The Fifth Element 1997

Critics score:
71 / 100

Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes

Janet Maslin, New York Times: Mr. Besson directs with ceaseless flamboyance and with an obvious enthusiasm for his film's comic book conceits. But the tone of The Fifth Element is often terribly shrill, especially when attention shifts to grating minor characters. Read more

Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: In this movie and many like it, the only elements that count are impact, impact, impact and impact. The fifth element is gibberish. Read more

Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times: There's no doubt about it, when it comes to saving the world, Bruce Willis is your man. He does it with smarts and style, humor and courage. Read more

Entertainment Weekly: Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: A lot of money was spent on this film, but $100 million doesn't guarantee a good product. Maybe someone should have thought of spending a few more dollars on a better script. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: One of the great goofy movies -- a film so preposterous I wasn't surprised to discover it was written by a teenage boy. Read more

Scott Rosenberg, Salon.com: As you sit through the interminable two-hours-plus that constitute The Fifth Element -- a colossally stupid, overbearingly pompous new movie by Luc Besson -- you can expect to become acquainted with boredom on the most elemental level. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: The Fifth Element has to be the most creative visualization since Tim Burton's first Batman in 1989. On top of that, it's a whole lot of fun. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: Besson's futuristic fable is flawed by a messy narrative which strains to incorporate far too many grotesque and eccentric characters. Read more

Todd McCarthy, Variety: A hodgepodge of elements that don't comfortably coalesce. Read more