11 Surprising Facts Left Behind the Scenes of 'The Fifth Element'

"The Fifth Element" is a classic science fiction movie that has enthralled audiences since its release in 1997. Directed by Luc Besson and starring Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, and Gary Oldman, the movie is an action-packed adventure that takes place in a futuristic world.

However, behind the scenes, there are some surprising facts that many people are not aware of. In this article, we will explore 11 such facts that were left behind the scenes of "The Fifth Element."

The movie's inspiration came from a French comic book called "Valérian and Laureline," written by Pierre Christin and illustrated by Jean-Claude Mézières.

The movie's title, "The Fifth Element," refers to the fifth classical element in ancient Greek philosophy, which was believed to be the element that binds the others together.

The role of Korben Dallas was originally offered to Mel Gibson and Bruce Willis was not the first choice for the role.

Milla Jovovich was only 18 years old when she was cast as Leeloo, the perfect being created to save the world.

The iconic white bandage outfit that Leeloo wears in the movie was actually made of medical bandages and took two hours to apply each day.

The movie's villain, Zorg, played by Gary Oldman, was inspired by the classic literary villain Iago from Shakespeare's "Othello."

The design of the Mondoshawans, the alien race that possesses the fifth element, was based on the works of artist H.R. Giger, who also designed the alien in the movie "Alien."

The scene where Leeloo jumps off a building and crashes through the roof of a taxi was performed by Milla Jovovich herself, who insisted on doing the stunt without a double.

The movie's soundtrack was composed by French musician Eric Serra, who also worked with Luc Besson on several other movies.

The movie's special effects were groundbreaking for their time, and many of the sequences were created using practical effects instead of CGI.

The language spoken by the aliens in the movie, the Mondoshawans and Mangalores, was actually a made-up language created by Luc Besson and his team.

In conclusion, "The Fifth Element" is a classic movie that has left a lasting impact on science fiction movies. Behind the scenes, there were many surprising facts that contributed to the movie's success, from the inspiration behind the storyline to the innovative special effects used in the movie. "The Fifth Element" is truly a masterpiece of science fiction and a must-watch for any fan of the genre.