Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets - E... May 2026

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) is a visually ambitious space opera directed by Luc Besson, based on the influential French comic series Valérian and Laureline Plot Overview In the 28th century, special operatives Major Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Sergeant Laureline

(Cara Delevingne) maintain order throughout human territories. Their latest mission takes them to

, an ever-expanding intergalactic metropolis where thousands of species converge to share knowledge and culture.

The duo must identify a mysterious dark force at the center of Alpha that threatens the city's peaceful existence and the future of the universe. This journey uncovers a deep-seated conspiracy involving the destruction of the peaceful planet and its inhabitants, the Key Characters & Cast

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets [SPOILERS] : r/movies

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets: A Maximalist Sci-Fi Odyssey

When Luc Besson released Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets in 2017, it wasn't just another summer blockbuster; it was the culmination of a lifelong dream. Based on the influential French comic series Valérian and Laureline by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières—the same source material that inspired Star Wars—the film is a breathtaking, messy, and utterly unique piece of cinema. The Visual Spectacle of Alpha

The heart of the film is "Alpha," the titular City of a Thousand Planets. The opening sequence, set to David Bowie’s "Space Oddity," elegantly charts the history of the International Space Station as it grows over centuries, welcoming alien species until it becomes too massive for Earth's orbit and is pushed into deep space.

Visually, the film is a triumph. From the "Big Market"—a multi-dimensional bazaar that requires special goggles to see—to the bioluminescent paradise of the Mül planet, Besson pushes digital effects to their absolute limit. Every frame is packed with imaginative creature designs and vibrant color palettes that stand in stark contrast to the gritty, "lived-in" aesthetic popularized by other sci-fi franchises. The Protagonists: Valerian and Laureline

The film follows Major Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Sergeant Laureline (Cara Delevingne), two United City of Earth government agents tasked with maintaining order throughout the universe.

While the chemistry between the leads was a point of contention for critics, their dynamic captures the "bickering professional" energy of the original comics. Valerian is the arrogant, rule-following ace pilot, while Laureline is the grounded, highly capable heart of the operation. Their mission to retrieve a "converter"—the last of its kind from a destroyed civilization—unravels a massive intergalactic conspiracy. Why It Became a Cult Classic

Despite its staggering $200 million budget, the film struggled at the domestic box office. However, in the years since its release, it has found a dedicated following. Fans point to several standout elements:

The Rihanna Cameo: Her performance as Bubble, a shape-shifting "glamopod," features a dazzling dance sequence that remains one of the most creative uses of VFX in modern film.

World-Building: Unlike cinematic universes that feel manufactured for sequels, Valerian feels like a snapshot of a vast, existing world.

Pure Imagination: It eschews the safe, formulaic structures of many superhero movies in favor of weird, whimsical, and often risky storytelling choices. A Legacy of Ambition

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is a reminder of what happens when a director is given total creative freedom. It is a sensory-overload experience that prioritizes wonder over tight plotting. For those tired of the "dark and gritty" sci-fi trope, Alpha offers a neon-soaked alternative that celebrates the diversity of the cosmos.

Whether you're a fan of the original 1960s comics or a newcomer to the world of space operas, Valerian is a journey worth taking—if only to see the universe through Luc Besson’s kaleidoscopic lens.

Released in 2017 and directed by Luc Besson, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

is a divisive space opera that represents a significant "deep paper" case study in modern cinema for its extreme contrast between technical ambition and narrative execution. Core Thesis of Critical Analysis

Critics often describe the film as a visual masterpiece shackled by a weak script. The "deep paper" perspective on this film typically explores the following themes: Deep Focus: Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

Legacy: The Last Great Original (Adapted) Spectacle

In an era dominated by superhero formulas and legacy sequels, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets stands out as a flawed but fearless work of passion. It is a film that shouldn’t exist: a $180 million European art film disguised as a space opera. Besson bet everything on the idea that beauty and imagination could overcome narrative deficiencies.

He was half-right. The narrative is a mess, the romance is flat, and the pacing sags in the middle. But the world—Alpha, the Big Market, the Pearls, the converter—is as rich and immersive as anything in modern cinema.

