studios. Archived from the original on 13 November 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 32. ^ Shipman, Chris (11 October 2011). "Top films featuring opera 20-16". Royal Opera House. Archived from the original on 16 November 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 33. ^ a b Elrick, Ted (1997). "Elemental Images". Cinefex (70): 130.
 34. ^ Besson 1997 , p. 18.
 35. ^ Besson 1997 , p. 116.
 36. ^ Besson 1997 , p. 92.
 37. ^ Besson 1997 , p. 96.
 38. ^ a b Besson 1997 , p. 68.
 39. ^ a b Drazin, Charles (2011). The Faber Book of French Cinema. Faber and Faber. p. 382. ISBN 978-0-571-21849-3. "fifth element french films."
 40. ^ Mazdon 2000 , p. 109.
 41. ^ a b LaPlante, Alice (1999). Playing for Profit: How Digital Entertainment is Making Big Business Out of Child's Play. John Wiley & Sons. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-471-29614-0.
 42. ^ a b Hanson 2005 , p. 65.
 43. ^ Hayward, p. 96.
 44. ^ Hayward 2009 , p. 104.
 45. ^ Spindler, Amy M (8 May 1997). "French Futurists: No Honor at Home". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 1 February 2015 . Retrieved 1 February 2015 .
 46. ^ Satenstein, Liana (11 May 2022). "Milla Jovovich Talks Her Epic The Fifth Element Costume". Vogue. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022.
 47. ^ Yu, Justin (28 December 2009). "The 404 Yuletide Mini-sode: Where The 404 is the Fifth Element". CNET. Archived from the original on 14 October 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 48. ^ Hayward 2009 , p. 89.
 49. ^ Romano, Nick (24 April 2016). "The Fifth Element: Prince Ruby Rhod casting didn't work out, says director Luc Besson". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 12 February 2021.
 50. ^ Greenblatt, Leah (19 July 2017). "There will never be another Fifth Element – and more amazing stories about the making of Luc Besson's 1997 classic". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021.
 51. ^ Bizony 2001 , p. 131.
 52. ^ Hanson 2005 , p. 60.
 53. ^ Bizony 2001 , p. 28.
 54. ^ Bizony 2001 , p. 140.
 55. ^ a b c Bizony 2001 , p. 173.
 56. ^ Hanson 2005 , p. 64.
 57. ^ Bizony 2001 , p. 106.
 58. ^ Bizony 2001 , p. 139.
 59. ^ Hayward 2009 , p. 44.
 60. ^ Hayward 2009 , p. 47.
 61. ^ a b Hayward 2009 , p. 68.
 62. ^ Cornea, Christine (2007). Science Fiction Cinema: Between Fantasy and Reality. Rutgers University Press. p. 207. ISBN 978-0-8135-4173-0. Archived from the original on 24 December 2016.
 63. ^ Hayward 2009 , p. 53.
 64. ^ Sheridan, Tim. "Khaled: N'ssi N'ssi". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 21 June 2013 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 65. ^ "Gemini Sun Records is Proud to Announce Vitas". Press release. Gemini Sun Records. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 66. ^ Hayward 2009 , p. 45.
 67. ^ "The Fifth Element [Virgin]". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 20 June 2012 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 68. ^ Éric Serra (6 May 1997). The Fifth Element (Soundtrack). Virgin Records.
 69. ^ "The Fifth Element [Virgin] – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 10 December 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 70. ^ Hayward 2009 , pp. 43–44.
 71. ^ Batdorf, Rodney. "The Fifth Element [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 10 December 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 72. ^ "The Fifth Element". FilmTracks. 10 May 1997. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 73. ^ "Festival de Cannes: The Fifth Element". Cannes Film Festival. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 74. ^ a b McCarthy, Todd (7 May 1997). "Review: "The Fifth Element"". Variety. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014 . Retrieved 11 December 2014 .
 75. ^ Gray, Timothy (13 May 2013). "Cannes parties are legendary, but sometimes the shindig can outperform the pic". Variety. Archived from the original on 25 December 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 76. ^ Cox, Dan (5 March 1997). "Sony wows exhibs with star-studded lineup". Variety. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020 . Retrieved 16 July 2020 .
 77. ^ Mazdon 2000 , p. 110.
 78. ^ Hayward 2009 , p. 91.
 79. ^ "Das fünfte Element" [The Fifth Element]. Goldene Leinwand (in German). Archived from the original on 5 November 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 80. ^ Palmer, Tim (2011). Brutal Intimacy: Analyzing Contemporary French Cinema. Wesleyan University Press. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-8195-6827-4.
 81. ^ "'Intouchables': plus gros succès de l'histoire pour un film non-anglophone" [Untouchable: biggest success in history for a non-English speaking film]. PureMédias (in French). 21 March 2012. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 82. ^ Thomas, Kevin (9 May 1997). "'Element': A Voyage as Fun, Stylish as It Is Confusing". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 8 November 2014 . Retrieved 11 December 2014 .
 83. ^ "Week of May 10, 1997: The Fifth Element review". At the Movies. Season 11. Episode 35. 10 May 1997.
 84. ^ "Motor Mouth Man". Newsweek. 7 September 1997. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014 . Retrieved 11 December 2021 .
 85. ^ Smith, Steven (8 May 1997). "In His Element". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014 . Retrieved 11 December 2014 .
 86. ^ Communications, Emmis (1998). "Chris Tucker". Los Angeles (November): 96 . Retrieved 11 December 2014 .
 87. ^ Winning, Josh (2 November 2011). "50 Performances That Ruined Movies". Total Film. Archived from the original on 20 November 2013 . Retrieved 12 January 2022 .
 88. ^ "The Fifth Element Movie Reviews, Pictures". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015 . Retrieved 21 September 2021 .
 89. ^ "The Fifth Element". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015 . Retrieved 30 January 2022 .
 90. ^ "CinemaScore". Archived from the original on 20 December 2018.
 91. ^ "Moebius perd son procès contre Besson" [Moebius loses trial against Besson]. ToutenBD (in French). 28 May 2004. Archived from the original on 27 March 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 92. ^ The fifth element: a novel. WorldCat. OCLC 36966341.
 93. ^ Bisson, Terry (1997). The Fifth Element: A Novel. HarperPrism. ISBN 978-0-06-105838-7.
 94. ^ Ryan, Mike (26 August 2011). "Luc Besson Reflects on His Female Leads and Explains Why a 'Fifth Element' Sequel Will Never Happen". Moviefone. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014 . Retrieved 11 December 2014 .
 95. ^ "The Fifth Element for PlayStation". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 96. ^ "The Fifth Element". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 97. ^ Fielder, Lauren (21 October 1998). "Fifth Element, The Review (PS)". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 10 December 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 98. ^ Perry, Doug (1 October 1998). "Fifth Element". IGN. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 99. ^ a b Taylor, Martin (11 December 2014). "NY Race". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 100. ^ "The Fifth Element". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on 8 February 2009 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 . Note: Search for "The Fifth Element".
 101. ^ "Mark Mangini" (PDF) . The Hollywood Reporter: C-11. 9 March 1998. ISSN 0018-3660. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 102. ^ "Achievement in Special Visual Effects in 1998". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 103. ^ a b c "The Fifth Element (1997)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2014. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 104. ^ "Le Cinquième élément" [The Fifth Element]. AlloCiné. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 105. ^ Williams, Michael (1 March 1998). "Resnais seizes 7 Cesars". Variety. Archived from the original on 25 December 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 106. ^ "Palmares2014 - 39 th Cesar Award Ceremony". César Award. Archived from the original on 4 August 2013 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 . Note: Choose '1998' from the drop-down box.
 107. ^ "1997". European Film Awards. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 108. ^ "1998 Hugo Awards". Hugo Awards. 26 July 2007. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 109. ^ "1998". International Press Academy. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 110. ^ "VFX Awards". KEG FX. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 111. ^ a b Justin, Sarachik (21 October 2011). "Milla Jovovich Blasts Summit Entertainment for Ignoring 'Three Musketeers'". The Christian Post. Archived from the original on 23 October 2011 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 112. ^ "1998 MTV Movie Awards". MTV. Archived from the original on 26 January 2015 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 . Note: Click on the 'Winners' tab.
 113. ^ "1996 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Nominees Announced". Billboard. 17 January 1998. p. 64. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017.
 114. ^ "1997 Archive". Golden Raspberry Awards. 23 August 2000. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 115. ^ "The Stinkers 1997 Ballot". Stinkers Bad Movie Awards. Archived from the original on 18 August 2000.
 116. ^ a b "The Fifth Element (1997)". DVDs Release Dates. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 117. ^ Beierle, Aaron (28 June 2000). "The Fifth Element". DVD Talk. Archived from the original on 11 December 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 118. ^ a b Jeremy, Conrad (11 October 2001). "Fifth Element (Superbit), The". IGN. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 119. ^ a b Jane, Ian. "The Fifth Element – Ultimate Edition". DVD Talk. Archived from the original on 9 December 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 120. ^ a b Williams, Ben (5 August 2007). "The Fifth Element Blu-ray". Blu-ray.com. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 121. ^ "Sony Offers New 'Fifth Element' Blu-ray Remaster and 'Replacement Exchange Program'". High-Def Digest. 18 June 2007. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 122. ^ Kyle Newton (27 July 2017). "The Fifth Element - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray". High-Def Digest. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017 . Retrieved 29 July 2017 .
 123. ^ Teichner, Martha (22 January 2012). "Jean Paul Gaultier: Fashion's wild child". CBS News. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014 . Retrieved 28 January 2015 .
 124. ^ Yamato, Jen (13 August 2007). "Milla Jovovich on Resident Evil And Her Ultraviolet Beef". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014 . Retrieved 11 December 2014 .
 125. ^ Woerner, Meredith (14 October 2010). "Luc Besson's next film is 'The Fifth Element to the power of ten'". io9. Archived from the original on 7 August 2012 . Retrieved 11 December 2014 .
 126. ^ "The Visual Effects Society Unveils '50 Most Influential Visual Effects Films of All Time'". PR Newswire. 11 May 2007. Archived from the original on 3 December 2016 . Retrieved 12 September 2016 .
 127. ^ "The 100 best sci-fi movies: 50-41". Time Out. 22 July 2014. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 128. ^ Kermode, Mark (28 August 2012). "Summer Blockbusters – Your Best and Worst". BBC. Archived from the original on 30 January 2015 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 129. ^ Cass, Stephen (24 December 2008). "5 Best Science Fiction Movies on Hulu: #3, The Fifth Element". Discover. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 130. ^ Woerner, Meredith (18 September 2008). "The 20 Best Worst Science Fiction Movies of All Time". io9. Archived from the original on 15 August 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 131. ^ "The Fifth Element: Luc Besson and Bruce Willis". Special Broadcasting Service. 25 January 1999. Archived from the original on 8 December 2014 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 132. ^ The Fifth Element – Ultimate Edition (The Star Element) (DVD). Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group. 2005.
 133. ^ Hochman, David (25 June 2014). "Playboy Interview: Gary Oldman". Playboy. Archived from the original on 23 January 2015 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .
 134. ^ Hamm, Matt (28 September 2011). "Gary Oldman 'A Life in Pictures' @ BAFTA". Live For Films. Archived from the original on 28 February 2015 . Retrieved 30 January 2015 .

 Bibliography [ edit ]

 * Besson, Luc (1997). The Story of the Fifth Element: The Adventure and Discovery of a Film. London: Titan Books. ISBN 978-1-85286-863-5.
 * Bizony, Piers (2001). Digital Domain: The Leading Edge of Visual Effects. London: Aurum Press. ISBN 978-0-8230-7928-5.
 * Hanson, Matt (2005). Building Sci-Fi Moviescapes: The Science Behind the Fiction. Waltham, Massachusetts: Focal Press. ISBN 978-0-240-80772-0.
 * Hayward, Susan; Powrie, Phil (2009). The Films of Luc Besson: Master of Spectacle. Manchester: Manchester University Press. ISBN 978-0-7190-7029-7.
 * Mazdon, Lucy (2000). Encore Hollywood: Remaking French Cinema. London: British Film Institute. ISBN 978-0-85170-801-0.
 * Mézières, Jean-Claude; Christin, Pierre (2004). "The Circles of Power". Valerian: The New Future Trilogy. Valérian: Spatio-Temporal Agent. Trans. Timothy Ryan Smith. New York: iBooks. ISBN 978-0-7434-8674-3.

