The Fifth Element (1997)

The Fifth Element is a fast-paced, wildly imaginative sci-fi action-adventure set in a colorful, over-the-top 23rd-century future. When a mysterious, perfect being named Leeloo is reconstructed from alien remains, she teams up with reluctant ex-commando-turned-cab-driver Korben Dallas and the eccentric priest Vito Cornelius to recover four ancient elemental stones. Those stones — along with Leeloo, the titular Fifth Element — are humanity’s only hope against a cyclical cosmic Evil. Meanwhile, profiteering industrialist Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg and a band of mercenary Mangalores race to stop them. Watching the film delivers a sensory rush: kinetic action and spectacular set pieces (high-speed chases, shootouts, and a memorable operatic sequence), outrageous costume and production design, and a playful, sometimes campy tone that mixes humor with genuine stakes. The characters are larger than life — from the tough, taciturn Korben to the alien-pop celebrity Ruby Rhod — and the movie balances worldbuilding and mythology with a tender emotional core as Korben and Leeloo form an unlikely bond. Expect bold visuals, quirky humor, pulpy sci-fi lore, and big, cinematic thrills, capped by an emotional finale about love, sacrifice, and whether the world is worth saving. Fans of imaginative, stylized science fiction and blockbuster spectacle will find it a vivid, entertaining ride.

Actors: Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman

Director: Luc Besson

Runtime: 126 min

Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

6.6 /10 52 /100 7.6 /10 6.5 /10