For every viewer who watches it for the first time, the reaction is usually the same: confusion followed by awe. You don’t watch Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets for the characters; you watch it to live inside a Mézières painting. And in that regard, it is an unqualified masterpiece.

2. Plot Synopsis

The story follows two spatio-temporal agents, Valerian and Laureline, who are tasked with maintaining order throughout the universe. They are sent on a mission to the intergalactic city of Alpha, a massive space station known as the "City of a Thousand Planets."

Key Story Beats:

3. The "Empire" Connection

Many search for "E" looking for the film’s connection to Star Wars (The Empire). While there is no direct link, the film serves as a meta-commentary on imperialism. The human Federation is the "Empire" here—well-intentioned but covering up the genocide of the Pearls to protect their reputation.

Plot Summary: A Rescue Across Dimensions

The story follows Major Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Sergeant Laureline (Cara Delevingne), agents of the United Human Federation. They are tasked with maintaining order throughout the universe. The film opens with a stunning, wordless montage showing the International Space Station gradually welcoming alien species, expanding over generations into the metropolis of Alpha.

The main plot kicks off when Valerian has a vision of a lost paradise planet, Mul, destroyed by a mysterious weapon. He discovers that a surviving race of peaceful humanoids, the Pearls, are hiding in the lower depths of Alpha, being hunted by a ruthless Commander (Clive Owen) who is covering up a past atrocity.

What follows is a chain of heists, chases, and dimension-hopping adventures, including a trip to the interdimensional market of "Big Market," a sequence that has already been hailed as one of the most inventive chase scenes in sci-fi history.

Title: The Silent Poetry of the "E" – How Valerian’s Opening Saved the Best for First

In the landscape of modern science fiction cinema, few films arrive with as much visual ambition and narrative stumble as Luc Besson’s Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. Yet, before the wooden dialogue and the miscast chemistry of its leads take center stage, the film offers a masterpiece of silent storytelling: the opening montage, set to David Bowie’s "Space Oddity." Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets - E...

This sequence—sometimes referred to by fans as the "E" for "Evolution" or "Exploration"—is a dazzling, nearly wordless ten minutes that accomplishes what the rest of the film struggles to achieve: it makes you fall in love with an idea.

The Handshake in the Void The sequence begins in 1975, with an American astronaut and a Soviet cosmonaut meeting aboard a primitive space station. The Cold War is still tangible, yet the act of docking their capsules is a gesture of fragile hope. When an alien species—resembling luminous, ethereal seals—arrives and offers a glowing pearl of energy, the humans hesitate, then accept. This handshake is the seed from which the City of a Thousand Planets (Alpha) will grow.

Time-Lapse of Utopia What follows is a breathtaking time-lapse of architectural and cultural accumulation. We watch as modules from every nation, then every species, latch onto the original station. Besson uses no exposition; we simply see the station bulge, morph, and bloom like a coral reef in zero gravity. By 2040, it’s a sprawling metropolis. By 2150, it houses reptilian warriors, aquatic farmers, and cybernetic merchants. The sequence visually answers the question: How do you build a city for a thousand species? You let them arrive, one by one, and give them a dock.

Bowie’s Elegy David Bowie’s haunting, melancholic track is not an arbitrary choice. "Space Oddity" is a song about isolation ("Can you hear me, Major Tom?"), yet Besson repurposes it as an anthem of connection. As the station grows, Major Tom’s lonely fate contrasts with Alpha’s crowded harmony. It suggests that the tragedy of our early space age was isolation, and the triumph of the future is symbiosis.

The Tragedy of What Follows The brilliance of the "E" sequence is also its curse. It sets an emotional and conceptual bar that the actual plot—a generic rescue mission involving stolen converters and a rogue commander—cannot reach. The opening promises a documentary of a living ecosystem; the film delivers a buddy-cop actioner.

In the end, the opening of Valerian remains one of the most hopeful and beautifully executed montages in 21st-century sci-fi. It reminds us that Besson is a master of world-building, even when he forgets how to populate that world with characters we care about. The "E" stands for Evolution, but also for Elegy—a mourning for the great film that could have been, hiding inside the mediocre one we received.