 External links [ edit ]

 * Official website
 * The Fifth Element at IMDb
 * The Fifth Element at AllMovie
 * The Fifth Element at the TCM Movie Database
 * v 
 * t 
 * e 
 Luc Besson 
 * Filmography
 * Le Dernier Combat (1983) 
 * Subway (1985) 
 * The Big Blue (1988) 
 * La Femme Nikita (1990) 
 * Atlantis (1991) 
 * Léon: The Professional (1994) 
 * The Fifth Element (1997) 
 * The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999) 
 Directed * Angel-A (2005) 
 * Arthur and the Invisibles (2006) 
 * Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard (2009) 
 * Arthur 3: The War of the Two Worlds (2010) 
 * The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec (2010)
 * The Lady (2011) 
 * The Family (2013) 
 * Lucy (2014) 
 * Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) 
 * Anna (2019) 
 * Kamikaze (1986) 
 * Taxi (1998) 
 * Taxi 2 (2000) 
 * The Dancer (2000) 
 * Kiss of the Dragon (2001) 
 * Wasabi (2001) 
 * Yamakasi (2001) 
 * The Transporter (2002) 
 * Fanfan la Tulipe (2003) 
 * Taxi 3 (2003) 
 * Michel Vaillant (2003) 
 * Crimson Rivers II: Angels of the Apocalypse (2004) 
 * District 13 (2004) 
 * Revolver (2005) 
 * Transporter 2 (2005) 
 Written * Unleashed (2005) 
 * Bandidas (2006) 
 * Taxi 4 (2007) 
 Films * Taken (2008) 
 * Transporter 3 (2008) 
 * District 13: Ultimatum (2009) 
 * From Paris with Love (2010) 
 * Colombiana (2011) 
 * Lockout (2012) 
 * Taken 2 (2012) 
 * 3 Days to Kill (2014) 
 * Brick Mansions (2014) 
 * Taken 3 (2015) 
 * The Transporter Refueled (2015) 
 * The Warriors Gate (2016) 
 * Renegades (2017) 
 * Arthur, malédiction (2022) 
 * Cold Moon (1991) 
 * Nil by Mouth (1997) 
 * Chaos and Desire (2002) 
 * Les Côtelettes (2003) 
 * Taxi (2004) 
 * The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005) 
 * Love and Other Disasters (2006) 
 * Nuovomondo (2006) 
 * Tell No One (2006) 
 * The Secret (2007) 
 Produced * Hitman (2007) 
 * Taken (2008) 
 * Home (2009) 
 * Staten Island (2009) 
 * 22 Bullets (2010) 
 * The Source (2011) 
 * A Monster in Paris (2011) 
 * Collision (2013) 
 * Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart (2013) 
 * 3 Days to Kill (2014) 
 * The Homesman (2014) 
 * Taxi 5 (2018) 
  
 TV series * Transporter: The Series (2012–2014) 
 * No Limit (2012–2015) 
 See also * EuropaCorp 
 * Virginie Besson-Silla 
 * Category 
 
 Portals :
 * 1990s
 * Film
 * Speculative fiction
 The Fifth Element at Wikipedia's sister projects :
 * Media from Commons
 * Quotations from Wikiquote
 * Data from Wikidata
 Authority control
 * VIAF 
 General + 1 
 * WorldCat (via VIAF)
 * Norway 
 * France (data) 
 National libraries * Catalonia 
 * Germany 
 * United States 
 * MusicBrainz 
 Other + release group 
 * SUDOC (France) 
 + 1 
 
 Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Fifth_Element&oldid=1137273510"
 Categories:
 * 1997 films
 * 1990s science fiction action films
 * 1997 action films
 * 1997 science fiction films
 * BAFTA winners (films)
 * English-language French films
 * Fictional-language films
 * Films about ancient astronauts
 * Films about extraterrestrial life
 * Films directed by Luc Besson
 * Films involved in plagiarism controversies
 * Films scored by Éric Serra
 * Films set in the 23rd century
 * Films set in 1914
 * Films set in Egypt
 * French films set in New York City
 * Films shot at Pinewood Studios
 * Films shot in London
 * Films shot in Mauritania
 * Films whose director won the Best Director César Award
 * Films whose director won the Best Director Lumières Award
 * Films with screenplays by Luc Besson
 * Films with screenplays by Robert Mark Kamen
 * Flying cars in fiction
 * French action adventure films
 * French science fiction action films
 * Gaumont Film Company films
 * Science fantasy films
 * Space adventure films
 * 1990s English-language films
 * 1990s French films
 * Foreign films set in the United States
 Hidden categories:
 * Articles containing French-language text
 * CS1 French-language sources (fr)
 * CS1 German-language sources (de)
 * Articles with short description
 * Short description is different from Wikidata
 * Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages
 * Featured articles
 * Use dmy dates from December 2020
 * Template film date with 1 release date
 * Articles with hAudio microformats
 * Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia
 * IMDb ID same as Wikidata
 * Articles with VIAF identifiers
 * Articles with WorldCat-VIAF identifiers
 * Articles with BIBSYS identifiers
 * Articles with BNF identifiers
 * Articles with CANTICN identifiers
 * Articles with GND identifiers
 * Articles with LCCN identifiers
 * Articles with MusicBrainz release group identifiers
 * Articles with SUDOC identifiers
 * This page was last edited on 3 February 2023, at 19:29 (UTC) .
 * Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
 * Privacy policy
 * About Wikipedia
 * Disclaimers
 * Contact Wikipedia
 * Mobile view
 * Developers
 * Statistics
 * Cookie statement
 * 
 * 
"Korben Dallas" redirects here. For the Slovak rock band, see Korben Dallas (band).
   The Fifth Element      North American theatrical release poster         French   Le Cinquième Élément    Directed by  Luc Besson    Screenplay by  
 Luc Besson
 Robert Mark Kamen  
    Story by Luc Besson   Produced by  Patrice Ledoux    Starring  
  Bruce Willis 
 Gary Oldman 
 Ian Holm 
 Milla Jovovich 
 Chris Tucker  
    Cinematography  Thierry Arbogast    Edited by Sylvie Landra   Music by  Éric Serra     Productioncompany     Gaumont      Distributed by Gaumont Buena Vista International  [1]      Release date   
 7 May 1997 (France) 
     Running time  126 minutes [2]     Country France   Language English   Budget US$90 million [3]   [4]   [5]   [6]   [a]     Box office $263.9 million [7]     
  The Fifth Element   [b]  is a 1997 English-language French science fiction action film conceived and directed by Luc Besson, as well as co-written by Besson and Robert Mark Kamen. It stars Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm, Milla Jovovich and Chris Tucker. Primarily set in the 23rd century, the film's central plot involves the survival of planet Earth, which becomes the responsibility of Korben Dallas (Willis), a taxicab driver and former special forces major, after a young woman (Jovovich) falls into his cab. To accomplish this, Dallas joins forces with her to recover four mystical stones essential for the defence of Earth against the impending attack of a malevolent cosmic entity.
 Besson started writing the story that was developed as The Fifth Element when he was 16 years old; he was 38 when the film opened in cinemas. Besson wanted to shoot the film in France, but suitable facilities could not be found; filming took place in London and Mauritania instead. He hired comic artists Jean "Moebius" Giraud and Jean-Claude Mézières, whose books inspired parts of the film, for production design. Costume design was by Jean-Paul Gaultier.
  The Fifth Element received mainly positive reviews, although some critics were highly negative. The film won in categories at the British Academy Film Awards, the César Awards, the Cannes Film Festival, and the Lumières Awards, but also received nominations at the Golden Raspberry and Stinkers Bad Movie Awards. The Fifth Element was a strong financial success, earning more than US$263 million at the box office on a $90 million budget. At the time of its release, it was the most expensive European film ever made, and it remained the highest-grossing French film at the international box office until the release of  The Intouchables  in 2011.
Plot[edit]
In 1914, aliens known as Mondoshawans meet their human contact, a priest of a secret order, at an ancient Egyptian temple. They take the only weapon capable of defeating a great evil that appears every five thousand years, and promise to return the weapon before the great evil's re-emergence. The weapon consists of the four classical elements, as four engraved stones, plus a sarcophagus containing a "fifth element".
 In 2263, [c]  the great evil appears in deep space as a giant living fireball. It destroys an armed Earth spaceship as it heads to Earth. The Mondoshawans' current human contact on Earth, priest Vito Cornelius, informs the President of the Federated Territories of the great evil's history and of the weapon that can stop it.
 On their way to Earth, a Mondoshawan spacecraft carrying the weapon is ambushed and destroyed by a crew of Mangalores, alien mercenaries hired by Earth industrialist Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg, who is working for the great evil. A severed hand in metal armor from the wreckage of the spacecraft is brought to New York City. From this, the government uses biotechnology to recreate the original occupant of the sarcophagus, a humanoid woman named Leeloo who remembers her previous life. Alarmed by the unfamiliar surroundings and high security, she escapes and jumps off a ledge, crashing into the flying taxicab of Korben Dallas, a former major in Earth's Special Forces.
 Dallas delivers Leeloo to Cornelius and his apprentice, David, who recognize her as the Fifth Element. As Leeloo recuperates, she tells Cornelius that the stones were not onboard the Mondoshawan ship. Simultaneously, the Mondoshawans inform Earth's government the stones were entrusted to an alien opera singer, the diva Plavalaguna. Zorg reneges on his deal with the Mangalores for failing to obtain the stones and kills some of them. Earth's military sends Dallas to meet Plavalaguna; a rigged radio contest provides a cover, awarding Dallas a luxury vacation aboard a flying hotel on planet Fhloston, accompanied by flamboyant talk-show host Ruby Rhod. It includes a concert by Plavalaguna, and learning that Leeloo shares his mission, Dallas lets her accompany him. Cornelius instructs David to prepare the temple, then stows away on the luxury spaceship. The Mangalore crew, pursuing the stones for themselves, also illegally board the ship.
 During the concert, the Mangalores attack and Plavalaguna dies. Dallas extracts the stones from her body and kills the Mangalore leader, causing the others to surrender. Zorg arrives, shoots and traumatizes Leeloo, and activates a time bomb. He flees with a carrying case he presumes contains the stones, but returns when he discovers it is empty. He deactivates his bomb, but a dying Mangalore sets off his own, destroying the hotel and killing Zorg. Meanwhile, Dallas, Cornelius, Leeloo, and Rhod escape with the stones in Zorg's private spaceship.
 As the great evil approaches Earth, the four meet David at the temple. They deploy the stones, but Leeloo, having learned of humanity's own terrible history of war, has given up on life. Dallas declares his love for her and kisses her. In response, Leeloo combines the power of the stones, emitting divine light onto the great evil and defeating it. She and Dallas are hailed as heroes and, as dignitaries wait to greet them, the two passionately embrace in a recovery chamber.
Cast[edit]
  Bruce Willis as Korben Dallas
 Milla Jovovich as Leeloo
 Gary Oldman as Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
 Ian Holm as Vito Cornelius
 Chris Tucker as Ruby Rhod
 Luke Perry as Billy Masterson
 Brion James as General Munro
 Tommy "Tiny" Lister Jr. as President Lindberg
 Lee Evans as Fog
 Charlie Creed-Miles as David
 Tricky as Right Arm
 John Neville as General Staedert
 John Bluthal as Professor Pacoli
 Maïwenn Le Besco as Diva Plavalaguna
  Inva Mula provides Diva's singing voice    
Themes[edit]
In an interview, Besson stated The Fifth Element was not a "big theme movie", although the film's theme was an important one. He wanted viewers to reach the point where Leeloo states, "What's the use of saving life when you see what you do with it?" and agree with her. [8]  Jay P. Telotte, writing in the book Science Fiction Film, credited the film with exploring the theme of political corruption. [9] 
 Brian Ott and Eric Aoki writing in the feminist journal  Women's Studies in Communication  considered gender to be one of the film's central themes. The authors criticized the film for erasing women from the introductory scenes, noting that only two appeared in the first twenty minutes: an androgynous, mostly speechless presidential aide, and Leeloo undergoing reconstruction. When females appear in the film, they are presented as passive objects, such as the sexualised flight and McDonald's attendants; or stripped of their femininity, such as the "butch" Major Iceborg. [10] 
 Stefan Brandt, in the book Subverting Masculinity, also said that the film "echoes stereotypical beliefs about gender" of all females in the film. He said that Leeloo left her passive role only during her fight with the Mangalores. Except for Tiny Lister's portrayal of the President, Brandt said that all males in the film were shown as unmanly as possible in various ways, such as Ruby Rhod's effeminacy, Vito Cornelius's clumsy form of speech, and General Munro's stupidity; their purpose was to make Korben's masculinity appear "god-like" by comparison. [11] 
 In the book The Films of Luc Besson, Susan Hayward considered The Fifth Element to be a classic story of a man "making his break from the tribe, proving his manhood, overthrowing the malevolent forces, and killing the chief, finally to reap the rewards of security and marriage". [12]  Korben's journey, however, is threatened not only by the Mangalores and Zorg, but also by Leeloo, who does not relent or help him until the last minute, when she accepts his declaration of love. [12]  The love story within The Fifth Element was considered to be one of the main narratives in the film, and it faces the same deadline as the main storyline. [12]  Hayward also considered the film to grapple with environmental damage, in so far as waste and pollution are visible throughout the film. [13]  Whereas science-fiction films often show a world wherein some new technology or threat either surpasses or fails humanity, The Films of Luc Besson included The Fifth Element among the minority of science-fiction films that "hold up a mirror" and show humankind as responsible. [14]  Hayward said the film was skeptical of capitalist consumerism, in so far as the gadgets Zorg collected in his office suggested that he had an unhealthy obsession for technology. [14]  The tension between technology and man is treated as a problem requiring a final resolution. [14] 
Production[edit]
As a teenager, Besson envisioned the world of The Fifth Element in an attempt to alleviate boredom. He began writing the script when he was 16, though the film was not released in cinemas until he was 38. [15]  The original story was set in the year 2300 and was about a "nobody" named Zaltman Bleros (later renamed Korben Dallas) who wins a trip to the Club Med resort on the planet Fhloston Paradise in the Angel constellation. There, he meets Leeloo, a "sand-girl" who has the "beauty of youth" despite being over 2,000 years old. [16] 
 Besson continued to work on the story for years. By 1991, when his documentary film  Atlantis  was released, he had a 400-page script. Nicolas Seydoux and Patrice Ledoux from Gaumont were the first people to take on the project. In November 1991, while looking for actors for the film, Besson met French comics creators Jean Giraud and Jean-Claude Mézières and recruited them [17]  for the film's production design. [18]   [19]  Giraud and Mézières's comics inspired the look that Besson wanted for his futuristic New York City. [20] 
 Mézières had designed  The Circles of Power  (1994), which contains a character named S'Traks, who drives a flying taxicab through the congested air of the vast metropolis on the planet Rubanis. Mézières showed images of the flying taxi to Besson, who was inspired to change character Korben Dallas's background from a worker in a rocket-ship factory to a taxi driver who flies his cab around a Rubanis-inspired futuristic New York City. [21]  Besson's production also hired five other artists for the project. In addition, the noted fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier was hired to create the costumes. The team spent a year creating more than 8,000 drawings.
 During this time, Besson approached both Bruce Willis and Mel Gibson for the lead role. Willis expressed interest, though he was reluctant to take on the role as the film was considered risky after his previous two films,  Hudson Hawk  and  Billy Bathgate , had been received poorly. Gibson eventually turned down the role. [22]  While the production team impressed film companies with their designs, they struggled to find one willing to take on a budget approaching nearly $100 million. In December 1992, production stopped [23]  without any prior warning, and the team disbanded. [3] 
     
