WRITER · BORN 1959
Luc Besson
- Born
- 18 March 1959, Paris, France
- Known for
- Léon (1994)
30 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Luc Besson (born 18 March 1959) is a director and screenwriter best known for Léon.
30 Interesting Facts About Luc Besson
Interesting Facts (3)
- #001
Jean-Pierre Melville, one of the major figures of French cinema, had a profound influence on Luc Besson. After watching Melville's masterpiece 'Le Samouraï' (1967), Besson decided to make his own cult film 'Léon: The Professional' (1994). Melville's minimalist storytelling and anti-hero characters are clearly felt in that film. This influence played an important role in shaping Besson's cinematic language and made him one of the most distinctive directors of his generation.
- #002
Luc Besson is called the John Hughes of action cinema, a comparison that stems from his writing and producing far more films than he directs. While Hughes was known for teen comedies, Besson has shown similar productivity in the action genre. The title emphasises his versatility in the industry and his contribution to different projects. By supporting both his own films and other people's projects, Besson has become an important figure in the film world.
- #003
Luc Besson has openly stated his lack of interest in video games and the superhero genre. Besson tends towards character-driven and visually ambitious stories, which reflects his desire to move beyond the conventions of genre cinema. This stance has helped him preserve the originality and artistic position of his cinema.
Behind the Scenes (11)
- #004
Luc Besson's childhood dream was to become a marine biologist; however, an accident he had at the age of 17 prevented him from realising that dream. The accident radically changed his relationship with the water and led him to stay away from the sea. Even so, it became a turning point that steered him towards cinema. Besson conveyed his passion for the water and his disappointment aesthetically to audiences in films such as 'The Big Blue' (1988).
- #005
Alongside his film career, Luc Besson also made significant contributions to children's literature. He wrote four 'Arthur' children's books, including 'Arthur and the Minimoys'; the series achieved great success, selling more than 1 million copies in over 30 countries. Besson later adapted the book series into films, uniting his literary and cinematic worlds. These adaptations showed that he is a versatile artist with a command of different forms of storytelling.
- #006
In 2000, Luc Besson served as president of the jury for the 'Official Competition' section of the 53rd Cannes International Film Festival. This prestigious role reinforced his standing and authority in the film world. The Cannes Film Festival is regarded as one of the most important meeting points of world cinema; Besson's serving as jury president there is an indication of his international reputation.
- #007
Two of Luc Besson's films had the honour of opening the Cannes International Film Festival, one of the world's most prestigious film festivals. The first was 'The Big Blue' (1988) and the second was 'The Fifth Element' (1997). That a director opened Cannes with two different films shows his influence in the film world and how highly his productions are regarded internationally. These films are proof of how ambitious Besson's work is in both visual and narrative terms.
- #008
Luc Besson frequently said over the years that he would quit directing after making 10 films. But when 'Arthur and the Invisibles' (2006) became his tenth directing effort, he did not keep that promise and continued his career. With this decision, Besson proved that directing is not just a job for him but a way of life.
- #009
Luc Besson is called the John Hughes of action cinema; this comparison stems from the fact that he writes and produces far more films than he directs. While Hughes was known for teen comedies, Besson has shown similar productivity in the action genre. By supporting both his own films and other people's projects, Besson has become an important figure in the world of cinema.
- #010
Luc Besson has a puppet resembling him on 'Les Guignols de l'info' (1988), the French television puppet show that satirizes famous names. However, this puppet is rarely used on the program. This shows Besson's place in popular culture and how he is treated with a humorous tone. The puppet's rare use may be related to Besson's preference not to appear too much in the media.
- #011
Luc Besson served as president of the 'Official Competition' jury at the 32nd Moscow International Film Festival, held in 2010. This duty once again confirmed his reputation in the international film community. The Moscow Film Festival is regarded as one of the important events of world cinema; Besson's serving as jury president there shows his connection with filmmakers from different cultures and that he has a universal perspective.
- #012
Luc Besson has a daughter named Juliette, born in 1987, from his former wife Anne Parillaud. Parillaud starred in Besson's film 'Nikita' (1990) and gained international fame with that film. This relationship holds an important place in Besson's life, both personally and professionally. Juliette grew up as part of her father's legacy in the world of cinema.
- #013
Luc Besson was once in a relationship with the French director and actress Maïwenn. A daughter named Shanna was born from this relationship in 1993. Maïwenn later achieved significant success in her own directing career.
- #014
Luc Besson has openly expressed his lack of interest in video games and the superhero genre. Besson tends more toward character-driven and visually ambitious stories; this reflects his desire to step outside the conventions of genre cinema. This attitude has helped him preserve the originality and artistic stance of his cinema.
Career & Awards (8)
- #015
In 1977, a young Luc Besson applied to La Fémis, France's prestigious national film school, and was unexpectedly rejected. Besson, then 18, recounts that during the preliminary interview he was asked to name the directors he admired most and cited Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Miloš Forman. Before he could finish, the interviewer cut him off with 'Enough. I don't think you belong here' and ended the interview. The episode became a turning point in Besson's career: despite never receiving a film education, he went on to forge his own path and become a director known worldwide.