If you meant a different section (e.g., the "E" as in the movie's subtitle on a specific streaming platform, or the planet "E" from the comics), please clarify and I can adjust the text.

Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets - Electronic Soundtrack Inspired Piece

Title: "Galactic Odyssey"

Genre: Electronic/Synthwave

Inspirations: The film's visual and narrative elements, particularly the City of a Thousand Planets, inspired this piece. The soundtrack aims to capture the essence of the movie's blend of science fiction, adventure, and romance.

Description: This instrumental electronic piece is designed to evoke the sense of wonder and exploration found in Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets. The track features a mix of pulsing synths, driving beats, and soaring melodies, creating a sense of tension and release.

Composition: The piece is divided into three main sections, each representing a different aspect of the film:

Instruments:

Sound Design: To create a more immersive experience, a range of sound design elements were incorporated, including:

DAW: Ableton Live

Software Synthesizers:

Effects Processing:

The Piece:

[Intro] (G - G7 - C - C7)

[Build-up] (Em - B7 - C - G)

[City of a Thousand Planets] (D - D7 - G - G7)

[Climax] (A - A7 - D - D7)

[Outro] (G - G7 - C - C7)

Listen:

Imagine a soundtrack that transports you to a galaxy far, far away... A blend of electronic and synthwave elements, with a dash of science fiction and adventure. "Galactic Odyssey" is a piece that will take you on a journey through the City of a Thousand Planets, with its pulsing synths, driving beats, and soaring melodies.

Code:

For those interested in recreating this piece, here's a rough Ableton Live set:

This piece is just a starting point, and I encourage you to experiment and make it your own! Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

Luc Besson’s Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) is a polarizing feast for the eyes—a $180 million personal gamble

that stands as the most expensive European and independent film ever made. While it struggled to find a massive audience, its sheer ambition has secured its place as a cult sci-fi artifact. The Grand Vision

The film is a lifelong passion project for Besson, who grew up reading the Valérian and Laureline comics by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières. The Setting : Most of the action takes place on , a sprawling space station where thousands of species

from across the universe have converged to share knowledge and culture over centuries. The Mission

: Special operatives Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) are tasked with retrieving a "Mül converter"—the last of its kind—and uncovering a dark conspiracy threatening the heart of Alpha. A Visual Triumph : The film features over 2,700 VFX shots

handled by industry titans like Weta Digital and ILM. Its opening sequence, set to David Bowie’s "Space Oddity," is widely cited by as one of the best world-building intros in sci-fi history. Why It’s "Interesting" (and Controversial) Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) - IMDb

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets stands as one of the most visually ambitious science fiction epics of the 21st century. Directed by Luc Besson, the visionary behind The Fifth Element, this film was a labor of love decades in the making. Based on the influential French comic series Valerian and Laureline, the movie takes audiences to Alpha, an ever-expanding space station where thousands of species from across the universe live together in a delicate balance of peace and shared knowledge.

The story follows Valerian and Laureline, two special government operatives charged with maintaining order throughout the human territories. Their latest mission leads them to the heart of Alpha, where a mysterious dark force threatens the very existence of the City of a Thousand Planets. As they dive deeper into the mystery, they uncover a forgotten history and a race of beings whose survival depends on the duo’s ability to see past their orders and do what is right.

What sets this film apart is its breathtaking world-building. From the bustling multi-dimensional markets of Big Market to the underwater realms of Alpha, every frame is packed with intricate detail and alien biodiversity. The visual effects, handled by industry giants like Weta Digital and ILM, pushed the boundaries of what was possible in 2017. The opening sequence, set to David Bowie’s Space Oddity, is often cited as a masterpiece of visual storytelling, tracing the history of Alpha from a contemporary space station to a galactic hub.

Despite its visual brilliance, the film received mixed reactions regarding its casting and chemistry. Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne brought a youthful, modern energy to the lead roles, though some fans of the original comics felt the dynamic differed from the source material. However, the supporting cast, including a memorable performance by Rihanna as the shapeshifting Bubble and Ethan Hawke as the eccentric Jolly the Pimp, added layers of camp and charisma to the sprawling narrative.

