Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

Overview

Directed by the visionary French filmmaker Luc Besson, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is a 2017 sci-fi spectacle of staggering ambition. Based on the influential French comic series Valérian and Laureline by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières, the film is a lavish, visually intoxicating journey into a universe brimming with alien life and intergalactic intrigue. With a reported budget of over $180 million, it stands as one of the most expensive European films ever made. The story follows the titular space-and-time-traveling agents, Major Valerian and his partner Sergeant Laureline, as they embark on a mission to the colossal deep-space metropolis known as Alpha, the City of a Thousand Planets. There, they must uncover a dark mystery threatening the fragile peace of the universe. While the film received mixed reviews for its narrative and character dynamics, it is almost universally praised as a monumental achievement in production design and visual effects, creating a sensory overload of imaginative worlds and creatures.

Plot Synopsis (NO SPOILERS)

The film opens with a majestic prologue set to David Bowie's "Space Oddity," depicting the decades-long construction of Alpha, a massive international space station. As Earth makes first contact, species from across the galaxy join the project, transforming it into a floating mosaic of thousands of cultures and technologies—a true city of a thousand planets. Centuries later, this beacon of cooperation is governed by a human administration.

Our protagonists, Major Valerian and Sergeant Laureline, are elite operatives for the human government's special forces. Valerian is a daring but somewhat cocky hero, while Laureline is equally capable, more pragmatic, and often the intellectual and moral compass of the duo. Their relationship is a complex blend of professional partnership, deep friendship, and unspoken romantic tension. They are given a critical assignment: to retrieve a rare and powerful creature, a Mül converter, from a dangerous interdimensional market. This mission, however, is merely the first piece of a much larger puzzle.

Their primary objective soon leads them to Alpha, which has been struck by a mysterious, expanding radioactive zone at its core. The station's commander, Arün Filitt, tasks Valerian and Laureline with investigating the anomaly. As they delve into the labyrinthine depths of the city, they discover that the crisis is far more complex than it appears. Their journey takes them through wildly diverse environments within Alpha, from opulent districts to seedy underworlds, forcing them to rely on their wits, combat skills, and trust in each other. They encounter a colorful array of allies and adversaries, including the enigmatic shapeshifting entertainer Bubble, a trio of fast-talking, information-trading duck-like aliens, and a tribe of peaceful, pearl-harvesting humanoids whose idyllic world was shown in the film's opening. Unraveling the truth becomes a race against time to prevent a catastrophe that could destroy Alpha and shatter galactic peace.

Cast and Characters

The film is led by Dane DeHaan as Major Valerian. DeHaan portrays the character with a roguish, youthful arrogance that sometimes clashes with the classic heroic archetype. Cara Delevingne plays Sergeant Laureline, bringing a determined, sharp, and resourceful energy that often steals the spotlight. The chemistry between the two leads was a focal point of critical discussion.

The supporting cast features several notable actors. Clive Owen brings gravitas to the role of Commander Arün Filitt, the military leader of Alpha who is determined to contain the crisis. Ethan Hawke has a memorable, flamboyant cameo as Jolly the Pimp, a cowboy-hat-wearing proprietor in Alpha's red-light district. Singer Rihanna delivers a poignant motion-capture performance as Bubble, a shapeshifting Glamopod who forms a brief but meaningful connection with the protagonists. Sam Spruell plays General Okto-Bar, a by-the-book officer, while French comedian Alain Chabat provides the voice for Bob the Pirate, leader of the K-Tron warriors. In a surprising cameo, jazz legend Herbie Hancock appears as the Minister of Defense, adding to the film's eclectic ensemble.

Director and Style

Luc Besson, the director behind iconic films like Léon: The Professional and The Fifth Element, is in his absolute element here. Valerian is the culmination of a lifelong passion project; he reportedly sought the rights to the comic series since he was a teenager. The film's style is pure, unadulterated Bessonian spectacle: a riot of color, inventive alien designs, and breakneck pacing. The visual language is the film's undisputed star. From the breathtaking opening sequence to the mind-bending Big Market bazaar (where multiple dimensions occupy the same physical space) to the dizzying array of biomes and species within Alpha, every frame is densely packed with detail.

The film's aesthetic is a direct homage to the original comics, which themselves inspired much of the look of The Fifth Element and other major sci-fi works. Besson employs extensive CGI not to create a gritty, realistic universe, but to build a vibrant, pulpy, and sometimes surreal comic-book come to life. The action sequences are dynamic and imaginative, particularly a chase that moves through walls between different dimensions. While the narrative pacing can feel uneven, the directorial commitment to visual wonder is relentless and often breathtaking.

Themes and Impact

Beneath its dazzling surface, Valerian explores several core themes. The most prominent is the idea of coexistence and cultural memory. Alpha itself is a physical manifestation of this theme—a place where thousands of species live, share knowledge, and build a collective future. The central mystery of the plot is deeply tied to the consequences of imperialism, cultural destruction, and the importance of preserving history and ecology. The film poses questions about what is sacrificed in the name of progress and who gets to write the official history of a conflict.

Another key theme is partnership and respect. The dynamic between Valerian and Laureline is constantly tested. The film consciously positions Laureline as not just a sidekick but as an equal, and often superior, agent. Her intelligence and moral clarity are vital to the mission's success, challenging the traditional "hero saves damsel" trope. The film's impact is largely visual and industrial. It stands as a testament to what European studio filmmaking can achieve on a technical level, pushing the boundaries of digital world-building. While it was not a major commercial success, it has gained appreciation as a cult visual masterpiece and a love letter to a foundational genre comic series.

Why Watch

Watch Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets for a truly unique cinematic experience. If you are a fan of imaginative, world-building science fiction where the environment is as much a character as the protagonists, this film is an essential watch. It is a feast for the eyes, offering some of the most creative and densely realized alien landscapes ever committed to screen. Viewers who enjoyed the colorful, eccentric universe of The Fifth Element will find a similar, albeit more expansive, sensibility here.

Approach it not for a tightly woven plot or deep character study, but for the sheer joy of spectacle and invention. See it to witness a director's uncompromising, passionate vision, where every credit of the massive budget is visible in the astounding art direction and creature design. It is a film best enjoyed on the largest screen possible, with your critical mind relaxed, allowing yourself to be transported into its wonderfully weird and wonderfully detailed universe. It is a flawed but magnificent monument to sci-fi imagination.