Overview
A street girl turned assassin must navigate the treacherous waters of love and loyalty in a deadly game.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- propulsive
- stylish
- paranoid
- action movie night
- 1990s cinema marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the stylish, energetic thriller for Anne Parillaud's demanding performance and its emotionally resonant transformation arc, though some found its psychology and visuals commercially superficial.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Nikita exchanges her prison fate for a secret government program that reconstructs her as an assassin under Bob's control.
Nikita's relationship with Marco conflicts with the government's demand that she remain a controlled killer.
Nikita receives a new identity and lethally sophisticated appearance while carrying out covert killings in highly stylized settings.
The secret government unit trains Nikita to perform deniable assassinations as part of its dirty work.
Films like La Femme Nikita, and why
Point of No Return
female assassin, secret government training, stylish action thriller, and conflicted romantic identity
Léon: The Professional
stylized crime action, emotionally damaged protagonists, professional killers, and Luc Besson-inflected intensity
The Long Kiss Goodnight
female-led espionage thriller combining covert operations, romance, identity transformation, and sleek violence
Movie Details
- Director
- Luc Besson
- Release Date
- 1990-02-21
- Runtime
- 117 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (2228)
Cast
- Anne Parillaud
- Jean-Hugues Anglade
- Tchéky Karyo
- Jean Reno
- Marc Duret
- Jeanne Moreau
- Patrick Fontana
- Roland Blanche
- Jacques Boudet
- Jean Bouise
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is La Femme Nikita about?
- A violent street criminal is transformed into a government hitwoman, then risks her carefully manufactured identity for the possibility of love and freedom.
- What is La Femme Nikita like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of La Femme Nikita as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is La Femme Nikita violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in La Femme Nikita as graphic.
- What did critics think of La Femme Nikita?
- Critics broadly praised the stylish, energetic thriller for Anne Parillaud's demanding performance and its emotionally resonant transformation arc, though some found its psychology and visuals commercially superficial.
- Which films are like La Femme Nikita?
- Films with a similar feel include Point of No Return, Léon: The Professional, and The Long Kiss Goodnight.
- How long is La Femme Nikita?
- La Femme Nikita runs 117 minutes.
- Where can I watch La Femme Nikita?
- In United States, La Femme Nikita is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home.