Critically, Valerian is a polarizing experience. It favors wonder and imagination over the traditional grit of modern sci-fi. It doesn't try to be a dark military thriller; instead, it embraces the vibrant, psychedelic spirit of European comic art. For viewers who miss the era of grand, colorful space operas, Valerian offers a refreshing escape. It is a film that rewards high-definition viewing, as the sheer density of the "thousand planets" represented on screen is impossible to catch in a single sitting.

Ultimately, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is a testament to independent filmmaking on a massive scale. As the most expensive European and non-American independent film ever made, it represents a bold risk that prioritized artistic vision over safe, formulaic storytelling. Whether you watch it for the groundbreaking CGI, the imaginative creature designs, or the sheer scale of the adventure, it remains a landmark achievement in the science fiction genre.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is a 2017 space opera written and directed by Luc Besson, based on the French comic series Valérian and Laureline. The film is celebrated for its stunning visual spectacle and ambitious world-building but received mixed reviews regarding its script and chemistry between the leads. Core Premise & Plot

Set in the 28th century, the story follows Major Valerian and Sergeant Laureline, two special operatives who maintain order in human territories.

The Setting: Much of the action takes place on Alpha, a massive, ever-expanding space station where thousands of species from across the universe live together and share knowledge.

The Mission: The duo is tasked with retrieving a rare creature called a "Mül converter"—a small animal capable of replicating powerful pearls.

The Mystery: During their mission, they uncover a dark secret involving the destruction of the planet Mül and a government cover-up led by Commander Arun Filitt. Valerian must eventually choose between following orders and doing what is morally right for a displaced alien race. Cast & Key Characters

The film features an international cast with several high-profile cameos:

This paper explores the visual storytelling, world-building, and cultural reception of Luc Besson’s 2017 space opera, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.

The Architecture of Imagination: Analyzing Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

IntroductionLuc Besson’s Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) represents one of the most ambitious undertakings in independent cinema history. Adapted from the influential French comic series Valérian et Laureline by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières, the film attempts to translate a sprawling, decades-old universe into a singular cinematic experience. While the film faced significant hurdles in North American markets, its contribution to the science fiction genre lies in its uncompromising visual maximalism and its departure from the tonal "grittiness" that dominated 21st-century blockbuster sci-fi.

Visual Maximalism and World-BuildingThe core achievement of Valerian is the titular "City of a Thousand Planets," known as Alpha. The film’s opening sequence—a montage set to David Bowie’s "Space Oddity"—functions as a historical primer on the evolution of Alpha from a human space station to a multi-species megacity. This sequence establishes the film’s central theme: the necessity of multicultural cooperation and the physical manifestation of diplomacy.

Unlike contemporary franchises such as Star Wars or the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which often utilize standardized color palettes and familiar landscapes, Valerian embraces a "Baroque" aesthetic. From the bioluminescent landscapes of the planet Mül to the "Big Market" (a multidimensional bazaar existing across overlapping planes of reality), Besson prioritizes sensory overload. This approach forces the viewer into the position of a true alien, emphasizing the sheer scale and incomprehensibility of the cosmos.

The Protagonist ParadoxA significant point of critical contention involves the casting and characterization of Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne). In the source material, the duo operates with a level of professional parity and romantic tension that defined the "space-agent" archetype. In the film, however, the chemistry is often described as discordant.

Valerian is presented as a cocky, somewhat traditional hero, yet his performance is intentionally subversive; he lacks the physical imposingness of a typical action star. This choice highlights a recurring Besson theme: the "hero" is often less important than the environment they inhabit. Laureline, conversely, serves as the emotional and moral anchor, reflecting the comic’s progressive roots in portraying female characters with high agency and intellectual superiority.

Environmentalism and Colonial CritiqueBeneath the neon surface, the film’s narrative is a sharp critique of colonialism and military industrialism. The plight of the Pearls—an indigenous species whose planet was destroyed as collateral damage in a human war—mirrors real-world histories of displaced populations. The film’s refusal to paint the human military (represented by Clive Owen’s Commander Filitt) as a purely benevolent force complicates the traditional "space police" trope. Instead, Valerian argues that the preservation of a peaceful status quo often hides systemic injustices against "lesser" civilizations.

