The narrative follows Major Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Sergeant Laureline (Cara Delevingne), two operatives of the human government. They are a classic bickering-couple duo: Valerian is a charming but cocky womanizer desperate to marry Laureline, while Laureline is pragmatic, sharp, and perpetually annoyed by his advances.
The plot kicks off when a mysterious dark energy begins destroying sectors of Alpha. Valerian is sent on a retrieval mission to a forbidden zone to recover a rare creature—a converter that can replicate anything it eats. Meanwhile, Laureline uncovers a conspiracy involving missing ambassadors and a forgotten war crime. The duo eventually discovers that the threat to Alpha comes from the Pearls of Mul, a peaceful race that was nearly exterminated by a human commander years earlier. The “evil” ravaging Alpha is actually the Pearls trying to retrieve a last living converter to revive their homeworld.
It is a classic “the hunters become the protectors” arc, but Besson uses it to critique militarism and colonialism. The villains aren't aliens; they are human generals covering up a massacre.
Yes, there is an extended cut (approximately 8 minutes longer than the theatrical version). It does not fix the dialogue issues, but it adds crucial world-building scenes in Alpha, including a longer introduction to the "Kistans" (humanoid fish creatures) and an extended sequence of Valerian navigating the city’s red-light district. If you can find the Blu-ray extended edition, it is the definitive way to watch.
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:
The design of the Pearls—tall, graceful, amphibian-like beings—is a marvel of makeup and CGI. Their homeworld, Mul, is rendered with bioluminescent flora and peaceful waters, creating a stark contrast to the industrial underbelly of Alpha.
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets opened in July 2017, directly against Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk. It earned only $225 million worldwide against a $180 million budget (plus marketing), making it a significant box office bomb. American audiences rejected it, but it performed well in China ($60 million) and France (Besson’s home country).
Why did it fail?
However, on streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets has found a second life. Sci-fi fans looking for something that isn’t Star Wars or Star Trek have discovered its unique charm. It is a film that rewards repeat viewings—not for the story, but for the background details. Every frame is packed with aliens, signage, and tech that you missed the first time.
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is ambitious, occasionally clumsy, and often sublime. It’s a film best experienced with cinematic surrender: let the visuals wash over you, embrace the pulp heart of the story, and forgive the narrative creaks. For viewers craving a vivid, restless, and unabashedly imaginative sci-fi playground, Valerian is one of the most exhilarating failures — or the most exhilarating successes — of the 2010s.
If you’re after further angles, I can write a scene-by-scene breakdown, analyze visual motifs, or compare Valerian’s worldbuilding to classics like Blade Runner, Fifth Element, and The Fifth Element’s spiritual heirs. Which would you prefer?
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.
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 Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets - E...
(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: City of Alpha , the official mobile game prequel to the 2017 film, you serve as the architect responsible for transforming a small space station into the sprawling intergalactic metropolis known as the "City of a Thousand Planets." Core Gameplay Mechanics City Building
: You manage Alpha by constructing and upgrading habitats in hexagonal districts to house diverse alien species. Resource Management
: Collect resources to fund station expansions, build advanced spaceships, and craft equipment for your crew. Exploration & Scanning
: Dispatch ships to various galaxies and scan them to uncover missions and encounter new alien lifeforms. Diplomacy & Missions The narrative follows Major Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and
: Complete "choose-your-own-adventure" style narrative missions where your choices determine rewards like reputation points or rare technologies. Essential Strategy & Tips Optimize Energy Recovery
: Every mission consumes ship energy. While ships slowly recover energy in space, flying them back to Alpha's docking bays significantly speeds up the recharge process. Match Crew Skills
: Assign crew members with specific special abilities that match the mission's requirements to increase your success rate and reduce risk. Build Reputation
: Focus on courting specific alien races; higher reputation unlocks advanced technologies and unique production capabilities. Check Power Ratings
: Always compare your combined ship and crew power rating against the recommended level for a galaxy before launching a mission to avoid failure. Factory Upgrades
: Regularly use your factory to craft upgrades from found schematics. Improving your gear is the primary way to survive more difficult missions in deep space. Key Game Features Stunning Visuals
: The game features high-quality artwork inspired by Luc Besson's film and the original comics. Prequel Storyline
: Set 590 years before the events of the movie, allowing you to discover the origins of major alien species. Elite Teams However, on streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon
: Recruit and train agents to form specialized squads for dangerous deep-space exploration. you can unlock or the best ways to earn premium currency for upgrades?
If there is one reason to watch Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, it is the production design. Besson collaborated with the comic’s original artist, Jean-Claude Mézières, before his death, ensuring the film remained faithful to the source material’s aesthetic.