6.6 (7,981)20172h 17m

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

A universe without boundaries needs heroes without limits.

AdventureScience FictionAction

In the 28th century, Valerian and Laureline are special operatives charged with keeping order throughout the human territories. On assignment from the Minister of Defense, the two undertake a mission to Alpha, an ever-expanding metropolis where species from across the universe have converged over centuries to share knowledge, intelligence, and cultures. At the center of Alpha is a mysterious dark force which threatens the peaceful existence of the City of a Thousand Planets, and Valerian and Laureline must race to identify the menace and safeguard not just Alpha, but the future of the universe.

Why watch Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

Luc Besson crafts a visual fever dream that makes every frame feel like concept art come alive—this is The Fifth Element meets Blade Runner 2049, filtered through pure imagination. The 28th-century universe pulses with bioluminescent aliens, impossible architecture, and color palettes that feel stolen from another dimension. Besson trusts his world completely, letting you drown in the sensory overload of Alpha, a metropolis so densely packed with life that you'll spot new details on a second viewing.

The film moves with kinetic, almost dreamlike pacing: one moment you're in a crowded intergalactic marketplace, the next you're witnessing a set piece that defies physics. Cara Delevingne and Dane DeHaan have the chemistry of spy partners who banter like they're in a graphic novel brought to screen, while Rihanna's brief turn as a shapeshifter is so magnetic you'll wish she had more. The action sequences feel designed by someone who simply doesn't accept the laws of conventional filmmaking.

This is for anyone who wants spectacle without apology—who craves the kind of ambitious, sprawling sci-fi that swings for the fences even if it doesn't always connect. You'll be mesmerized by the sheer audacity of its imagination, the kind of film that reminds you why blockbuster cinema can be pure art. The opening sequence alone—a sweeping cosmic history told without dialogue—will have you locked in for the entire ride.

— The What2Watch desk · US

Where to watch

The story

In the 28th century, Valerian and Laureline are special operatives charged with keeping order throughout the human territories. On assignment from the Minister of Defense, the two undertake a mission to Alpha, an ever-expanding metropolis where species from across the universe have converged over centuries to share knowledge, intelligence, and cultures. At the center of Alpha is a mysterious dark force which threatens the peaceful existence of the City of a Thousand Planets, and Valerian and Laureline must race to identify the menace and safeguard not just Alpha, but the future of the universe.

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Reviews & ratings

T
tmdb152146187.0Jul 21, 2017
A spectacular spectacle of a movie that faithfully adapts a French 1970s sci-fi comic book. If you think you might see it some day, you owe it to yourself to catch it in 3D on a big screen now. In a world of paint-by-numbers blockbusters, this is an invigorating slap to the eyeballs. The flick would benefit from more focus and deliberation; often, story beats are glancing blows instead of precision hits. The bigg…Show more
MQ
Movie Queen416.0Jul 22, 2017
It's a fun movie, but it's not what I would call a sci fi classic. It's all spectacle, with eye popping visuals. It creates some really interesting side characters and alien worlds. The drawback is the two leads. They seem rather bland and one dimensional. Their romantic bantering is quite boring. The supporting characters are more colorful and interesting. If you are a fan of Luc Besson's The Fifth Element, you will…Show more
Gimly
Gimly5.0Nov 28, 2017
Well, the scenes start comin' and they don't stop comin'. Aaaand that's basically the whole movie. No, honestly by the end of it I was actually pretty on board. It took me a lot to get to that point though. The ham-fisted romance subplot they kept awkwardly grinding the movie to a standstill for was chief amongst the swill I felt I had to wade through to get to that point of enjoyment. The primary alien race being…Show more
DJ
Dark Jedi10.0Dec 18, 2017
I guess I am going to disagree both with the critics, wich of course is not at all unusual, as well as with a lot of the actual viewers of this movie by saying that I really liked this movie. I guess that I can to some extent understand that some viewers are disappointed. That would be the viewers that have read the comics that the movie is based on. Unfortunately someone in the production team decided to take bits…Show more
Judy
Judy10.0Dec 25, 2017

I like this Movie very much. It reminds a bit about Avatar & John Carter. I can not Understand why it did Not make it to the Australian Cinemas. For this type of High Budget it would be worth watching in 3D Cinemas. I gave it 10/10 **********

T
torysa6.0Nov 24, 2018

A disorrienting but somewhat delightful run through all manner of sci-fi imaginations. The acting was not good, and the storyline was sometimes incoherent, yet I have this strange urge to rewatch this thing. It's harmless, fascinating fun, in ways like the original starwars experience (though much more visually spectacular, and much less narratively coherent).

O
oznightshade7.0Jun 15, 2024
I'm conflicted by this film. The good is really great. I think the settings are some of the best in any sci-fi movie I've watched. Luc Besson's style shines through ala Fifth Element. The visual and special effects combine with the settings to make this just spectacular to watch. The plot and action provide solid support. But the bad is truly awful. The selection of Dane DeHaan in the lead is one of the worst…Show more
V
vylmen6.0Dec 22, 2024
Great world, great action, great miscast Dane de Haan sounds like a teenager trying to sound like a grown-up ordering porn from the video store with dad's credit card. He's not the bratty guy that gets on Cara's nerves and into her heart. That would be Ryan Goslin, Chris Evans or Chris Pratt, but I reckon they had their schedules full. Since much of the movie depends on the banter between Cara and Dane, you can…Show more