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Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti
Set in the 28th century, the story follows special operatives Valerian and Laureline as they protect the intergalactic city of .
Nearly $200 million, making it one of the most expensive European films ever made.
as Jolly the Pimp, an eccentric, cowboy-hat-wearing businessman.
Upon its release, Valerian faced harsh criticism for its dense narrative structure and atypical casting. However, when viewed outside the lens of standard Hollywood expectations, the film reveals itself to be a masterpiece of pure imagination. Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets - E...
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is a 2017 sci-fi film directed by Luc Besson that stands as one of the most expensive independent productions ever made. Known for its immense, visually dazzling, and diverse world of Alpha, the film focuses on special agents solving a mystery regarding a destroyed planet. The movie features a notable supporting cast, including Rihanna, and is largely celebrated for its innovative special effects despite mixed critical reception regarding its storyline. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) - IMDb
In the summer of 2017, Luc Besson delivered Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets , a film that arguably stands as the most expensive independent movie ever made. Funded by European equity and fueled by a lifetime of adoration for the French comic series Valérian and Laureline , Besson crafted a visual spectacle that was audacious in its scope and colorful in its execution. Yet, upon release, the film became a cautionary tale of blockbuster economics. It flopped at the American box office, Critics carped about the casting, and the narrative was dismissed as derivative.
Despite its visual brilliance, the film received mixed reactions regarding its casting and chemistry. Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne brought a youthful, modern energy to the lead roles, though some fans of the original comics felt the dynamic differed from the source material. However, the supporting cast, including a memorable performance by Rihanna as the shapeshifting Bubble and Ethan Hawke as the eccentric Jolly the Pimp, added layers of camp and charisma to the sprawling narrative. Set in the 28th century, the story follows
In the landscape of modern science fiction cinema, few films arrive with as much visual ambition and narrative stumble as Luc Besson’s Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets . Yet, before the wooden dialogue and the miscast chemistry of its leads take center stage, the film offers a masterpiece of silent storytelling: the opening montage, set to David Bowie’s "Space Oddity."
While it was a financial disaster in theaters, Valerian has found a remarkable second life in the streaming era. In January 2025, nearly eight years after its debut, the film arrived on the Max streaming service. It quickly rocketed up the charts, becoming a top-ten hit in the United States. This "small reprieve," as one outlet called it, demonstrates how films can find new audiences outside the pressure-cooker environment of a theatrical release and suggests that its visual inventiveness is winning over a new generation of sci-fi fans.
Despite its narrative flaws, the film is widely considered a cult masterpiece for pure world-building. It rejects the dark, gritty, and utilitarian aesthetic of modern sci-fi in favor of a bright, optimistic, and uninhibitedly creative universe. Upon its release, Valerian faced harsh criticism for
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