The ’90s Sci-Fi Hit That Defined a Generation Returns to Theaters

6 days ago 13

THE FIFTH ELEMENT, Tricky (center), 1997, ©Columbia Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection

Published Feb 21, 2026, 12:00 PM EST

Makuochi Echebiri is a News Writer for Collider. He has been interested in creative writing from as far back as high school, and he would consume pretty much anything that’s film or TV. However, his truest love lies in the presence of historical epics and thrillers.

Lured by the brilliance of Middle Earth from an early age both in print and on screen, his palate has since expanded to other realms including Westeros, Kattegat among others. He also possesses a great appetite for the stories that emanate from the vastness of space. Even though he is no Avenger.

Obsessed with storytelling and having works of his own that have yet to make it to print, he is content to use that ability to communicate to as many as are reachable. In his spare time, he looks out for avenues where he can aid people aside from his plans to reign over this earthly realm. Yes…you heard that first here.

The sci-fi genre has had its fair share of change and evolution. In the mid-1990s, before Star Wars returned to total dominance, Hollywood, the sci-fi genre, and its fans were caught in a bit of a funk. Star Wars dominated the late ’70s and ’80s, and since George Lucas hadn’t yet returned with the prequel trilogy, there was a gap for another hit sci-fi movie to occupy the space left behind.

Enter: Bruce Willis' The Fifth Element, which can be aptly categorized among the most controversial sci-fi movies ever made. The film was, and still is, rightly praised for being way ahead of its time with its bold theme, and is somewhat of a genre-mashing spectacle. The Luc Besson-directed film has gone on to become a cult classic nearly three decades after its release. Its appeal is reflected in its critics and audience scores of 71% and 87%, respectively, on the aggregator website, Rotten Tomatoes. The critics' consensus on the features reads, "visually inventive and gleefully over the top, Luc Besson's The Fifth Element is a fantastic piece of pop sci-fi that never takes itself too seriously," and that might be why the film still holds a strong appeal.

The Fifth Element is currently available on a free streaming service, but there is even more exciting news for fans of the classic. More than 29 years after it first crash-landed in theaters, The Fifth Element is officially set to return to theaters once more on July 26 and 27. Its 2026 re-release will mark the fourth time The Fifth Element comes to the big screen. According to the report, the sci-fi film won't be the only hit movie re-released in theaters at various points throughout 2026, beginning in March and ending in December. Eleven other classics are scheduled to return, including Ocean's Eleven, A Beautiful Mind, The Birdcage, The Silence of the Lambs, Ben-Hur, Willy Wonka, It's a Wonderful Life, Citizen Kane, and The Maltese Falcon.

What Is 'The Fifth Element' About?

Set in an incredibly vibrant and bustling future, Besson’s sci-fi spectacle centers around Willis’ Korben Dallas, a New York cab driver who’s just trying to make it through his shift when an alien named Leeloo (Milla Jovovich) literally falls into his life. Suddenly, the stakes of Korben’s everyday life have gone through the roof when he comes to discover that Leeloo is the final key that can prevent an otherworldly evil from making a mess of the Earth. Despite dividing opinion at the time of its release, the film was a massive commercial success, earning $263.9 million worldwide. In addition to Willis and Jovovich’s casting, the movie also features a standout group of actors that includes Chris Tucker (Rush Hour), Gary Oldman (Bram Stoker’s Dracula), Ian Holm (The Lord of the Rings trilogy), Luke Perry (Riverdale), Lee Evans (There’s Something About Mary), and Brion James (Blade Runner).