Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
A flamboyant far-future space adventure follows two peacekeeping agents through alien worlds, military intrigue, and a buried interspecies injustice.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- kinetic
- whimsical
- colorful
- big screen spectacle
- science fiction marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly agreed that the film delivers dazzling visual invention and kinetic energy but is undermined by a thin plot, awkward dialogue, and uneven performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Alpha functions as a city-sized station populated by beings from different planets and cultures.
The film fills Alpha and its surrounding worlds with kinetic imagery, varied alien life, and elaborate production design.
Valerian and Laureline uncover a hidden secret connected to the humanoid race and the infected forbidden area.
The human peacekeeping force confronts the consequences of a past operation while pursuing the abducted commander.
Films like Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, and why
The Fifth Element
shares Luc Besson's kinetic science fiction adventure style, colorful alien civilizations, and maximalist world-building
Guardians of the Galaxy
shares comic-book space opera, interspecies politics, large-scale visual spectacle, and adventurous pacing
Jupiter Ascending
shares far-future space travel, elaborate alien societies, and visually ambitious science fiction action
John Carter
shares a pulpy science fiction adventure structure, dense futuristic setting, and emphasis on production design
Movie Details
- Director
- Luc Besson
- Release Date
- 2017-07-19
- Runtime
- 137 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (8238)
Cast
- Dane DeHaan
- Cara Delevingne
- Clive Owen
- Rihanna
- Ethan Hawke
- Herbie Hancock
- Kris Wu
- Rutger Hauer
- John Goodman
- Elizabeth Debicki
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Hulu, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets about?
- A flamboyant far-future space adventure follows two peacekeeping agents through alien worlds, military intrigue, and a buried interspecies injustice.
- What is Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets as mild.
- What did critics think of Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets?
- Critics broadly agreed that the film delivers dazzling visual invention and kinetic energy but is undermined by a thin plot, awkward dialogue, and uneven performances.
- Which films are like Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets?
- Films with a similar feel include The Fifth Element, Guardians of the Galaxy, Jupiter Ascending, and John Carter.
- How long is Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets?
- Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets runs 137 minutes.
- Where can I watch Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets?
- In United States, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets streams on Hulu, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV channel.