Cultural Reception and LegacyDespite its technical brilliance, the film struggled with "brand recognition" outside of Europe. For many international audiences, the visual language of Valerian felt derivative of films like The Fifth Element or Avatar, despite the fact that the original Valérian comics served as the primary inspiration for those very works.

ConclusionValerian and the City of a Thousand Planets remains a polarizing masterpiece of visual design. It is a film that values the "wonder" of the unknown over the mechanics of a tight plot. By prioritizing the ecological and sociological complexity of its universe, Besson created a vibrant alternative to the monochrome aesthetics of modern sci-fi, ensuring the film's status as a cult classic for years to come.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is a 2017 space opera epic directed by Luc Besson, based on the groundbreaking French comic series Valérian and Laureline. Visually stunning and wildly imaginative, the film is a vibrant explosion of color and creativity that pushes the boundaries of modern CGI. The World of Alpha Legacy: The Last Great Original (Adapted) Spectacle In

The heart of the story is Alpha, the "City of a Thousand Planets." What began as the International Space Station in the 21st century grew over centuries as hundreds of alien species docked their own modules, sharing knowledge, technology, and culture. It is a sprawling, peaceful metropolis where millions of beings from across the universe coexist—ranging from gas-breathing giants to microscopic digital entities.

The plot follows Major Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Sergeant Laureline (Cara Delevingne), two special government operatives tasked with maintaining order throughout the human territories. Their mission takes them to the center of Alpha to investigate a "forbidden zone" of radioactive energy that is slowly consuming the city. Along the way, they uncover a dark conspiracy involving the genocide of a peaceful race and a cover-up by high-ranking military officials. A Visual Masterpiece

While the film received mixed reviews for its casting and dialogue, it is universally praised for its world-building. From the "Big Market"—a multi-dimensional bazaar that exists in a different frequency—to the bioluminescent beauty of the planet Mül, every frame is packed with intricate detail. Besson’s vision offers a refreshing alternative to the "lived-in," gritty look of Star Wars, opting instead for a lush, psychedelic aesthetic.

Though it didn't ignite a massive franchise in the U.S., Valerian remains a cult favorite for sci-fi enthusiasts. It serves as a testament to European sci-fi's unique voice—prioritizing wonder, strange biology, and high-concept philosophy over traditional Hollywood tropes.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is a 2017 space opera film written and directed by Luc Besson. Based on the influential French comic series Valérian and Laureline, the film is recognized as the most expensive independent and European film ever produced, with a budget of approximately $180–210 million. Plot & Setting

Set in the 28th century, the story follows special government operatives Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) as they maintain order throughout human territories. Their primary mission takes them to Alpha, the "City of a Thousand Planets"—a gargantuan, ever-expanding space station where thousands of species from across the universe share knowledge and culture.

The duo must investigate a mysterious "dark force" or "radioactive zone" at the center of Alpha that threatens the station’s peaceful existence. As they delve deeper, they uncover a massive cover-up involving a forgotten genocide of the peaceful Pearl inhabitants of the planet Mül. Production & Vision

Director Luc Besson, a lifelong fan of the source material, spent decades waiting for technology to catch up to his vision, citing James Cameron's Avatar as proof that such a complex world could be realized.

Title: The Magnificent Failure: Why Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets Deserves a Second Look

Introduction: A Universe Built on Joy

In the summer of 2017, Luc Besson delivered Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, a film that arguably stands as the most expensive independent movie ever made. Funded by European equity and fueled by a lifetime of adoration for the French comic series Valérian and Laureline, Besson crafted a visual spectacle that was audacious in its scope and colorful in its execution. Yet, upon release, the film became a cautionary tale of blockbuster economics. It flopped at the American box office, Critics carped about the casting, and the narrative was dismissed as derivative.