- #016
Luc Besson frequently casts Gary Oldman in his films, and the friendship between the two goes far beyond their professional collaborations. Besson produced the widely acclaimed 'Nil by Mouth' (1997), which Oldman directed, cementing that closeness. Their collaborations on films such as 'Leon' and 'The Fifth Element' (1997) left their mark on cinema history and hold an important place in Oldman's career. The partnership is one of the clearest examples of both Besson's directorial vision and Oldman's acting talent.
- #017
Alongside his film career, Luc Besson made significant contributions to children's literature. He wrote four 'Arthur' children's books, including 'Arthur and the Minimoys'; the series was a great success, selling more than 1 million copies in over 30 countries. Besson later adapted the book series into films, uniting his literary and cinematic worlds. These adaptations showed that he is a versatile artist with command of different forms of storytelling.
- #018
Luc Besson served as president of the jury for the Official Competition at the 53rd Cannes International Film Festival in 2000. This prestigious role reinforced his standing and authority in the film world. The Cannes Film Festival is regarded as one of the most important meeting points of world cinema, and Besson's presidency there is an indication of his international reputation.
- #019
Two of Luc Besson's films had the honour of opening the Cannes International Film Festival, one of the world's most prestigious film festivals. The first was 'The Big Blue' (1988) and the second was 'The Fifth Element' (1997). A director opening Cannes with two different films shows his influence in the film world and how highly his productions are regarded internationally. These films are proof of how ambitious Besson has been in both visual and narrative terms.
- #020
For many years Luc Besson frequently said that he would quit directing after making 10 films. But when 'Arthur and the Invisibles' (2006) became his tenth directorial effort, he did not keep his word and continued his career. With this decision, Besson proved that directing is not merely a job for him but a way of life.
- #021
Luc Besson presided over the jury of the Official Competition at the 32nd Moscow International Film Festival in 2010. This role once again confirmed his standing in the international film community. The Moscow Film Festival is regarded as one of the major events of world cinema, and Besson's presidency there shows his connection with filmmakers from different cultures and his universal outlook.
- #022
Luc Besson was at one time in a relationship with the French director and actress Maïwenn. A daughter named Shanna was born from the relationship in 1993. Maïwenn later achieved significant success in her own directing career.
Life & Family (8)
- #023
Luc Besson refuses to give interviews or record audio commentaries for the DVD releases of his films. The reason behind this stance is his belief that such extras diminish a film's effect on the viewer. To Besson, a film is a whole in itself, and the director's explanations can weaken the personal bond the viewer forms with it. Watching his films therefore encourages you to form your own interpretation rather than learn the director's intentions directly.
- #024
Luc Besson's childhood was spent in Mediterranean and Balkan regions such as Greece, Bulgaria and the former Yugoslavia, where his parents worked as diving instructors for Club Med. This mobile life brought him into early contact with the sea and with different cultures. Traces of Besson's fondness for water and exotic locations in his cinema stem from these childhood experiences. Such influences are clearly visible in films like 'The Big Blue' (1988).
- #025
At the age of 9, Luc Besson spent five months with his family at a resort on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast. His parents worked at a sports centre there, diving and exploring the coastal caves. The period strengthened Besson's bond with the sea and gave him unforgettable memories. As an adult, however, he admitted that he has avoided returning to that coast for fear of spoiling those good memories. This emotional attitude shows the value he places on his childhood memories and his attachment to the past.
- #026
In 2002, Luc Besson was involved in an incident in which he was placed under investigation for involuntary manslaughter. The case concerned the death of a cameraman, who was struck by a car during a chase scene in the 1999 shoot of 'Taxi 2' (2000), a film Besson produced. The investigation opened by the Paris prosecutor on 4 June 2002 once again raised the question of how critical safety measures on film sets are. The tragic event became a dark chapter in Besson's career.
- #027
Luc Besson's childhood dream was to become a marine biologist, but an accident at the age of 17 prevented him from realising it. The accident radically changed his relationship with water and led him to stay away from the sea. Even so, it became a turning point that steered him towards cinema. Besson conveyed his passion for water and his disappointment aesthetically to audiences in films such as 'The Big Blue' (1988).
- #028
Luc Besson's private life has been colourful and eventful, as he has five children by three different women. Besson has always kept his relationship with his children to the fore and played an active role in raising them. This large family structure has brought both richness and responsibility to his life.
- #029
Luc Besson has a puppet likeness of himself in 'Les Guignols de l'info' (1988), the French television puppet show that satirises famous figures. The puppet, however, is rarely used on the programme. This shows Besson's place in popular culture and how he is treated in a humorous vein. The puppet's rare use may be related to Besson's preference for not appearing much in the media.
- #030
Luc Besson has three children with his wife Virginie Besson-Silla: his daughter Thalia, born 1 August 2001; his daughter Satine, born May 2003; and his son Mao, born 16 September 2005. These children are part of Besson's happiness in his family life. Despite his intense work schedule, Besson takes care to make time for his family and plays an active role in raising his children.
Related pages
- 3 Days to Kill — Luc Besson comes up in the facts on that page
- Resident Evil 4 — Luc Besson comes up in the facts on that page
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
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