This is an original Japanese B2 poster printed in 1997 for the first Japanese theatrical release of The Fifth Element (フィフス・エレメント), directed by Luc Besson.
Film background
The Fifth Element is a wildly imaginative sci‑fi adventure set in a colourful, chaotic 23rd‑century New York. Bruce Willis stars as reluctant taxi‑driver‑turned‑hero Korben Dallas, who teams up with Leeloo (Milla Jovovich), a mysterious “supreme being”, to prevent a cosmic evil from destroying Earth. With its mix of action, comedy, and distinctive production design by Jean‑Claude Mézières and Jean‑Paul Gaultier, the film has become a major cult favourite and one of the most visually iconic science‑fiction films of the 1990s.
Poster design
The Japanese B2 artwork offers a superb vertical cityscape composition. The entire image is essentially rotated 90 degrees: Leeloo falls (or floats) horizontally across a canyon of skyscrapers while futuristic traffic roars past, emphasising the dizzying verticality of Besson’s future metropolis. The chunky gold Japanese title typography “フィフス・エレメント” sits boldly across the centre, echoing the chunky industrial shapes of the buildings. A small still of Bruce Willis at the bottom grounds the design in star power while leaving the main visual free to showcase the film’s striking world‑building.
Rarity and condition
Japanese posters for major sci‑fi titles are highly collectible, and The Fifth Element’s continued cult status means demand for original materials remains strong, particularly for designs that highlight its unique production design.
This poster is in excellent condition. Please check the photos for a detailed view of the actual poster on offer.
It is over 28 years old.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