However, time has a way of smoothing the edges of box office failures. Years later, removed from the hype cycle and the financial context, Valerian emerges not as a catastrophe, but as a fascinating artifact of pure, unadulterated imagination. It is a "magnificent failure"—a film that reaches for the stars, grasps them firmly in its visual design, but stumbles in the chemistry of its human elements.

The Visual Masterpiece: World-Building as Art

If Valerian succeeds at nothing else, it succeeds as a feat of world-building. In an era dominated by the desaturated palettes of the DC Extended Universe or the cookie-cutter aesthetics of greenscreen backlots, Besson turned Alpha (the city of the title) into a riot of color and creativity.

The opening montage alone—a wordless sequence set to David Bowie’s "Space Oddity," depicting the construction of a space station and the gradual handshake of humanity with alien species—is a masterclass in visual storytelling. It establishes a tone of utopian optimism that is refreshingly absent from modern dystopias.

The film’s pièce de résistance is the "Big Market" sequence. Here, Besson visualizes a concept that could only exist in cinema: a dimensional marketplace where tourists in a barren desert wear virtual reality headsets to shop in a bustling, futuristic bazaar existing in another dimension. The interplay between the tactile desert reality and the digital overlay creates a heist sequence that is innovative, confusing, and utterly exhilarating. It represents the peak of the film’s ambition: using CGI not just to blow things up, but to bend the rules of physics and perception.

The Mül Converters and the Weight of History

The film’s emotional core rests on the shoulders of the Mül, a pearlescent alien species whose destruction drives the plot. The prologue depicting their demise is visually stunning and unexpectedly heartbreaking, lending the film a moral weight that contrasts sharply with the breezy, quipping leads.

This backstory ties into the film’s deeper meta-narrative. Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières’ original comic, upon which the film is based, began in 1967. It is widely acknowledged that Star Wars borrowed heavily from the aesthetic of Valérian and Laureline. When Valerian the movie was released, critics called it a Star Wars rip-off, ignoring the irony that the progenitor was being accused of imitating the imitator. The film’s design—specifically the design of the Pearls and the spaceship—is a reclaiming of a sci-fi visual language that originated in French bande dessinée.

The Casting Conundrum: Where the Cracks Show

The elephant in the room, and the primary reason the film failed to connect with a broad audience, is the central pairing. Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne are talented performers, but they were miscast in roles that required the swashbuckling charm of a Han Solo or the wry competence of a Princess Leia.

DeHaan’s Valerian is pitched as a roguish lothario, but his performance feels overly youthful and intense, lacking the easy swagger the script demands. Delevingne’s Laureline is arguably the more compelling character—smarter, sharper, and more capable—but the chemistry between the two feels fraternal rather than romantic. Their bickering, meant to evoke classic screwball comedies, often comes across as petulant.

This disconnect creates a vacuum in the center of the film. The audience is asked to care deeply about their romance, yet the most magnetic presence in the movie is not the leads, but Rihanna, playing a shapeshifting entertainer named Bubble. Her performance, tragic and visually kinetic, highlights what the main duo lacked: genuine pathos.

A Legacy of Ambition

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is a flawed gem. It is a film that prioritizes the quantity of its planets over the depth of its protagonists. The plot meanders, the dialogue clunks, and the tone shifts jarringly between childish farce (the alien duck creatures) and colonialist allegory.

Yet, it is precisely these idiosyncrasies that make it worth a deep write-up. In a cinematic landscape dominated by franchises owned by corporations and steered by focus groups, Valerian is a singular vision. It is the work of a director spending a fortune to paint his dream on the biggest canvas possible. It is messy, excessive, and beautiful.

To watch Valerian is to witness a filmmaker who loves the medium of science fiction with a childlike intensity. It is a reminder that cinema should be about showing us things we have never seen before. For all its narrative shortcomings, Valerian shows us a thousand things we have never seen, and for that, it deserves to be remembered not as a flop, but as a beautiful, expensive, and utterly unique mistake.

1. Introduction to the Universe

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is a 2017 space opera film directed by Luc Besson, based on the French comic series Valérian and Laureline. It is renowned for its visual spectacle and holds the record for the most expensive European and independent film ever made.