Besson wrote and directed the commercially successful film  Léon: The Professional  (1994). During that period, he continued to work on the script for The Fifth Element, shortening it. He reduced the film's budget to $90 million before again attempting to find a studio willing to produce it. Columbia Pictures, which had a partnership in Leon, agreed to finance the film. By this time, Besson had decided to go with a lesser-known lead actor to save on production costs. [3]   [8]  Besson happened to be in Barry Josephson's office when Willis called regarding a different film. Besson asked to speak to Willis "just to say hello", and told him that The Fifth Element was finally going ahead, explaining his decision to go with a less-expensive actor. After a short silence, Willis said, "If I like the film, we can always come to an arrangement." [3]  After reading the script, Willis agreed to take on the role.
 Production began in early August 1995. Besson traveled to various places for casting, including Paris, London and Rome. [25]  He hired Gary Oldman (who had starred in Léon) for the role of Zorg, describing Oldman as "one of the top five actors in the world". [8] 
 For the character Leeloo, Besson chose Milla Jovovich from the 200 to 300 applicants he met in person. [8]  The "Divine Language" spoken by Leeloo is a fictional language of 400 words, invented by Besson. To practice, Jovovich and Besson held conversations and wrote letters to each other in the language. [26]  Besson was then married to Maïwenn Le Besco, who played the role of Diva Plavalaguna when filming began. He left her to take up with Jovovich during filming. [27]  Jovovich and Besson later married but divorced two years later in 1999. [28] 
 Although he wanted to shoot the film in France, Besson could not find suitable facilities and filmed in London. [29]  It was primarily filmed at Pinewood Studios on seven soundstages [30]  including the 007 Stage. [31]  Construction of sets began in October 1995. [17]  The opera scene was filmed at the Royal Opera House. [32]  Scenes depicted as being in Egypt were filmed in Mauritania; [33]  the first shoot, a background shot of the desert, occurred there on 5 January 1996. [34]  Filming with actors began in late January, and was completed 21 weeks later. [35]  Willis finished filming on 16 May, [36]  while Oldman only commenced filming the following week; [37]  the protagonist (Korben) and antagonist (Zorg) never actually share any screen time. [38]  Despite being filmed in London, The Fifth Element was a French production, [39]   [40]  the costliest European film ever made at the time. [41] 
 The designs of buildings in New York were derived from both metabolist-inspired masses of modular apartments from the 1960s and the futuristic designs of architect Antonio Sant'Elia in the 1910s. [42]  Besson demanded that most of the action shots take place in broad daylight, as he was reportedly tired of the dark spaceship corridors and dimly lit planets common in science-fiction films, and wanted a brighter, "cheerfully crazy" look as opposed to a gloomy, realistic one. [20] 
 Gaultier designed each of the 900 costumes worn by extras in the Fhloston Paradise scenes and checked each costume every morning. [38]  His designs, described as "intellectually transgressive", [43]  were said to challenge sexuality and gender norms. [44]  A single jacket he designed for the film cost $5,000. [45]  Jovovich's costume worn from when her character was first revived was inspired by typical hospital dressing and bandages that provided minimal modesty. [46] 
 The original name of the character Ruby Rhod was Loc Rhod, which appears both in the original script and in the novel adapted from the film. [47]  Hayward speculated that the name change was a play on data in the periodic table. Rubidium is the first of the period 5 elements, and exactly halfway along that row is the element rhodium. Using the first half of each element yields "Rubi Rhod". [48]  Others have speculated this name is a play on the character's gender-bending persona, with a feminine first name and phallic surname. [10]  Prince was cast to portray Rhod but could not schedule filming around his touring dates. [49]  Chris Tucker and Jamie Foxx were each considered for the role; Besson liked Foxx but felt that Tucker's smaller body suited the character better. [50] 
Effects[edit]
      One of the models used to portray an NYPD car in the film  
Three different teams handled the three different types of special effects used in the film. Nick Allder directed mechanical and pyrotechnical effects, Nick Dudman was placed in charge of 'creature' effects, and Mark Stetson headed the visual effects team. [30]  Visual effects company Digital Domain was hired, and Karen Goulekas was given the role of digital effects supervisor. [51]  Alias, [33]  Autodesk Softimage, Arete, Side Effect's Prisms, RenderMan, and in-house software, were used by Digital Domain to create effects. [52]  Some individual shots used a combination of live action, scale models, computer-generated imagery, and particle systems. [53]  The lanes of traffic in the scenes in New York City were created with particle systems:
 We had maybe eighty cityscape shots with CG cars hurtling around, and you couldn't animate them all by hand because there were just too many of them in each scene ... When the cars turned a corner, the velocity changes were automatic, so the animator didn't have to worry about that. They just planned the moves in a very blocky way, and the mathematics smoothed out the rest. 
Among the scale models used for filming were the buildings representing New York City. Dozens of apartment blocks and 25 skyscrapers, some 20 feet (6.1 m) high, were constructed in 1⁄24 scale. [55]  It took a team of eighty workers five months to build all the models. [55]  The windows of the buildings were cited by the team as one of the most time-consuming tasks, along with details behind the windows, such as furniture, blinds, lightboxes, and tiny pieces of flat artwork. [55]  Virtual sets built within digital environments were created to enhance the use of miniatures. [56]  Motion control cameras moved throughout the scale sets, and the data they collected was exported to track and generate the CG animation and particle systems. [42]  Other techniques used included digital matte paintings for backgrounds [57]  and the NURBS mathematical model for certain animations, including the sequence in which Leeloo's body is reconstructed. [58] 
  Models and props used in the film   
	 
	     
	Cars of the film on display in Paris for the 20th anniversary
	 
	 
	     
	The water elemental stone
	 
	 
	     
	Scale model of Korben's taxi
	 
  
Soundtrack[edit]
In The Fifth Element, some kind of music is playing during about ninety percent of the film; Besson's films have been described as "intrinsically musical". [59]   [60]  The score was composed by Éric Serra. He relies chiefly on the use of orchestral textures, such as the oboe and strings heard as the surgeons prepare to regenerate Leeloo, and the pizzicato as she is reconstructed. Serra also used many non-French influences, such as the Stalinist fanfare heard before the spaceport sequence, the reggae piece played in preparation for the flight, and the hula music that greets the passengers as they arrive in Fhloston. [61]  More conventional scoring techniques are present in the leitmotif that first sounds when professor Pacoli mentions the fifth element, the militaristic snares as the warship prepares to attack the dark planet, and the Mahlerian funereal piece heard when Leeloo learns about war. [61]  The music used for the taxicab chase scene, titled "Alech Taadi" by Algerian performer Khaled, [62]   [63]  did not appear on the film soundtrack but is available on Khaled's album  N'ssi N'ssi . [64] 
   
A sample of Inva Mula's vocals in The Diva Dance   
The Diva Dance opera performance used music from Gaetano Donizetti's  Lucia di Lammermoor : "Il dolce suono", [65]  the mad scene of Act III, Scene 2. It is one of the few pieces of music in the film that is diegetic. [66]  It was sung by Albanian soprano Inva Mula. [67]  The role of Plavalaguna was played by French actress Maïwenn Le Besco. [27]  Part One (titled "Lucia di Lammermoor") and Part Two (titled "The Diva Dance") of this piece are included as separate tracks on The Fifth Element soundtrack but are sequenced to create the effect of the entire performance seen in the film. The end of Part One blends into the beginning of Part Two, creating a smooth transition between the two tracks. [68] 
 Released as an album under Virgin Records, the soundtrack peaked at number 99 on the  Billboard 200. [69]  More than 200,000 copies of the lengthy soundtrack were sold in France alone. [70]  Rodney Batdorf of AllMusic gave the album three out of five stars, stating it was "diverse and accomplished, and it is just as effective outside of the film as it is within it." [71]  A review from Filmtracks.com also awarded the album three out of five stars. [72] 
Release and reception[edit]
Initial screening[edit]
The film premiered on 7 May at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival, where it was selected as the opening film. [73]   [74]  Gaumont built an area for the screening that was over 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2). Guests were given a "Fifth Element" Swatch, which was used as their ticket for entry. The event included a futuristic ballet, a fashion show by Jean-Paul Gaultier, and fireworks. Gaumont spent between $1 million and $3 million on the event, a record at the time. [75]  The film's North American release was handled by Sony Pictures Releasing via its Columbia Pictures label. [76] 
Box office[edit]
The film debuted at number one in the US, earning $17 million on its opening weekend. [39]  It became a box-office success, grossing over $263 million, almost three times its budget of $90 million. [7]  About 75% of the receipts for The Fifth Element were from markets outside the United States, [7]  and it was the ninth-highest-grossing film of the year worldwide. [7]  It was the most successful film at the box office in France in 1997, [77]  with more than 7.69 million seeing the film. [78]  In Germany, the film was awarded the Goldene Leinwand, a sales certification award for selling more than three million tickets at the box office. [79]  The Fifth Element became the highest-grossing French film at the foreign box-office, [41]   [80]  a record it held for 16 years until the release of The Intouchables in 2011. [81] 
Critical response[edit]
Despite the popular response, critics were split in their response to The Fifth Element. Kevin Thomas of the  Los Angeles Times  described the film as an "elaborate, even campy sci-fi extravaganza, which is nearly as hard to follow as last year's  Mission: Impossible ". He concluded that The Fifth Element was "a lot warmer, more fun, and boasts some of the most sophisticated, witty production and costume design you could ever hope to see". [82]  On the American film review  At the Movies , both Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel gave the film a "thumbs up". [83]  In his separate review for the  Chicago Sun-Times , Ebert gave the film three stars out of four, calling it "One of the great goofy movies", and concluding, "I would not have missed seeing this film, and I recommend it for its richness of imagery. But at 127 minutes, which seems a reasonable length, it plays long." [4] 
 The film also received reviews that criticized its overblown style. Todd McCarthy of  Variety  wrote, "A largely misfired European attempt to make an American-style sci-fi spectacular, The Fifth Element consists of a hodgepodge of elements that don't comfortably coalesce." [74]  David Edelstein of  Slate  said, "It may or may not be the worst movie ever made, but it is one of the most unhinged." [5] 
 Chris Tucker's performance as Ruby Rhod also divided critics. [84]  He was praised in the Los Angeles Times  [85]  and  Time ; the latter called him "the summer's most outrageous special effect". [86]  Josh Winning of  Total Film , singled out Tucker's performance as the low point of the film, ranking it as number 20 on his 2011 list, "50 Performances That Ruined Movies". [87] 
  The Fifth Element holds a 71% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes, based on 68 reviews, with an average score of 6.4/10. The site's consensus reads: "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." [88]  At Metacritic, it has a weighted score of 52 out of 100 based on reviews from 22 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. [89]  Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale. [90] 
Plagiarism suit[edit]
Alejandro Jodorowsky and Jean Giraud sued Besson after the film was released, claiming The Fifth Element had plagiarised their comic  The Incal . Giraud sued for 13.1 million euros for unfair competition, 9 million euros in damages and interest, and two to five percent of the net operating revenues of the film. Jodorowsky sued for 700,000 euros. The case was dismissed in 2004 on the grounds that only "tiny fragments" of the comic had been used [91]  and Giraud had been hired by Besson to work on the film before the allegations were made. [18] 
Adaptations[edit]
A novel was adapted from the screenplay of The Fifth Element, written by Terry Bisson; it was published by HarperPrism in 1997. [92]   [93]  Rumors arose after the film's release that it would be followed by a sequel, tentatively titled Mr. Shadow. In 2011 Besson said that he never planned a sequel and has no desire to make one. [94] 
  Activision created a video game adaptation of The Fifth Element in 1998 for the PlayStation game console and PC. The PlayStation version generally received negative reviews, [95]  but the PC version was better received. [96]  Lauren Fielder from  GameSpot  described the PlayStation version as "quite possibly the worst game I've ever played". [97]  Doug Perry from  IGN  wrote: "Take  Tomb Raider , add in Leeloo Multipass and boring puzzles, and you've got Fifth Element." [98] 
 A racing game based on the film,  New York Race , was released in 2001. [99]   Eurogamer  gave the game 6 out of 10, concluding: "New York Race is a fun little arcade racer, which oozes style, but it's something you'll grow tired of extremely quickly and as such remains fun only in short bursts." [99] 
Accolades[edit]
 The Fifth Element was nominated for Best Sound Editing at the 70th Academy Awards, [100]  and for Best Sound Editing at the 1998 Golden Reel Awards, [101]  but lost to  Titanic  in both cases. It won the BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects, [102]   [103]  and the Lumières Award for Best Director. [104]  It was nominated for seven César awards, winning three: Best Director, [105]  Best Cinematography and Best Production Design. [103]   [106]  It was nominated for Film of the Year at the 1997 European Film Awards, [107]  as well as the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, [108]  and the Satellite Award for Best Visual Effects. [109]  Thierry Arbogast was awarded the Technical Grand Prize at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival for his work on both The Fifth Element and  She's So Lovely . [103]  The film received four Saturn Award nominations: Best Science Fiction Film, Best Costume, Best Special Effects, [110]  and Best Supporting Actress for Milla Jovovich. [111]  Jovovich's fight against the Mangalores was nominated for the MTV Movie Award for Best Fight, [111]   [112]  and the actress was also nominated for Best Actress – Newcomer at the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards. [113] 
 Conversely, Jovovich received a Golden Raspberry nomination for Worst Supporting Actress, and Chris Tucker was nominated for Worst New Star for his performances in both The Fifth Element and  Money Talks . [114]  The film also received four nominations at the 1997 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards: Worst Picture, Worst Director, Worst Supporting Actor for Tucker and Worst Supporting Actress for Jovovich. [115] 
 
