FAQ for
Léon (1994) More at IMDbPro »

The following FAQ entries may contain spoilers. Only the biggest ones, if any, will be covered with spoiler tags. Spoiler tags are used sparingly in order to make the page more readable.

For detailed information about the amounts and types of (a) sex and nudity, (b) violence and gore, (c) profanity, (d) alcohol, drugs, and smoking, and (e) frightening and intense scenes in this movie, consult the IMDb Parents Guide for this movie. The Parents Guide for Léon can be found here.

No. Léon was based on a script by French film-maker Luc Besson, who also directed the movie.

Mathilda's father (Michael Badalucco) was holding 100% pure dope for Stansfield (Gary Oldman) and his men. When Stansfield came back for it, the dope was only 90% pure. Dope is usually 'cut' and mixed with other inactive substances (such as mannitol, a crystallized milk sugar normally used as a baby laxative, salt and flour etc) as it shifts from dealer to dealer, hence why it's so hard to find any that is 100% pure. Stansfield's men determined that because their product was now only 90% pure, Mathilda's father must have stolen some and replaced it with a filler. This is later proven true when one of Stansfield's men finds the original dope hidden in a clock radio in the apartment.

Gary Oldman indicated that the capsules and the effects of the drug were intentionally unknowable, i.e. intentionally different from any specific drug. The idea was to increase his strangeness rather than fit any specific model of drug use.

It's Always Fair Weather (1955), directed by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, and starring Gene Kelly.

Although it is never clarified for certain in the film itself, it's possible that she didn't like it because it was especially feminine and she didn't want to be seen as a girly girl, but rather, a professional. It is also possible that she was tired of being taken for granted (left alone in the apartment like goldfish in a bowl). According to the original draft of the script, however, Mathilda didn't like the dress because Léon was treating her like a toy or mascot, hence her comment: "Did you buy the doll that goes with the dress?"

She was 11 when she first read the script and was offered the role. Portman discusses the impact the script had on her in the featurette "Natalie Portman: Starting Young", which is available on the 2-disc Deluxe DVD and for viewing here.

See here for a detailed overview of all of the weapons seen in the film.

The R1 US Deluxe Edition DVD released by Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment in 2005 contains the following special features:

The Uncut International Version of the film running 133 minutes

A feature length text commentary with background information about the making of the film.

'10 Year Retrospective: Cast and Crew Look Back'; a 25 minute featurette in which cast and crew reminisce about the making of the film.

'Jean Reno: The Road to 'Léon''; a 12 minute featurette looking at the performance of Jean Reno in the film.

'Natalie Portman: Starting Young'; a 14 minute featurette looking at how shocked Natalie Portman was when she read the script and acted in the film at such a young age.

The R2 UK DVD, released by Touchstone Home Entertainment (UK) in 2000, contains no special features other than scene selection, and is also non-anamorphic.