The Action Genius of Luc Besson

Luc Besson is a French writer/director/producer, and he’s been responsible for some of the most memorable action flicks of the last few decades. In case you’re unfamiliar with his work, I decided to put together a list of some of his essential films. The next time you’re browsing through Netflix, add a few of these to your queue.

It should be noted that Besson did not direct all of these films. With some, he only served as the producer. However, he still managed to leave his distinctive mark.

Suggested Films from Luc Besson

• Nikita (1990) – Anne Parillaud stars as a criminal who’s sentenced to death but then enrolled in secret government training to become an assassin. One of the many cult classic movies from Luc Besson. Later remade in the United States as Point of No Return.
• Leon (1994) – Jean Reno stars as Leon, a lonely hitman in New York who bonds with a 12-year-old girl (Natalie Portman) after her family is slaughtered by a group of corrupt cops (led by Gary Oldman). Also known as The Professional.
• The Fifth Element (1997) – Bruce Willis takes the lead role in this lavish and thoroughly original sci-fi film about an ex-soldier forced out of retirement to help an alien (Milla Jovovich) save Earth.
• Taxi (1998) – Incredibly popular in France, the film revolves around an aspiring race car driver (Samy Naceri) who teams up with a cop to track down a gang of German bank robbers.
• Taxi 2 (2000) – Daniel, out lead-footed hero, is once again called upon to save the day. This time, a Japanese officer and a cop’s girlfriend are the ones in peril. More film would follow in the series.
• Kiss of the Dragon (2001) – Jet Li is a Chinese intelligence officer who goes to Paris and winds up being framed by a corrupt cop. He also befriend a prostitute (Bridgette Fonda) who’s trying to start a new life with her daughter. Great fight sequences.
• The Transporter (2002) – Jason Statham will transport anything for a price. But when he breaks his own rules and looks inside one of his packages, that’s when things get complicated. Two sequels would follow.
• District 13 (2004) – A cop and a con must team up in the French action flick set inside the walled-off ghettos of a futuristic Paris. If you’re a fan of parkour, then don’t miss this one.
• Unleashed (2005) – Jet Li is a man who’s been treated like a dog his whole life. When he’s not fighting in illegal bloodsports, he’s kept caged up by his “owner” (Bob Hoskins). All that changes when he winds up in the care of a blind piano tuner (Morgan Freeman) and his adopted daughter.

Even though there are no spaghetti westerns on the list (I’m a huge fan), I still love the works of Luc Besson. You can always count on non-stop action, lots of hot women, and a rockin’ soundtrack. What more could you ask for in an action movie?