Year
Event
Award
Nominee
Result
 
 1998
 Academy Awards
 Best Sound Editing
 Mark Mangini
Nominated
 
1998
 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards
Best Actress – Newcomer
 Milla Jovovich
Nominated
 
 1997
 British Academy of Film and Television Arts
 Best Special Visual Effects
Mark Mangini
Won
 
 1997
 Cannes Film Festival
 Technical Grand Prize
 Thierry Arbogast
Won
 
 1998
 César Award
 Best Cinematography
Thierry Arbogast
Won
 
 Best Director
 Luc Besson
Won
 
 Best Production Design
Dan Weil
Won
 
 Best Costume Design
 Jean-Paul Gaultier
Nominated
 
 Best Editing
Sylvie Landra
Nominated
 
 Best Film
Luc Besson
Nominated
 
 Best Music Written for a Film
 Éric Serra
Nominated
 
 Best Sound
Daniel Brisseau
Nominated
 
1997
 European Film Awards
Film of the Year
 Patrice Ledoux
Nominated
 
 1998
 Golden Raspberry Awards
 Worst Supporting Actress
Milla Jovovich
Nominated
 
 Worst New Star
 Chris Tucker
Nominated
 
1998
 Golden Reel Awards
Best Sound Editing
Mark Mangini
Nominated
 
1998
 Hugo Awards
 Best Dramatic Presentation
 The Fifth Element
Nominated
 
1997
 Lumières Award
 Best Director
Luc Besson
Won
 
 1998
 MTV Movie Awards
 Best Fight
Milla Jovovich vs. Aliens
Nominated
 
1998
 Satellite Award
 Best Visual Effects
 Mark Stetson
Nominated
 
1998
 Saturn Award
Best Science Fiction Film
 The Fifth Element
Nominated
 
Best Costumes
Jean-Paul Gaultier
Nominated
 
Best Special Effects
Special effects team
Nominated
 
Best Supporting Actress
Milla Jovovich
Nominated
 
1997
 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards
Worst Picture
 The Fifth Element
Nominated
 
Worst Director
Luc Besson
Nominated
 
Worst Supporting Actor
Chris Tucker
Nominated
 
Worst Supporting Actress
Milla Jovovich
Nominated
   
Home media[edit]
The original home video release of The Fifth Element took place in North America on 10 December 1997, on VHS, LaserDisc, and DVD. [116]  The original DVD presented the film in its original 2.39:1 anamorphic widescreen format, though carried no special features. [117]  The film was released in Sony's Superbit format in October 2001. [118]  In his review, Conrad Jeremy from IGN gave the picture quality of the original DVD release 9 out of 10, though awarded the Superbit version a perfect score for picture quality. Overall, the Superbit version was given 8 out of 10; the final score was brought down by the version's complete lack of special features. [118] 
 An "Ultimate Edition" set of two DVDs was released on 11 January 2005. [116]   [119]  The only difference between the Superbit version and the Ultimate Edition disc one is the addition of a "fact track", which when turned on displays trivia about the film, cast, and crew as the film plays. The second disc provides various special features, focusing on visual production, special effects, fashion in the film, featurettes, and interviews with Willis, Jovovich, and Tucker, as well as featurettes on the four different alien races in the film and Diva Plavalaguna. Ian Jane of  DVD Talk  praised the Ultimate Edition for its special features. [119] 
 The first Blu-ray release of the film on 20 June 2006 was criticised as having poor picture quality by Blu-ray standards, and for its lack of special features. [120]  In what has been called "an extremely rare move", Sony responded to complaints by making a remastered Blu-ray version available, released on 17 July 2007, and also offered a replacement exchange program for customers unhappy with the original Blu-ray release. [121]  Ben Williams from Blu-ray.com stated the remastered version "absolutely" made up for the substandard initial release, and praised its high video and audio quality; however, he criticised the continued lack of special features. [120] 
 The 20th-anniversary 4K remaster was released on Ultra HD Blu-ray on 11 July 2017. [122] 
Legacy[edit]
The film has been described by CBS News, Rotten Tomatoes, and ComingSoon.com as a science-fiction cult classic. [123]   [124]   [125]  In 2007 the Visual Effects Society placed The Fifth Element at number 50, tied with  Darby O'Gill and the Little People , on their list of the fifty most influential visual effects films of all time. [126]  In 2014  Time Out  listed the film at number 42 on their "100 best sci-fi movies" list. [127] 
 Film critic Mark Kermode reported that The Fifth Element was one of the most divisive films among his readers, regarded as both the best and the worst summer blockbuster of all time. Years later, Kermode recalled: "I remember very clearly being in Cannes when [The] Fifth Element was first played, and it really divided the audience." [128]  Stephen Cass of  Discover  ranked the film the third-best science-fiction film on subscription service Hulu, writing, "People seem to either like or loathe The Fifth Element  ... Lavish visuals and entertaining performances from Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, and Gary Oldman make this movie worth watching." [129]  In some circles, the film has gained a "so-bad-it's-good" status; Meredith Woerner of io9 listed The Fifth Element as one of "The 20 Best Worst Science-Fiction Movies of All Time". [130] 
[edit]
Willis spoke favourably of the film in a 1999 interview, concluding: "It was a real fun movie to make." [131]  Tucker and Jovovich also spoke favourably of both their experiences making the film and working with Besson in interviews on the Ultimate Edition DVD; Jovovich described Besson as "the first really amazing director I had worked with". [132]  Asked in a 2014 interview if he liked the film, Gary Oldman stated, "Oh no. I can't bear it." [133]  He had explained in 2011: "It was me singing for my supper because Luc had come in and partly financed [my film]  Nil by Mouth ." [134] 
Notes and references[edit]
 
  ^  Conflicting sources stated the film's budget to be various figures between US$50 million and $100 million. The most frequently cited figure and also the figure cited by Besson in his book, The Story of The Fifth Element is $90 million.
  ^  French: Le Cinquième Élément
  ^  The film's opening scene states the year is 1914 and the following scene in space states it is "300 years later". However, Korben's alarm clock shows the year as 2263. The year is given as 2257 on the DVD sleeve notes published by Pathé in 1997, and as 2259 by Besson in The Story of The Fifth Element.
 
