Léon: The Professional
When her family is murdered by a group of corrupt officers led by the tyrannical Norman Stansfield, a young 12-year-old girl enlists the help of an Italian-American hitman to seek revenge.
Directed by Luc Besson · Action · Crime · Drama · 110 min · 1994
Trailer
Director
Luc Besson
Writer
Luc Besson
Studio
Gaumont{{cite web / title=Léon (1993) / url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7ca6ba2a / archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227000214/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7ca6ba2a / url-status=dead / archive-date=27 December 2017 / website=British Film Institute / access-date=28 March 2023 / Les Films du Dauphin{{cite web / publisher=Bifi.fr / title=Léon (1993) Luc Besson / access-date=16 July 2019 / language=fr / archive-date=14 June 2020 / url-status=live
Release
18 Nov 1994
Runtime
110 min
Genres
Action, Crime, Drama
Full Plot
After her father, step-mother, step-sister and little brother are killed by her father's employers, the 12-year-old daughter of an abject drug dealer manages to take refuge in the apartment of a professional hitman who at her request teaches her the methods of his job so she can take her revenge on the corrupt DEA agent who ruined her life by killing her beloved brother.
Cast & Characters
Léon
Jean Reno
Norman Stansfield
Gary Oldman
Mathilda Lando
Natalie Portman
Tony
Danny Aiello
Mr. Lando, Mathilda's father
Michael Badalucco
Margie Lando, Mathilda's stepmother
Ellen Greene
Malky
Peter Appel
Manolo
Adam Busch
Stairway Swat
Joseph Malerba
The Blond Babe
Maïwenn
The Hotel Clerk
George Martin
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $16.0M, Léon: The Professional has grossed $20.3M worldwide — about 1.3x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
While most of the interior scenes were shot in France, the rest of the film was shot on location in New York City.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
Critical Assessment
Léon: The Professional holds 8.5/10 on IMDb (1,348,574 votes), 76% on Rotten Tomatoes, 64/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of July 30, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.5/10 on IMDb (1,348,574 votes), 76% on Rotten Tomatoes, 64/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Léon: The Professional's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
Léon: The Professional holds a 76% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is Léon: The Professional's IMDb rating?+
Léon: The Professional has a 8.5/10 rating on IMDb from 1,348,574 votes.
What is Léon: The Professional's Metacritic score?+
Léon: The Professional has a Metascore of 64/100 on Metacritic.
Is Léon: The Professional good? What are critics saying?+
Léon: The Professional holds 8.5/10 on IMDb (1,348,574 votes), 76% on Rotten Tomatoes, 64/100 on Metacritic.
How long is Léon: The Professional?+
Léon: The Professional has a runtime of 110 min.
Who directed Léon: The Professional?+
Léon: The Professional was directed by Luc Besson.
Where can I watch Léon: The Professional?+
Léon: The Professional is available to stream, rent, or buy on fuboTV, Philo, Sundance Now, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex, STUDIOCANAL PRESENTS Apple TV Channel, Studiocanal Presents Amazon Channel, Sky Store, Amazon Prime Video, EPIC ON, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
Fan & Critic Buzz
Natalie Portman's performance in "Léon: The Professional" was praised for its intensity and authenticity, with some reviewers calling her first acting role memorable and well-done. Critics also noted the film's balance of action and drama, as well as its exploration of themes such as trauma and psychopathy.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
HOW TO MAKE A FEMALE ASSASSIN. TRAUMA, TRAINING THEN GET HER EXTRA ANGRY. NATILIE PORTMANS FIRST ASSASSIN ROLE AND HOPEFULLY NOT HER LAST. WE NEED A PART 2 TO THIS MOVIE.
rozmiarek · 10/10This films stars a 12-year old Natalie Portman as Mathilda, a girl living with her abusive stepfather, a step-sister, mother, and four-year old brother. She doesn’t care for any of these people except her brother. One day, she returns home from getting the groceries to find corru…
From the trailer's comments
- you know who should watch this movie? - No, Who? - EVERYONEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!
@JoseRodriguez-dn3kt · 2914 likesA movie to never forget.
@kleberguimaraes342 · 993 likesOne of the best child actor performances
@ZXbolterZX · 1502 likesthis is one of Gary's best roles, such a good psychopath.
@gelliaramadis522 · 415 likesOne of the most underrated films of the 90s. It truly is a beautiful film.
@pearljam619 · 773 likesHonestly. This trailer doesn't do the movie justice. They're selling it solely as an action flick, while it has a lot more to offer.
@foxman105 · 2651 likesPerfectly balanced film...a action style much imitated, wonderful performances..and still heart breaking. Classic art piece!
@lordofhousestewart1821 · 450 likesi watched it for the first time in 2025 who knew old movies were so good i need to watch more old movies from now on
@Tiffany.J.S10 · 72 likes
