Films like The Fifth Element

15 picks with a similar feel

What defines The Fifth Element, going by its Boxlist taste profile: An otherworldly sci-fi film that is fresh, polished and breakneck. Best if you like the extraordinary over the everyday. Its strongest markers on Boxlist are themes of social commentary, love against the odds and an all-consuming quest, plus tags such as opera singer, flying car and arms dealer.

Here are 15 films with a similar feel, ranked by how closely they match that profile. Treat them as picks to try, not a definitive list.

Based on The Fifth Element (1997).

  1. 1

    The Island (2005)

    Film6.7

    Why it's like The Fifth Element: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary and love against the odds. Common ground: clone, dystopia.

  2. 2

    Star Wars (1977)

    Film8.2

    Why it's like The Fifth Element: Also heightened and glossy, with themes of an all-consuming quest. Common ground: space opera.

  3. 3

    Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025)

    Film7.4Slower burn

    Why it's like The Fifth Element: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary. Common ground: clone, alien.

  4. 4

    In Time (2011)

    Film6.9

    Why it's like The Fifth Element: Also heightened and fast-paced, with themes of social commentary and love against the odds. Common ground: race against time, future, love.

  5. 5

    Alita: Battle Angel (2019)

    Film7.2

    Why it's like The Fifth Element: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary and an all-consuming quest. Common ground: cyberpunk, dystopia.

  6. 6

    Serenity (2005)

    Film7.4

    Why it's like The Fifth Element: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary and an all-consuming quest. Common ground: space opera, dystopia.

  7. 7

    Pacific Rim (2013)

    Film6.8

    Why it's like The Fifth Element: Also heightened and sweeping, with themes of social commentary. Common ground: dystopia.

  8. 8

    The Darkest Minds (2018)

    Film7.0Lighter option

    Why it's like The Fifth Element: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary and love against the odds. Common ground: dystopia.

  9. 9

    Aliens (1986)

    Film7.9Slower burn

    Why it's like The Fifth Element: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary. Common ground: space travel, alien.

  10. 10

    Divergent (2014)

    Film6.9

    Why it's like The Fifth Element: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary. Common ground: future, dystopia.

  11. 11

    Stargate (1994)

    Film7.0

    Why it's like The Fifth Element: Also heightened and inventive. Common ground: egypt, space travel, space opera.

  12. 12

    The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

    Film7.0

    Why it's like The Fifth Element: Also heightened and fast-paced, with themes of social commentary and an all-consuming quest. Common ground: cyberpunk, future, dystopia.

  13. 13

    Ready Player One (2018)

    Film7.6Lighter option

    Why it's like The Fifth Element: Also heightened and glossy, with themes of social commentary and love against the odds. Common ground: future, love, dystopia.

  14. 14

    Upgrade (2018)

    Film7.5Slower burn

    Why it's like The Fifth Element: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary and an all-consuming quest. Common ground: cyborg, cyberpunk, future.

  15. 15

    A Trip to the Moon (1902)

    Film8.0Slower burn

    Why it's like The Fifth Element: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary.

Boxlist compares The Fifth Element with every film in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 6.7 or more from at least 1,000 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point. Ratings are TMDB audience scores out of 10.

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Questions

What should I watch if I like The Fifth Element?
Picks with a similar feel include The Island, Star Wars, Avatar: Fire and Ash and In Time. Each shares part of The Fifth Element's taste profile, themes or tags; the full list has 15 films.
How are these films like The Fifth Element chosen?
Boxlist compares The Fifth Element with every film in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 6.7 or more from at least 1,000 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point.
Is there a lighter film like The Fifth Element?
The Darkest Minds has a similar feel but scores lighter on Boxlist's weightiness scale.

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