 
  ^   "Le Cinquième élément" [The Fifth Element].  Ciné-Ressources  (in French). Archived from the original on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^   "Fifth Element, The Le Cinquieme Elemente".  Australian Classification Board . Retrieved 11 April 2015.
^    a       b       c       d    Besson 1997, p. 11.
^    a       b     Ebert, Roger (9 May 1997). "The Fifth Element". RogerEbert.com. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
^    a       b    Edelstein, David (11 May 1997). "Unmitigated Gaul: The Fifth Element and Irma Vep".  Slate . Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  ^  Mazdon 2000, p. 110; Hayward 2009, p. 91.
^    a       b       c       d     "The Fifth Element (1997)".  Box Office Mojo . Archived from the original on 22 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
^    a       b       c       d    Schaefer, Stephen. "Filmmaker Luc Besson explains how a childhood fantasy became a hit sci-fi epic". IndustryCentral. Archived from the original on 19 November 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^   Telotte, J. P (2001).  Science Fiction Film . Cambridge University Press. p. 16. ISBN  978-0-521-59647-3 . Archived from the original on 24 December 2016.
^    a       b    Ott, Brian L; Aoki, Eric (2001). "Counter-Imagination as Interpretive Practice: Futuristic Fantasy and The Fifth Element" (PDF).  Women's Studies in Communication . 27 (2): 149–176. doi:10.1080/07491409.2004.10162471. hdl:10217/644. S2CID 53953295. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  ^  Brandt, Stefan (2000). "American Culture X: Identity, homosexuality, and the search for a new American hero". In West, Russell; Lay, Frank (eds.). Subverting Masculinity: Hegemonic and Alternative Visions of Masculinity in Contemporary Culture. Amsterdam: Rodopi. pp. 67–93. ISBN  978-90-420-1234-9 .
^    a       b       c    Hayward 2009, p. 98.
  ^  Hayward 2009, pp. 91–92.
^    a       b       c    Hayward 2009, p. 92.
  ^   "The Fifth Element (1997)".  AllMovie . Archived from the original on 4 August 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^  Besson 1997, pp. 8–9.
^    a       b    Besson 1997, pp. 9–10.
^    a       b    Heller, Jason (10 March 2012). "R.I.P. Moebius, comics legend and Métal Hurlant co-founder".  The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^  Anders, Charlie (1 July 2012). "Luc Besson adapting classic time-travel comic created by Fifth Element concept artist".  io9 . Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
^    a       b    Bizony 2001, p. 169.
  ^  Besson 1997, p. 158; Mézières 2004, p. 65.
  ^  Besson 1997, pp. 10–11.
  ^  Besson 1997, p. 149.
  ^  Mézières 2004, p. 65.
  ^  Besson 1997, p. 13.
  ^  Rogers, Stephen D (15 November 2011).  The Dictionary of Made-Up Languages: From Elvish to Klingon, The Anwa, Reella, Ealray, Yeht (Real) Origins of Invented Lexicons . Adams Media. p. 51. ISBN  978-1-4405-2817-0 .
^    a       b    Change, Kee (5 May 2012). "Film Critic: Maïwenn's 'Polisse'". Anthem Magazine. Archived from the original on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^  Buys, Sara (January 2003). "Milla's Tale".  Harpers &amp; Queen . Archived from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^   "Paris prosecutors probe Luc Besson's 'Film City' studios".  Hürriyet Daily News . 20 December 2013. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
^    a       b    Besson 1997, p. 152.
  ^   "The Fifth Element".  Pinewood Studios . Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^  Shipman, Chris (11 October 2011). "Top films featuring opera 20-16".  Royal Opera House . Archived from the original on 16 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
^    a       b    Elrick, Ted (1997). "Elemental Images".  Cinefex  (70): 130.
  ^  Besson 1997, p. 18.
  ^  Besson 1997, p. 116.
  ^  Besson 1997, p. 92.
  ^  Besson 1997, p. 96.
^    a       b    Besson 1997, p. 68.
^    a       b    Drazin, Charles (2011).  The Faber Book of French Cinema . Faber and Faber. p. 382. ISBN  978-0-571-21849-3 . fifth element french films. 
  ^  Mazdon 2000, p. 109.
^    a       b    LaPlante, Alice (1999).  Playing for Profit: How Digital Entertainment is Making Big Business Out of Child's Play . John Wiley &amp; Sons. p. 58. ISBN  978-0-471-29614-0 .
^    a       b    Hanson 2005, p. 65.
  ^  Hayward, p. 96.
  ^  Hayward 2009, p. 104.
  ^  Spindler, Amy M (8 May 1997). "French Futurists: No Honor at Home".  The New York Times . Archived from the original on 1 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  ^  Satenstein, Liana (11 May 2022). "Milla Jovovich Talks Her Epic The Fifth Element Costume".  Vogue . Archived from the original on 11 May 2022.
  ^  Yu, Justin (28 December 2009). "The 404 Yuletide Mini-sode: Where The 404 is the Fifth Element".  CNET . Archived from the original on 14 October 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^  Hayward 2009, p. 89.
  ^  Romano, Nick (24 April 2016). "The Fifth Element: Prince Ruby Rhod casting didn't work out, says director Luc Besson".  Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on 12 February 2021.
  ^  Greenblatt, Leah (19 July 2017). "There will never be another Fifth Element – and more amazing stories about the making of Luc Besson's 1997 classic".  Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on 9 June 2021.
  ^  Bizony 2001, p. 131.
  ^  Hanson 2005, p. 60.
  ^  Bizony 2001, p. 28.
  ^  Bizony 2001, p. 140.
^    a       b       c    Bizony 2001, p. 173.
  ^  Hanson 2005, p. 64.
  ^  Bizony 2001, p. 106.
  ^  Bizony 2001, p. 139.
  ^  Hayward 2009, p. 44.
  ^  Hayward 2009, p. 47.
^    a       b    Hayward 2009, p. 68.
  ^  Cornea, Christine (2007).  Science Fiction Cinema: Between Fantasy and Reality . Rutgers University Press. p. 207. ISBN  978-0-8135-4173-0 . Archived from the original on 24 December 2016.
  ^  Hayward 2009, p. 53.
  ^  Sheridan, Tim. "Khaled: N'ssi N'ssi".  AllMusic . Archived from the original on 21 June 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^   "Gemini Sun Records is Proud to Announce Vitas". Press release. Gemini Sun Records. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^  Hayward 2009, p. 45.
  ^   "The Fifth Element [Virgin]".  AllMusic . Archived from the original on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^  Éric Serra (6 May 1997). The Fifth Element (Soundtrack). Virgin Records.
  ^   "The Fifth Element [Virgin] – Awards".  AllMusic . Archived from the original on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^  Hayward 2009, pp. 43–44.
  ^  Batdorf, Rodney. "The Fifth Element [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]".  AllMusic . Archived from the original on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^   "The Fifth Element". FilmTracks. 10 May 1997. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^   "Festival de Cannes: The Fifth Element".  Cannes Film Festival . Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
^    a       b     McCarthy, Todd (7 May 1997). "Review: "The Fifth Element"".  Variety . Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  ^  Gray, Timothy (13 May 2013). "Cannes parties are legendary, but sometimes the shindig can outperform the pic".  Variety . Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^  Cox, Dan (5 March 1997). "Sony wows exhibs with star-studded lineup".  Variety . Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  ^  Mazdon 2000, p. 110.
  ^  Hayward 2009, p. 91.
  ^   "Das fünfte Element" [The Fifth Element].  Goldene Leinwand  (in German). Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^  Palmer, Tim (2011).  Brutal Intimacy: Analyzing Contemporary French Cinema . Wesleyan University Press. p. 116. ISBN  978-0-8195-6827-4 .
  ^   "'Intouchables': plus gros succès de l'histoire pour un film non-anglophone" [Untouchable: biggest success in history for a non-English speaking film]. PureMédias (in French). 21 March 2012. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^  Thomas, Kevin (9 May 1997). "'Element': A Voyage as Fun, Stylish as It Is Confusing".  Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on 8 November 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  ^  "Week of May 10, 1997: The Fifth Element review".  At the Movies . Season 11. Episode 35. 10 May 1997.
  ^   "Motor Mouth Man".  Newsweek . 7 September 1997. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  ^  Smith, Steven (8 May 1997). "In His Element".  Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  ^  Communications, Emmis (1998). "Chris Tucker".  Los Angeles  (November): 96. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  ^  Winning, Josh (2 November 2011). "50 Performances That Ruined Movies".  Total Film . Archived from the original on 20 November 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  ^   "The Fifth Element Movie Reviews, Pictures".  Rotten Tomatoes . Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  ^   "The Fifth Element".  Metacritic . Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  ^   "CinemaScore". Archived from the original on 20 December 2018.
  ^   "Moebius perd son procès contre Besson" [Moebius loses trial against Besson]. ToutenBD (in French). 28 May 2004. Archived from the original on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^   The fifth element: a novel.  WorldCat . OCLC 36966341.
  ^   Bisson, Terry (1997). The Fifth Element: A Novel. HarperPrism. ISBN  978-0-06-105838-7 .
  ^  Ryan, Mike (26 August 2011). "Luc Besson Reflects on His Female Leads and Explains Why a 'Fifth Element' Sequel Will Never Happen".  Moviefone . Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  ^   "The Fifth Element for PlayStation".  GameRankings . Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^   "The Fifth Element".  GameRankings . Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^  Fielder, Lauren (21 October 1998). "Fifth Element, The Review (PS)".  GameSpot . Archived from the original on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^  Perry, Doug (1 October 1998). "Fifth Element".  IGN . Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
^    a       b    Taylor, Martin (11 December 2014). "NY Race".  Eurogamer . Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^   "The Fifth Element".  Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . Archived from the original on 8 February 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2015. Note: Search for "The Fifth Element".
  ^   "Mark Mangini" (PDF).  The Hollywood Reporter : C-11. 9 March 1998. ISSN 0018-3660. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^   "Achievement in Special Visual Effects in 1998".  British Academy of Film and Television Arts . Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
^    a       b       c     "The Fifth Element (1997)". Movies &amp; TV Dept.  The New York Times . 2014. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^   "Le Cinquième élément" [The Fifth Element].  AlloCiné . Archived from the original on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^  Williams, Michael (1 March 1998). "Resnais seizes 7 Cesars".  Variety . Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^   "Palmares2014 - 39 th Cesar Award Ceremony".  César Award . Archived from the original on 4 August 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2015. Note: Choose '1998' from the drop-down box.
  ^   "1997".  European Film Awards . Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^   "1998 Hugo Awards".  Hugo Awards . 26 July 2007. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^   "1998".  International Press Academy . Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^   "VFX Awards". KEG FX. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
^    a       b    Justin, Sarachik (21 October 2011). "Milla Jovovich Blasts Summit Entertainment for Ignoring 'Three Musketeers'".  The Christian Post . Archived from the original on 23 October 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^   "1998 MTV Movie Awards". MTV. Archived from the original on 26 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015. Note: Click on the 'Winners' tab.
  ^   "1996 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Nominees Announced".  Billboard . 17 January 1998. p. 64. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017.
  ^   "1997 Archive".  Golden Raspberry Awards . 23 August 2000. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^   "The Stinkers 1997 Ballot".  Stinkers Bad Movie Awards . Archived from the original on 18 August 2000.
^    a       b     "The Fifth Element (1997)". DVDs Release Dates. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^  Beierle, Aaron (28 June 2000). "The Fifth Element".  DVD Talk . Archived from the original on 11 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
^    a       b    Jeremy, Conrad (11 October 2001). "Fifth Element (Superbit), The".  IGN . Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
^    a       b    Jane, Ian. "The Fifth Element – Ultimate Edition".  DVD Talk . Archived from the original on 9 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
^    a       b    Williams, Ben (5 August 2007). "The Fifth Element Blu-ray". Blu-ray.com. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^   "Sony Offers New 'Fifth Element' Blu-ray Remaster and 'Replacement Exchange Program'". High-Def Digest. 18 June 2007. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^  Kyle Newton (27 July 2017). "The Fifth Element - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray". High-Def Digest. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  ^  Teichner, Martha (22 January 2012). "Jean Paul Gaultier: Fashion's wild child".  CBS News . Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  ^  Yamato, Jen (13 August 2007). "Milla Jovovich on Resident Evil And Her Ultraviolet Beef".  Rotten Tomatoes . Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  ^  Woerner, Meredith (14 October 2010). "Luc Besson's next film is 'The Fifth Element to the power of ten'".  io9 . Archived from the original on 7 August 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  ^   "The Visual Effects Society Unveils '50 Most Influential Visual Effects Films of All Time'". PR Newswire. 11 May 2007. Archived from the original on 3 December 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  ^   "The 100 best sci-fi movies: 50-41".  Time Out . 22 July 2014. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^   Kermode, Mark (28 August 2012). "Summer Blockbusters – Your Best and Worst". BBC. Archived from the original on 30 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^  Cass, Stephen (24 December 2008). "5 Best Science Fiction Movies on Hulu: #3, The Fifth Element".  Discover . Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^  Woerner, Meredith (18 September 2008). "The 20 Best Worst Science Fiction Movies of All Time".  io9 . Archived from the original on 15 August 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^   "The Fifth Element: Luc Besson and Bruce Willis".  Special Broadcasting Service . 25 January 1999. Archived from the original on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^   The Fifth Element – Ultimate Edition (The Star Element) (DVD). Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group. 2005.
  ^  Hochman, David (25 June 2014). "Playboy Interview: Gary Oldman".  Playboy . Archived from the original on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  ^  Hamm, Matt (28 September 2011). "Gary Oldman 'A Life in Pictures' @ BAFTA". Live For Films. Archived from the original on 28 February 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
 
Bibliography[edit]
   Besson, Luc (1997). The Story of the Fifth Element: The Adventure and Discovery of a Film. London: Titan Books. ISBN  978-1-85286-863-5 . 
  Bizony, Piers (2001). Digital Domain: The Leading Edge of Visual Effects. London: Aurum Press. ISBN  978-0-8230-7928-5 . 
  Hanson, Matt (2005). Building Sci-Fi Moviescapes: The Science Behind the Fiction. Waltham, Massachusetts: Focal Press. ISBN  978-0-240-80772-0 . 
 Hayward, Susan; Powrie, Phil (2009). The Films of Luc Besson: Master of Spectacle. Manchester: Manchester University Press. ISBN  978-0-7190-7029-7 . 
 Mazdon, Lucy (2000).  Encore Hollywood: Remaking French Cinema . London: British Film Institute. ISBN  978-0-85170-801-0 . 
  Mézières, Jean-Claude; Christin, Pierre (2004). "The Circles of Power". Valerian: The New Future Trilogy. Valérian: Spatio-Temporal Agent. Trans. Timothy Ryan Smith. New York: iBooks. ISBN  978-0-7434-8674-3 .  
External links[edit]
  Official website 
  The Fifth Element  at IMDb 
  The Fifth Element  at AllMovie 
  The Fifth Element  at the TCM Movie Database
The Fifth Element - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fifth_Element
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119116/
The Fifth Element (1997) - IMDb
1997-05-09
None
<div><div><section><p><a href="/title/tt0119116/videogallery/?ref_=tt_vi_sm"><h3>Videos2</h3></a></p><div><div><p></p><a href="/video/vi854720793/?ref_=tt_vi_i_1"></a></div><div><p></p><a href="/video/vi3129737497/?ref_=tt_vi_i_2"></a></div></div></section><div><hgroup><h3>More like this</h3></hgroup></div><div><div><p>In the twenty-third century, the universe is threatened by evil. The only hope for mankind is the Fifth Element, who comes to Earth every five thousand years to protect the humans with four stones of the four elements: fire, water, Earth and air. A Mondoshawan spacecraft is bringing The Fifth Element back to Earth but it is destroyed by the evil Mangalores. However, a team of scientists use the DNA of the remains of the Fifth Element to rebuild the perfect being called Leeloo. She escapes from the laboratory and stumbles upon the taxi driver and former elite commando Major Korben Dallas that helps her to escape from the police. Leeloo tells him that she must meet Father Vito Cornelius to accomplish her mission. Meanwhile, the Evil uses the greedy and cruel Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg and a team of mercenary Mangalores to retrieve the stones and avoid the protection of Leeloo. But the skilled Korben Dallas has fallen in love with Leeloo and decides to help her to retrieve the stones. —<a href="/search/title/?plot_author=Claudio%20Carvalho%2C%20Rio%20de%20Janeiro%2C%20Brazil&amp;view=simple&amp;sort=alpha&amp;ref_=tt_stry_pl">Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil</a></p></div><ul><li><a href="/title/tt0119116/plotsummary?ref_=tt_stry_pl">Plot summary</a></li><li><a href="/title/tt0119116/synopsis?ref_=tt_stry_pl">Plot synopsis</a></li></ul></div><section><a href="https://contribute.imdb.com/review/tt0119116/add?bus=imdb&amp;return_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Fclose_me&amp;site=web&amp;ref_=tt_urv_add"><p>Review</p></a><div><div> <p>A wonderful action movie to see over and over again</p><div><p>I think The Fifth Element is the movie I have seen the most... It is a perfect mixture of action and comedy, science-fiction, suspense and romance. Set in a not so far future, the eternal battle between good and evil is shown to us in an extravagant setting. Flying cars, aeroplanes that go at the speed of light, weird creatures and ugly aliens are only a few things that are present during this film. The story has never been seen before : Good has only one weapon to defeat evil; it is composed of four stones representing the four element (water, earth, fire and air) and a perfect creature. These five elements have to be united before the forces of evil arrive to earth. But evil has found help and the stones have disappeared. Bruce Willis (one of the best action actors of our time), Milla Jovovich, Ian Holm and Gary Oldman make the suspense even more intense. Chris Tucker is incredibly funny and ads a lot to the comic side of the film. The story is extremely imaginative and is, in my opinion, one of Luc Besson's best. I have never seen anything else like it. The costumes, designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier, are unbelievably imaginative and fun. They are a big part of the extravagance and originality of the movie. The score, by Eric Serra (one of my favourites) is simply a work of art. And last but not least, the special effects are absolutely excellent, adding to the quality of the movie. If you are looking for action and a good laugh, this is the film to see. But the actors are not the only things that make this film worth seeing. Click here</p></div></div><div><ul><li><a href="/user/ur1351841/?ref_=tt_urv_usr">lparedero</a></li><li>Sep 12, 2001</li></ul></div></div></section><section><div><a href="/what-to-watch/top-picks/?ref_=tt_tpks_sm"><h3>Top picks</h3></a><p>Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations</p></div><a href="/registration/signin?ref_=tt_tpks_signin"><p>Sign in</p></a></section><section><p><a href="/title/tt0119116/faq?ref_=tt_faq_sm"><h3>FAQ9</h3></a></p></section><section><div><hgroup><h3>Contribute to this page</h3></hgroup><p>Suggest an edit or add missing content</p></div><div><div><p></p></div><div><p>What is the streaming release date of The Fifth Element (1997) in Australia?</p><p><a href="https://contribute.imdb.com/answers?pinnedQuestion=tt0119116.release_date:streaming.AU&amp;ref_=tt_ans_q">Answer</a></p></div></div></section></div>||||I|||| Menu
 Movies
 Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight
 TV Shows
 What's on TV & Streaming Top 250 TV Shows Most Popular TV Shows Browse TV Shows by Genre TV News India TV Spotlight
 Watch
 What to Watch Latest Trailers IMDb Originals IMDb Picks IMDb Podcasts
 Awards & Events
 Oscars Best Picture Winners Best Picture Winners Sundance Film Festival Independent Spirit Awards Black History Month SXSW STARmeter Awards Awards Central Festival Central All Events
 Celebs
 Born Today Most Popular Celebs Most Popular Celebs Celebrity News
 Community
 Help Center Contributor Zone Polls
 For Industry Professionals
 All
 * All
 * Titles
 * TV Episodes
 * Celebs
 * Companies
 * Keywords
 * 
 Advanced Search
 Watchlist
 Sign In
 Sign In
 New Customer? Create account
 EN
 * Fully supported
 * 
 * English (United States)
 * 
 Partially supported
 * 
 * Français (Canada)
 * Français (France)
 * Deutsch (Deutschland)
 * हिंदी (भारत)
 * Italiano (Italia)
 * Português (Brasil)
 * Español (España)
 * Español (México)
 * Cast & crew
 * User reviews
 * Trivia
 IMDbPro
 All topics

