La Femme Nikita

Name: La Femme Nikita
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller, Romance, Crime
Released: March 8, 1991
Duration: 118 min
Rating: 65
Cast: Anne Parillaud

1991

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 55 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 55 Ratings

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La Femme Nikita

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Movie Details & Credits

Samuel Goldwyn Company, The | Release Date: March 8, 1991 | R

Starring: Anne Parillaud

Summary: When a secret governmant agency re-programs a criminal named Nikita (Parillaud), she is released to the outside world as their agent. As her missions become more and more demanding, she is torn between her alliance to the agency and her desire to lead, for once, a normal life. [20th Century Fox]

Director: Luc Besson

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Thriller, Romance, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 118 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Jonathan Rosenbaum

The talentless but irrepressibly trendy Luc Besson ("Subway," "The Big Blue") dreamed up this idiotic story that seems vaguely inspired by Kubrick's (not Anthony Burgess's) "A Clockwork Orange." Read full review

Roger Ebert

Surprisingly touching. Read full review

Lawrence O'Toole

It's like "The Terminator" as reimagined by the editors of French Vogue. Read full review

Rick Groen

Always stylish and occasionally thrilling and never thoughtful. Read full review

Michael Wilmington

Like the movies its modeled after, it's shallow, frequently silly. But there's something about the mix--maybe something about Parillaud as the screechy, dangerous Nikita--that may make the movie a powerful engine of wish-fulfillment. [12 Apr 1991, Calendar, p.F-10]

Mike Clark

Disappointing. [6 Mar 1991, Life, p.9D]

Staff (Not Credited)

[Parillaud] remains a totally uninteresting figment of Besson's blinkered movieland imagination, especially when she's in the company of Karyo and Anglade, who provide balance to her overacting. Read full review

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User Reviews

Debaser7

Oct 8, 2016

Beautifully shot and acted, great score by Eric Serra, Nikita is a film that defines cool. I've watched Leon, the Fifth Element, and Nikita in just a week, and all are on my favorite movie list.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Roeyl

May 13, 2011

A great movie. You may or may not like it, but I did.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

talisencrw

Jan 18, 2016

Upon cinematic release, being fascinated with Bridget Fonda, I watched 'Point of No Return', which I enjoyed but had no idea it was based on Besson's film. Badham's work was okay in my books, but nothing spectacular. Over the years I had loved those films of his I had seen ('Leon: TheUpon cinematic release, being fascinated with Bridget Fonda, I watched 'Point of No Return', which I enjoyed but had no idea it was based on Besson's film. Badham's work was okay in my books, but nothing spectacular. Over the years I had loved those films of his I had seen ('Leon: The Professional', 'The Fifth Element', 'The Family' and 'Lucy'), and decided I wanted to see his earlier classic. I like the fact that Besson always has some hand in the writing, and the exquisite and graceful small part he wrote for acting legend Jeanne Moreau, virtually a microcosm of everything splendid she had ever brought to the screen. Besson has a very good feel for the genres his films represent--he plays to his strengths, and is not afraid to stick to his guns (for example, I'm glad he chose the ending that he did). The two significant extras on my DVD, remarking on the making of the film, and the sound selections by scorer Eric Serra, were both informative and entertaining, and added significant value. I highly recommend the experience to those who only think of 'The Fifth Element' when they think of Luc's work--you're in for a real treat...… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Came

May 27, 2019

La Femme Nikita has good action scenes but most of the film is a drama thriller which works totally fine since the director Luc Besson does a great job at displaying that.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Paul_Yoon

Sep 19, 2010

It's massive flaws that Nikita character seems like an "A Clockwork Orange" character through this movie. However, I would praise Nikita for pychologically dilema between her responsibility for kill and her love.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

oDjento

May 13, 2015

A short review:
The story of Nikita is fairly simplistic to follow. The only thing is it doesn't delve fully into what it could've been. Instead it tinkers with the emotional strings due to her relationship she forms contrasting with her "work". Performances by lead actress are alrightA short review:
The story of Nikita is fairly simplistic to follow. The only thing is it doesn't delve fully into what it could've been. Instead it tinkers with the emotional strings due to her relationship she forms contrasting with her "work". Performances by lead actress are alright overall, she's absolutely dislikable at the start but at the end you (kind of) grow to sympathise with her but due to her childish actions and mannerisms at times she can more be an annoyance. Her boss plays his part pretty well but Jean Reno steals the screen for the few minutes he occupies it for. However, direction wise of this film was average overall, some shots being quite nicely directed but other shots being totally unnecessary. An interesting idea that doesn't fully deliver. 6/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

tethysdust

Mar 12, 2017

This one was not exactly what I expected--it is not really a James Bond-style story. Nikita was really something else. It also feels very firmly set in its time of history, in terms of style and music. It was entertaining, though.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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