Skip to main content
Celluloid
CrimeDramaAction Editor's Pick

Léon: The Professional Review (1994) — 83% Celluloid Score

Directed by Luc Besson · 1994 ·

Short answer

Is Léon: The Professional worth watching?

Yes. Léon: The Professional (1994) earns an 83% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

83%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

87% Editorial Rating
89% Audience snapshot · excluded
81 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4
8.5 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
1h 51m
Age rating
R (US) · 18 (UK) · A (India) · MA 15+ (Australia) · 18A (Canada)
Cast
Jean Reno , Natalie Portman , Gary Oldman , Danny Aiello , Peter Appel , Michael Badalucco , Ellen Greene , Frank Senger , Elizabeth Regen , Carl J. Matusovich
Streaming
Sundance Now
Country
France
Language
English

Also known as Léon El Perfecto Asesino El profesional (Léon) Léon - Der Profi O Profissional レオン 레옹 这个杀手不太冷

Where to watch

  • Sundance Now

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch Léon: The Professional by country

Country Streaming on
India Prime Video
Japan Netflix, Prime Video, U-NEXT
South Korea Netflix
United Kingdom StudioCanal Presents
United States Sundance Now

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (87/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (89%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (81/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4/5).
  • IMDb users score it 8.5/10.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded crime, drama, action pick

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is Léon: The Professional worth watching?

    Yes — Léon: The Professional earns an 83% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded crime, drama, action pick. Read our full review (4.5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    IMDb Top 250 #44 (8.5/10) — Léon: The Professional remains one of the most highly rated films of all time.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

    What is Léon: The Professional about?

    Léon, the top hit man in New York, has earned a rep as an effective "cleaner". But when his next-door neighbors are wiped out by a loose-cannon DEA agent, he becomes the unwilling custodian of 12-year-old Mathilda. Before long, Mathilda's thoughts turn to revenge, and she considers following in Léon's footsteps.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English Léon: The Professional

    Léon: The Professional (1994) Review: Tenderness at Gunpoint

    Léon: The Professional is Luc Besson's stylish New York thriller about a lonely hitman and the orphaned girl he takes in, starring Jean Reno and Natalie Portman.

    Yes. It is a gripping, beautifully performed action thriller that still holds up, though its central relationship has uncomfortable undertones some viewers will find hard to ignore.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    Léon: The Professional stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    Léon: The Professional production still 1
    Léon: The Professional production still 2
    Léon: The Professional production still 3
    Léon: The Professional production still 4
    Léon: The Professional production still 5
    Léon: The Professional production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    Léon: The Professional: frequently asked questions

    Is Léon: The Professional worth watching?

    Yes. Léon: The Professional (1994) has a Celluloid Score of 83%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch Léon: The Professional?

    In the United States, Léon: The Professional streams on Sundance Now with a subscription, and you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Elsewhere: Prime Video in India; Netflix, Prime Video, U-NEXT in Japan; Netflix in South Korea; StudioCanal Presents in the United Kingdom. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is Léon: The Professional?

    Léon: The Professional runs 1 hour 51 minutes (111 minutes).

    What is Léon: The Professional rated?

    Léon: The Professional is rated R in the United States, 18 in the UK, A in India, MA 15+ in Australia and 18A in Canada. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in Léon: The Professional?

    Léon: The Professional is directed by Luc Besson and stars Jean Reno, Natalie Portman, Gary Oldman, Danny Aiello, Peter Appel.

    What is the Metascore for Léon: The Professional?

    Metacritic's Metascore for Léon: The Professional is 81 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

    More Like This

    Ranked by genre overlap and Celluloid Score. More movies like Léon: The Professional →