 The Fifth Element

 * 1997 1997
 * PG-13 PG-13
 * 2h 6m
 IMDb RATING
 7.6 / 10
 480K
 YOUR RATING
 Rate
 POPULARITY
 458
 38
 This video file cannot be played.(Error Code: 224003)
 Play trailer 1 :26
 2 Videos
 99+ Photos
 Action Adventure Sci-Fi
 In the colorful future, a cab driver unwittingly becomes the central figure in the search for a legendary cosmic weapon to keep Evil and Mr. Zorg at bay. In the colorful future, a cab driver unwittingly becomes the central figure in the search for a legendary cosmic weapon to keep Evil and Mr. Zorg at bay. In the colorful future, a cab driver unwittingly becomes the central figure in the search for a legendary cosmic weapon to keep Evil and Mr. Zorg at bay.
 IMDb RATING
 7.6 / 10
 480K
 YOUR RATING
 Rate
 POPULARITY
 458
 38
 * Director
 + Luc Besson
 * Writers
 + Luc Besson (screenplay by)
 + Robert Mark Kamen (screenplay by)
 * Stars
 + Bruce Willis
 + Milla Jovovich
 + Gary Oldman
 Top credits
 * Director
 + Luc Besson
 * Writers
 + Luc Besson (screenplay by)
 + Robert Mark Kamen (screenplay by)
 * Stars
 + Bruce Willis
 + Milla Jovovich
 + Gary Oldman
 * See production, box office & company info
 Watch on Prime Video
 rent/buy from $3.99
 More watch options
 Add to Watchlist
 * 959 User reviews
 * 186 Critic reviews
 * 52 Metascore
 * See more at IMDbPro
 * Nominated for 1 Oscar
 + 10 wins & 39 nominations total

 Videos 2

 Trailer 1:26
 Watch The Fifth Element
 Trailer 1:32
 Watch The Fifth Element Ultimate Edition DVD

 Photos 234

 Top cast

 Edit
 Bruce Willis
 * Korben Dallas
 Milla Jovovich
 * Leeloo
 Gary Oldman
 * Zorg
 Ian Holm
 * Cornelius
 Chris Tucker
 * Ruby Rhod
 Luke Perry
 * Billy
 Brion James
 * General Munro
 Tom Lister Jr.
 * President Lindberg
 * (as Tommy 'Tiny' Lister Jr.)
 Lee Evans
 * Fog
 Charlie Creed-Miles
 * David
 * (as Charlie Creed Miles)
 Tricky
 * Right Arm
 John Neville
 * General Staedert
 John Bluthal
 * Professor Pacoli
 Mathieu Kassovitz
 * Mugger
 Christopher Fairbank
 * Mactilburgh
 Kim Chan
 * Thai
 Richard Leaf
 * Neighbour
 Julie T. Wallace
 * Major Iceborg
 * Director
 + Luc Besson
 * Writers
 + Luc Besson (screenplay by) (story by)
 + Robert Mark Kamen (screenplay by)
 * All cast & crew
 * Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

 More like this

 7.3
 Starship Troopers
 Watch options
 7.5
 Total Recall
 Watch options
 8.0
 12 Monkeys
 Watch options
 7.0
 Independence Day
 Watch options
 7.0
 Stargate
 Watch options
 6.7
 Armageddon
 Watch options
 7.3
 Nikita
 Watch options
 8.0
 Sin City
 Watch options
 7.6
 RoboCop
 Watch options
 7.9
 District 9
 Watch options
 7.6
 Minority Report
 Watch options
 7.3
 Men in Black
 Watch options

 Storyline

 Edit
 In the twenty-third century, the universe is threatened by evil. The only hope for mankind is the Fifth Element, who comes to Earth every five thousand years to protect the humans with four stones of the four elements: fire, water, Earth and air. A Mondoshawan spacecraft is bringing The Fifth Element back to Earth but it is destroyed by the evil Mangalores. However, a team of scientists use the DNA of the remains of the Fifth Element to rebuild the perfect being called Leeloo. She escapes from the laboratory and stumbles upon the taxi driver and former elite commando Major Korben Dallas that helps her to escape from the police. Leeloo tells him that she must meet Father Vito Cornelius to accomplish her mission. Meanwhile, the Evil uses the greedy and cruel Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg and a team of mercenary Mangalores to retrieve the stones and avoid the protection of Leeloo. But the skilled Korben Dallas has fallen in love with Leeloo and decides to help her to retrieve the stones. —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
 alien futuristic city race against time future taxi driver 310 more
 * Plot summary
 * Plot synopsis
 * Taglines
 + It Mu5t Be Found.
 * Genres
 + Action
 + Adventure
 + Sci-Fi
 * Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
 + Rated PG-13 for intense sci-fi violence, some sexuality and brief nudity
 * Parents guide

 Did you know

 Edit
 * Trivia
 The "Divine Language", spoken by Leeloo, was invented by co-writer and director Luc Besson, and further refined by Milla Jovovich, who had little trouble learning and developing it, as she was already fluent in four languages. The language had only four hundred words. He and Milla Jovovich held conversations, and wrote letters to each other in the language as practice. By the end of filming, they were able to have full conversations in this language.
 * Goofs
 Zorg's limp switches from his right leg to his left leg and then back again several times throughout the film.
 * Quotes

 Police: Are you classified as human?

 Korben Dallas: Negative, I am a meat popsicle.

 * Alternate versions
 In the theatrical release, Korben Dallas initially opens his door after hearing the door chime. He looks into the monitor, sees the empty hallway, opens the door, and then almost gets mugged. This scene was edited for the ABC presentation.
 * Connections
 Edited into 5 Second Movies: Fifth Element (2008)
 * Soundtracks
 Alech Taadi
 Performed by Khaled
 Composed by Khaled
 © Barclay 1993
 Courtesy of Polygram Special Projects

 User reviews 959

 Review
 Review
 Featured review
 10 / 10
 A wonderful action movie to see over and over again
 I think The Fifth Element is the movie I have seen the most... It is a perfect mixture of action and comedy, science-fiction, suspense and romance. Set in a not so far future, the eternal battle between good and evil is shown to us in an extravagant setting. Flying cars, aeroplanes that go at the speed of light, weird creatures and ugly aliens are only a few things that are present during this film. The story has never been seen before : Good has only one weapon to defeat evil; it is composed of four stones representing the four element (water, earth, fire and air) and a perfect creature. These five elements have to be united before the forces of evil arrive to earth. But evil has found help and the stones have disappeared. Bruce Willis (one of the best action actors of our time), Milla Jovovich, Ian Holm and Gary Oldman make the suspense even more intense. Chris Tucker is incredibly funny and ads a lot to the comic side of the film. The story is extremely imaginative and is, in my opinion, one of Luc Besson's best. I have never seen anything else like it. The costumes, designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier, are unbelievably imaginative and fun. They are a big part of the extravagance and originality of the movie. The score, by Eric Serra (one of my favourites) is simply a work of art. And last but not least, the special effects are absolutely excellent, adding to the quality of the movie. If you are looking for action and a good laugh, this is the film to see. But the actors are not the only things that make this film worth seeing. Click here
 helpful • 377
 86
 * lparedero
 * Sep 12, 2001

 Top picks

 Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
 Sign in
 7.3
 Starship Troopers
 Watch options
 Trailer
 7.5
 Total Recall
 Watch options
 Trailer
 8.0
 12 Monkeys
 Watch options
 Trailer
 7.6
 RoboCop
 Watch options
 Trailer
 7.0
 Stargate
 Watch options
 Trailer
 7.3
 Men in Black
 Watch options
 Trailer
 7.8
 Gattaca
 Watch options
 Trailer
 6.7
 Demolition Man
 Watch options
 Trailer
 6.7
 Armageddon
 Watch options
 Trailer
 7.0
 Independence Day
 Watch options
 Trailer
 7.9
 District 9
 Watch options
 Trailer
 8.0
 Sin City
 Watch options
 Trailer
 7.6
 Minority Report
 Watch options
 Trailer
 7.3
 Equilibrium
 Watch options
 Trailer
 7.3
 True Lies
 Watch options
 Trailer
 8.1
 The Terminator
 Watch options
 7.5
 The Abyss
 Watch options
 Trailer
 7.1
 I, Robot
 Watch options
 Trailer
 8.4
 Aliens
 Watch options
 Trailer
 7.5
 Contact
 Watch options
 Trailer
 7.8
 Predator
 Watch options
 Trailer
 6.1
 Men in Black II
 Watch options
 Trailer
 7.9
 Edge of Tomorrow
 Watch options
 Trailer
 7.2
 From Dusk Till Dawn
 Watch options
 Trailer
 6.6
 The Chronicles of Riddick
 Watch options
 Trailer
 7.0
 Prometheus
 Watch options
 Trailer
 7.1
 Pitch Black
 Watch options
 Trailer
 6.6
 The Running Man
 Watch options
 Trailer
 7.4
 Looper
 Watch options
 Trailer
 7.1
 Blade
 Watch options
 Trailer

 FAQ 9

 * What is the black liquid that runs down Zorg's head when the great evil talks to him? If it's blood, why does he bleed when there is no wound and even at all?
 * What is 'The Fifth Element' about?
 * Is 'The Fifth Element' based on a book?

 Details

 Edit
 * Release date
 + May 9, 1997 (United States)
 * Countries of origin
 + France
 + United Kingdom
 * Official sites
 + Official Facebook
 + Sony Pictures (United States)
 * Languages
 + English
 + Swedish
 + German
 + Arabic
 + Egyptian (Ancient)
 * Also known as
 + The 5th Element
 * Filming locations
 + Royal Opera House, Bow Street, Covent Garden, London, England, UK
 * Production companies
 + Gaumont
 + Pinewood Studios
 * See more company credits at IMDbPro

 Box office

 Edit
 * Budget
 + $93,000,000 (estimated)
 * Gross US & Canada
 + $63,820,180
 * Opening weekend US & Canada
 + $17,031,345
 + May 11, 1997
 * Gross worldwide
 + $263,920,180
 See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

 Technical specs

 Edit
 * Runtime
 2 hours 6 minutes
 * Color
 + Color
 * Sound mix
 + SDDS
 + Dolby Digital
 + DTS
 * Aspect ratio
 + 2.39 : 1

 Related news

 Thank You Bruce Willis – JoBlo Pays Tribute To An Icon
 Feb 21 JoBlo.com
 ‘He Will Always Be That Hero‘: Everything Bruce Willis’ Family and Friends Have Said Since His Diagnosis
 Feb 17 Rollingstone.com

 Contribute to this page

 Suggest an edit or add missing content
 Top Gap
 What is the streaming release date of The Fifth Element (1997) in Australia?
 Answer
 * See more gaps
 * Learn more about contributing
 Edit page

 More to explore

 List
 Here's What to Watch in February
 See the list

 Editorial lists

 Related lists created by IMDb editors
 Everything Coming to Streaming in June 2022
 updated 8 months ago • 477 titles
 What's New on Hulu in June 2022
 updated 8 months ago • 140 titles
 What's New on Hulu This November
 updated 1 year ago • 139 titles
 Movies That Shaped Director Hanelle Culpepper
 updated 1 year ago • 23 images
 Everything Coming to Hulu in December 2020
 updated 2 years ago • 93 titles
 Visions of the Future in Movies and TV
 updated 2 years ago • 33 images
 Photos
 Famous Mothers and Their Famous Children
 See the gallery

 User lists

 Related lists from IMDb users
 Create a list
 comedy
 created 5 years ago • 32 titles
 2023
 created 1 month ago • 30 titles
 Sci-fi
 created 4 months ago • 27 titles
 Old 2023
 created 1 month ago • 41 titles
 Cinema Compendium
 created 3 months ago • 37 titles
 2023
 created 1 month ago • 28 titles

 User polls

 Related polls from IMDb users
 IMDb Poll Board Top Picks for SCI-FI
 Weapons Unleashed!
 Best Space Movies Ever
 Movies at 25 in 2022
 The Best 1997 Sci-fi Movie
 Surprising Wilhelm Screams
 List
 New and Upcoming Superhero Movies and Series
 See the list
 Back to top

 Recently viewed

 Clear all
 The Fifth Element
 George R.R. Martin
 Get the IMDb App
 Sign in for more access
 Sign in for more access
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * Get the IMDb App
 * Help
 * Site Index
 * IMDbPro
 * Box Office Mojo
 * IMDb Developer
 * Press Room
 * Advertising
 * Jobs
 * Conditions of Use
 * Privacy Policy
 * Your Ads Privacy Choices
 * 

 © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.

Videos2                    More like this     In the twenty-third century, the universe is threatened by evil. The only hope for mankind is the Fifth Element, who comes to Earth every five thousand years to protect the humans with four stones of the four elements: fire, water, Earth and air. A Mondoshawan spacecraft is bringing The Fifth Element back to Earth but it is destroyed by the evil Mangalores. However, a team of scientists use the DNA of the remains of the Fifth Element to rebuild the perfect being called Leeloo. She escapes from the laboratory and stumbles upon the taxi driver and former elite commando Major Korben Dallas that helps her to escape from the police. Leeloo tells him that she must meet Father Vito Cornelius to accomplish her mission. Meanwhile, the Evil uses the greedy and cruel Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg and a team of mercenary Mangalores to retrieve the stones and avoid the protection of Leeloo. But the skilled Korben Dallas has fallen in love with Leeloo and decides to help her to retrieve the stones. —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil     Plot summary   Plot synopsis      Review    A wonderful action movie to see over and over again  I think The Fifth Element is the movie I have seen the most... It is a perfect mixture of action and comedy, science-fiction, suspense and romance. Set in a not so far future, the eternal battle between good and evil is shown to us in an extravagant setting. Flying cars, aeroplanes that go at the speed of light, weird creatures and ugly aliens are only a few things that are present during this film. The story has never been seen before : Good has only one weapon to defeat evil; it is composed of four stones representing the four element (water, earth, fire and air) and a perfect creature. These five elements have to be united before the forces of evil arrive to earth. But evil has found help and the stones have disappeared. Bruce Willis (one of the best action actors of our time), Milla Jovovich, Ian Holm and Gary Oldman make the suspense even more intense. Chris Tucker is incredibly funny and ads a lot to the comic side of the film. The story is extremely imaginative and is, in my opinion, one of Luc Besson's best. I have never seen anything else like it. The costumes, designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier, are unbelievably imaginative and fun. They are a big part of the extravagance and originality of the movie. The score, by Eric Serra (one of my favourites) is simply a work of art. And last but not least, the special effects are absolutely excellent, adding to the quality of the movie. If you are looking for action and a good laugh, this is the film to see. But the actors are not the only things that make this film worth seeing. Click here      lparedero  Sep 12, 2001        Top picks  Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations   Sign in      FAQ9       Contribute to this page  Suggest an edit or add missing content        What is the streaming release date of The Fifth Element (1997) in Australia?  Answer
The Fifth Element (1997) - IMDb
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119116/
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fifth_element
The Fifth Element
1997-05-09
None
<div><section>
 
 
 <div>
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div>
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <section>
 <h3>
 
 critics consensus
 </h3>
 <p>
 Visually inventive and gleefully over the top, Luc Besson's <em>The Fifth Element</em> is a fantastic piece of pop sci-fi that never takes itself too seriously.
 <a href="/m/fifth_element/reviews?intcmp=rt-what-to-know_read-critics-reviews">Read critic reviews</a>
 </p>
 </section>
 
 
 
 <section>
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <a href="/m/goldeneye">
 
 
 
 
 </a>
 
 
 
 <a href="/m/speed_1994">
 
 
 
 
 </a>
 
 
 
 <a href="/m/jurassic_park">
 
 
 
 
 </a>
 
 
 
 <a href="/m/terminator_2_judgment_day">
 
 
 <div>
 
 <p>Terminator 2: Judgment Day
 </p></div>
 
 </a>
 
 
 
 <a href="/m/men_in_black">
 
 
 
 
 </a>
 
 
 
 
</section>
 
 
 <section>
 
 
 
 
 
 In Theaters
 
 
 
 
 
 Rent/buy
 
 
 
 
 
 Rent/buy
 
 
 
 
 
 Rent/buy
 
 
 
 
 </section>
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 </div>
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <section>
 
 
 
 
 
 <h2>
 <em>The Fifth Element</em> Videos
 </h2>
 
 
 </section>
 
 <section>
 
 <h2>
 
 <em>The Fifth Element</em>
 
 
 Photos
 </h2>
 
 </section>
 
 <div>
 <h2>Movie Info</h2>
 <div>
 
 <p>
 In the 23rd century, a New York City cabbie, Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis), finds the fate of the world in his hands when Leeloo (Milla Jovovich) falls into his cab. As the embodiment of the fifth element, Leeloo needs to combine with the other four to keep the approaching Great Evil from destroying the world. Together with Father Vito Cornelius (Ian Holm) and zany broadcaster Ruby Rhod (Chris Tucker), Dallas must race against time and the wicked industrialist Zorg (Gary Oldman) to save humanity.
 </p>
 <ul>
 
 <li>
 <p>Rating:</p>
 <p>PG-13 (Intense Sci-Fi Violence|Brief Nudity|Some Sexuality)
 </p>
 </li>
 
 
 <li>
 <p>Genre:</p>
 <p>
 
 Sci-fi, 
 
 Adventure, 
 
 Action, 
 
 Fantasy
 
 </p>
 </li>
 
 
 <li>
 <p>Original Language:</p>
 <p>English
 </p>
 </li>
 
 
 <li>
 <p>Director:</p>
 
 </li>
 
 
 <li>
 <p>Producer:</p>
 
 </li>
 
 
 <li>
 <p>Writer:</p>
 
 </li>
 
 
 <li>
 <p>Release Date (Theaters):</p>
 <p><time>May 9, 1997</time>
  wide
 </p>
 </li>
 
 
 <li>
 <p>Release Date (Streaming):</p>
 <p><time>
 Oct 9, 2001
 </time>
 </p>
 </li>
 
 
 <li>
 <p>Box Office (Gross USA):</p>
 <p>$63.7M</p>
 </li>
 
 
 <li>
 <p>Runtime:</p>
 <p><time>
 2h 7m
 </time>
 </p>
 </li>
 
 
 <li>
 <p>Distributor:</p>
 <p>
 
 Columbia Pictures
 
 </p>
 </li>
 
 
 
 <li>
 <p>Sound Mix:</p>
 <p>
 Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
 </p>
 </li>
 
 
 <li>
 <p>Aspect Ratio:</p>
 <p>
 Scope (2.35:1)
 </p>
 </li>
 
 
 </ul>
 
 </div>
 </div>
 
 
 <section>
 
 <h2>Cast &amp; Crew</h2>
 
 </section>
 
 
 <section>
 <h2>News &amp; Interviews for <em>The Fifth Element</em></h2>
 
 </section>
 
 <section>
 <h2>
 <a href="/m/fifth_element/reviews">Critic Reviews for <em>The Fifth Element</em></a>
 </h2>
 
</section>
 
<section>
 <h2>Audience Reviews for <em>The Fifth Element</em></h2>
 
 
 
 <ul>
 
 
 
 <li>
 
 
 </li>
 
 <li>
 
 <div>
 
 <p><a href="/user/id/836515740">
 
 
 
 </a></p><p><a href="/user/id/836515740">
 
 </a>
 
 
 <strong>Super Reviewer</strong>
 
 </p>
 </div>
 </li>
 
 <li>
 
 <div>
 
 <p><a href="/user/id/892037402">
 
 
 
 </a></p><p><a href="/user/id/892037402">
 
 </a>
 
 
 <strong>Super Reviewer</strong>
 
 </p>
 </div>
 </li>
 
 <li>
 
 <div>
 
 <p><a href="/user/id/861960467">
 
 
 
 </a></p><p><a href="/user/id/861960467">
 
 </a>
 
 
 <strong>Super Reviewer</strong>
 
 </p>
 </div>
 </li>
 
 </ul>
 
 
</section>
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/browse/movies_at_home/sort:popular?page=1&amp;cmp=rt_sticky_footer">
 
 
 </a>
 
 </div>
 
 
 
 
 
 
 </section>||||I||||Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

 Continue with Google
 Continue with Email
Email
 New Where is the password field?
Continue

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies, and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

First name (Required) Last name (Required) Create my account

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the
Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

LEARN MORE HELP

Email not verified

TRY AGAIN CANCEL

 Let's keep in touch

 Stay up-to-date on all the latest Rotten Tomatoes news! Tap "Sign me up" below to receive our weekly newsletter with updates on movies, TV shows, Rotten Tomatoes podcast and more.

Sign me up No thanks

OK, got it!

Signed in
 Skip to Main Content Cancel

 Movies / TV

 Celebrity

 No Results Found

 View All
 * What's the Tomatometer®?
 * Critics
 * 
 + Login/signup

 * Wants to See Ratings Profile Account Log Out
 Movies

 Movies in theaters

 * Opening this week
 * Coming soon to theaters
 * Certified fresh movies

 Movies at home

 * Peacock
 * Vudu
 * Netflix streaming
 * iTunes
 * Amazon and amazon prime
 * Most popular streaming movies
 * Certified fresh movies
 * Browse all

 More

 * Top movies
 * Trailers

 Certified fresh picks

 * Emily Link to Emily
 * Jethica Link to Jethica
 * Of an Age Link to Of an Age
 Tv shows

 New TV Tonight

 * Party Down: Season 3
 * The Company You Keep: Season 1
 * Bel-Air: Season 2
 * The Consultant: Season 1
 * Outer Banks: Season 3
 * Snowfall: Season 6
 * Magnum P.I.: Season 5
 * The Ms. Pat Show: Season 3
 * The Reluctant Traveler: Season 1
 * Last Week Tonight With John Oliver: Season 10
 View All

 Most Popular TV on RT

 * The Last of Us: Season 1
 * Red Rose: Season 1
 * You: Season 4
 * The Company You Keep: Season 1
 * Poker Face: Season 1
 * Extraordinary: Season 1
 * The Snow Girl: Season 1
 * Party Down: Season 3
 * Hello Tomorrow!: Season 1
 View All

 More

 * Top TV Shows
 * Certified Fresh TV

 Episodic Reviews

 * Andor: Season 1
 * She-Hulk: Attorney at Law: Season 1
 * House of the Dragon: Season 1
 * The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Season 1
 * Atlanta: Season 4

 Certified fresh pick

 * Star Trek: Picard Link to Star Trek: Picard
 Movie Trivia New News

 Columns

 * 24 Frames
 * All-Time Lists
 * Binge Guide
 * Comics on TV
 * Countdown
 * Critics Consensus
 * Five Favorite Films
 * Now Streaming
 * Parental Guidance
 * Red Carpet Roundup
 * Scorecards
 * Sub-Cult
 * Total Recall
 * Video Interviews
 * Weekend Box Office
 * Weekly Ketchup
 * What to Watch
 * The Zeros

 Best and Worst

 * Marvel Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer

 Link to Marvel Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer

 * Jurassic Park Movies Ranked By Tomatometer

 Link to Jurassic Park Movies Ranked By Tomatometer
 View All

 Guides

 * Black Heritage

 Link to Black Heritage

 * Awards Tour

 Link to Awards Tour
 View All

 RT News

 * Everything We Know About Creed III

 Link to Everything We Know About Creed III

 * Everything We Know About Secret Invasion

 Link to Everything We Know About Secret Invasion
 View All Showtimes
 * Trending on RT
 * Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
 * Cocaine Bear
 * The Last of Us
 * Knock at the Cabin

 Real Quick

 We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your email. Don’t worry, it won’t take long. Please click the link below to receive your verification email.

 We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your account. Just leave us a message here and we will work on getting you verified.

 Please reference “Error Code 2121” when contacting customer service.

 Cancel Resend Email
 Advertise With Us
 Watch trailer

 The Fifth Element

 1997, Sci-fi/Adventure, 2h 7m

 68 Reviews 250,000+ Ratings

 What to know

 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. Read critic reviews

 You might also like

 See More
 GoldenEye
 Speed
 Jurassic Park
 Terminator 2: Judgment Day
 Men in Black

 Where to watch

 In Theaters Rent/buy Rent/buy Rent/buy

 Rate And Review

 Submit review
 Want to see
 Edit
 Submit review
 Super Reviewer

 Verified

 Super Reviewer

 Verified

 Edit

 * Super Reviewer

 Rate this movie

 Oof, that was Rotten.

 Meh, it passed the time.

 It’s good – I’d recommend it.

 Awesome!

 So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

 What did you think of the movie? (optional)

 Submit

 * You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

 Continue

 * Super Reviewer

 Step 2 of 2

 How did you buy your ticket?

 Let's get your review verified.

 + Fandango

 + AMCTheatres.com or AMC App New

 Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info

 + Cinemark Coming Soon

 We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

 + Regal Coming Soon

 We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

 + Theater box office or somewhere else

 Submit

 By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

 You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

 * Super Reviewer

 Rate this movie

 Oof, that was Rotten.

 Meh, it passed the time.

 It’s good – I’d recommend it.

 Awesome!

 So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

 What did you think of the movie? (optional)

 Submit

 * How did you buy your ticket?

 + Fandango

 + AMCTheatres.com or AMC App New

 Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info

 + Cinemark Coming Soon

 We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

 + Regal Coming Soon

 We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

 + Theater box office or somewhere else

 Submit

 By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

 * You haven’t finished your review yet, want to submit as-is?

 You can always edit your review after.

 Submit & exit Remove review

 * Are you sure?

 Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers.

 Submit & exit Verify Ticket

 * Want to submit changes to your review before closing?

 Submit Discard changes

 Done Already? A few more words can help others decide if it's worth watching

 They won't be able to see your review if you only submit your rating.

 Submit only my rating Keep writing

 Done Already? A few more words can help others decide if it's worth watching

 They won't be able to see your review if you only submit your rating.

 Discard changes & exit Submit only my rating Keep writing

 Share with Facebook Share with Twitter

 The image is an example of a ticket confirmation email that AMC sent you when you purchased your ticket. Your Ticket Confirmation # is located under the header in your email that reads "Your Ticket Reservation Details". Just below that it reads "Ticket Confirmation#:" followed by a 10-digit number. This 10-digit number is your confirmation number.

 Your AMC Ticket Confirmation# can be found in your order confirmation email.

 The Fifth Element Videos

 2:09
 The Fifth Element: Official Clip - Zorg Presents the ZF1
 1:41
 The Fifth Element: Official Clip - The Fifth Element Is a She
 2:13
 The Fifth Element: Official Clip - Leeloo Escapes
 2:11
 The Fifth Element: Official Clip - Korben Outwits a Mugger
 2:12
 The Fifth Element: Official Clip - Ruby Rhod's Evening Show
 2:09
 The Fifth Element: Official Clip - Leeloo Fights the Mangalores
 2:11
 The Fifth Element: Official Clip - Korben Meets Ruby Rhod
 1:32
 The Fifth Element: Official Clip - Choking on a Cherry
 2:09
 The Fifth Element: Official Clip - Zorg Presents the ZF1
 1:41
 The Fifth Element: Official Clip - The Fifth Element Is a She
 2:13
 The Fifth Element: Official Clip - Leeloo Escapes
 2:11
 The Fifth Element: Official Clip - Korben Outwits a Mugger
 2:12
 The Fifth Element: Official Clip - Ruby Rhod's Evening Show
 2:09
 The Fifth Element: Official Clip - Leeloo Fights the Mangalores
 2:11
 The Fifth Element: Official Clip - Korben Meets Ruby Rhod
 1:32
 The Fifth Element: Official Clip - Choking on a Cherry
 * 1
 * 2
 View all videos

 The Fifth Element Photos

 * 1
 * 2
 * 3
 * 4
 * 5
 View All Photos

 Movie Info

 In the 23rd century, a New York City cabbie, Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis), finds the fate of the world in his hands when Leeloo (Milla Jovovich) falls into his cab. As the embodiment of the fifth element, Leeloo needs to combine with the other four to keep the approaching Great Evil from destroying the world. Together with Father Vito Cornelius (Ian Holm) and zany broadcaster Ruby Rhod (Chris Tucker), Dallas must race against time and the wicked industrialist Zorg (Gary Oldman) to save humanity.
 * Rating:
 PG-13 (Intense Sci-Fi Violence|Brief Nudity|Some Sexuality)
 * Genre:
 Sci-fi, Adventure, Action, Fantasy
 * Original Language:
 English
 * Director:
 Luc Besson
 * Producer:
 Patrice Ledoux
 * Writer:
 Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen
 * Release Date (Theaters):
 May 9, 1997 wide
 * Release Date (Streaming):
 Oct 9, 2001
 * Box Office (Gross USA):
 $63.7M
 * Runtime:
 2h 7m
 * Distributor:
 Columbia Pictures
 * Sound Mix:
 Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
 * Aspect Ratio:
 Scope (2.35:1)

 Cast & Crew

 Bruce Willis
 Korben Dallas
 Gary Oldman
 Jean-Baptiste Emmanuel Zorg
 Ian Holm
 Father Vito Cornelius
 Milla Jovovich
 Leeloo
 Chris Tucker
 Ruby Rhod
 Luke Perry
 Billy
 Brion James
 General Munro
 Tommy "Tiny" Lister
 President Lindberg
 Lee Evans
 Fog
 Charlie Creed-Miles
 David
 Tricky
 Right Arm
 John Neville
 General Staedert
 John Bluthal
 Professor Pacoli
 Maïwenn
 Diva Plavalaguna
 Mathieu Kassovitz
 Mugger
 Pete Dunwell
 Diva's Manager
 Luc Besson
 Director
 Luc Besson
 Writer
 Robert Mark Kamen
 Screenwriter
 Patrice Ledoux
 Producer
 Iain Smith
 Co-Producer
 Thierry Arbogast
 Cinematographer
 Dan Weil
 Production Design
 Jean-Paul Gaultier
 Costume Design
 Sylvie Landra
 Film Editing
 Eric Serra
 Original Music
 Mark Stetson
 Visual Effects Supervisor
 Show all Cast & Crew

 News & Interviews for The Fifth Element

 Know Your Critic: Manuel Betancourt, Critic and Culture Writer
 87 Fearless Women Movie Heroes Who Inspire Us
 50 F–k Yeah Moments of Female Empowerment in the Movies
 View All

 Critic Reviews for The Fifth Element

 All Critics (68) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (48) | Rotten (20)
 Full Review… Duane Byrge Hollywood Reporter Full Review… Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune Full Review… Joe Morgenstern Wall Street Journal Full Review… Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Full Review… Todd McCarthy Variety Full Review… Geoff Andrew Time Out Full Review… Travis Johnson Flicks (AU, NZ, UK) Full Review… Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Full Review… Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Full Review… Leigh Paatsch Herald Sun (Australia) Full Review… Ed Travis Cinapse Full Review… Zaki Hasan Zaki's Corner
 View All Critic Reviews (68)

 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.
 Show More
 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
 Show More
 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.
 Show More
 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.
 Super Reviewer
 See All Audience reviews

 Movie & TV guides

 View All

 * Most Anticipated 2023 Movies

 * TV Premiere Dates 2023

 * Best Horror Movies 2023

 * Golden Tomato Awards

 ALL CRITICS TOP CRITICS VERIFIED AUDIENCE ALL AUDIENCE

 About Tomatometer

 About Audience Score

 Close video See Details
 See Details
 Verified Purchase
 * This person bought a ticket to see this movie. Learn more
 * Help
 * About Rotten Tomatoes
 * What's the Tomatometer®?
 * Feedback
 * Critic Submission
 * Licensing
 * Advertise With Us
 * Careers

 JOIN THE NEWSLETTER

 Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox!
 Join the Newsletter! Join the Newsletter!

 Follow Us

 Copyright © Fandango. All rights reserved. V3
 * Privacy Policy |
 * Terms and Policies |
 * Your Privacy Choices |
 * California Notice |
 * Ad Choices |
 * Accessibility
 Copyright © Fandango. All rights reserved. V3
 Join Newsletter Join Newsletter
 * Terms and Policies
 * Privacy Policy
 * Your Privacy Choices
 * California Notice
 * Ad Choices
 * 
 * Accessibility
 Go back
 More trailers

 Your Privacy Choices: Opt-out of sale of personal information and Opt-out of sharing or processing personal information for targeted ads

 To provide you with a more relevant online experience, certain online ad partners may combine personal information that we make available with data across different businesses and otherwise assist us with related advertising activities, as described in our Privacy Policy. This may be considered "selling" or "sharing/processing” for targeted online advertising under applicable law.

 If you are a resident of California, Connecticut, Colorado, Utah or Virginia, to opt out of us selling or sharing/processing your personal information:

 * Such as cookies and devices identifiers for the targeted ads and related purposes for this site/app on this browser/device: switch the “Allow Sale of My Personal Info or Sharing/Processing for Targeted Ads” toggle under Manage Preferences to OFF (grey color) by moving it LEFT and clicking “Confirm My Choice”.
 * Such as your name, email address and other associated personal information for targeted advertising activities as described above, please submit the form below.

 Please note that choices related to cookies and device identifiers are specific to the brand’s website or app on the browser or device where you are making the election.

 Manage Preferences

 Allow Sale of My Personal Info and Sharing/Processing for Targeted Ads

 Allow Sale of My Personal Info and Sharing/Processing for Targeted Ads

 California, Connecticut, Colorado, Utah & Virginia Residents Only: To opt out of selling or sharing/processing for targeted advertising of information such as cookies and device identifiers processed for targeted ads (as defined by law) and related purposes for this site/app on this browser/device, switch this toggle to off (grey color) by moving it left and clicking “Confirm My Choice” below. (This will close this dialogue box, so please open the email Opt-Out Form 1st).

 ALL OTHER LOCATIONS: If we do not detect that you are in California, Connecticut, Colorado, Utah or Virginia, this choice will not apply even if you toggle this button off.

 If you turn this off, you will still see ads, but they may be less relevant or based only on our first-party information about you.

 Please note, you must make the Manage Preference choices on each site/app on each browser/device you use to access the services. You must also renew this choice if you clear your cookies. You can change your precise geolocation permissions for our mobile apps in your mobile device settings.

 Fandango Opt-Out Form

 Always Active

 To opt out of the use of your email and other personal information related to that email such as your name for targeted advertising activities please complete this Opt-Out Form

 Strictly Necessary Cookies

 Always Active

 These Cookies are required for Service functionality, including security and fraud prevention, and to enable any purchasing capabilities. You can set your browser to block these Cookies, but some parts of the site may not function properly.

 Performance Cookies

 Clear
 checkbox label label
 Apply Cancel
 Consent Leg.Interest
 checkbox label label
 checkbox label label
 checkbox label label
 Confirm My Choice
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.
 Read critic reviews
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Terminator 2: Judgment Day
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 In Theaters
 
 
 
 
 
 Rent/buy
 
 
 
 
 
 Rent/buy
 
 
 
 
 
 Rent/buy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 The Fifth Element Videos
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 The Fifth Element
 
 
 Photos
 
 
 
 
 
 Movie Info
 
 
 
 In the 23rd century, a New York City cabbie, Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis), finds the fate of the world in his hands when Leeloo (Milla Jovovich) falls into his cab. As the embodiment of the fifth element, Leeloo needs to combine with the other four to keep the approaching Great Evil from destroying the world. Together with Father Vito Cornelius (Ian Holm) and zany broadcaster Ruby Rhod (Chris Tucker), Dallas must race against time and the wicked industrialist Zorg (Gary Oldman) to save humanity.
 
 
 
 
 Rating:
 PG-13 (Intense Sci-Fi Violence|Brief Nudity|Some Sexuality)
 
 
 
 
 
 Genre:
 
 
 Sci-fi, 
 
 Adventure, 
 
 Action, 
 
 Fantasy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Original Language:
 English
 
 
 
 
 
 Director:
 
 
 
 
 
 Producer:
 
 
 
 
 
 Writer:
 
 
 
 
 
 Release Date (Theaters):
  May 9, 1997
  wide
 
 
 
 
 
 Release Date (Streaming):
  
 Oct 9, 2001
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Box Office (Gross USA):
 $63.7M
 
 
 
 
 Runtime:
  
 2h 7m
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Distributor:
 
 
 Columbia Pictures
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Sound Mix:
 
 Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
 
 
 
 
 
 Aspect Ratio:
 
 Scope (2.35:1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Cast &amp; Crew
 
 
 
 
 
 News &amp; Interviews for The Fifth Element 
 
 
 
 
 
 Critic Reviews for The Fifth Element 
 
 
 
 Audience Reviews for The Fifth Element 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 Super Reviewer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 Super Reviewer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 Super Reviewer
The Fifth Element
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fifth_element