Maps of Movies
The Fifth Element (1997)
Where The Fifth Element says it takes place, and where it was really shot.
A taxi crash in a future New York, a diva on a flying hotel, a temple in the desert: most of it was built at Pinewood, one real stage in London, and a desert nobody names.
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Scenes and places
The Mondoshawans take the weapon
In 1914, aliens called Mondoshawans meet their Earth contact, a priest, at an ancient Egyptian temple. They take away the only weapon that can beat a great evil, promising to bring it back before the evil returns.
Set in An ancient Egyptian temple, 1914 — The temple where aliens meet a priest of a secret order.
A rock temple in the Egyptian desert, seen only in the prologue.
A fireball in deep space
In the 23rd century, the great evil appears as a giant living fireball and destroys an armed Earth spaceship. Priest Vito Cornelius tries to warn the president about the weapon that can stop it.
Set in Deep space, 23rd century — Where the great evil first shows itself.
A virtual setting; no real place stands in for it.
The ambush on the Mondoshawan ship
On their way to Earth, a Mondoshawan spacecraft carrying the weapon is ambushed and destroyed by a crew of Mangalores, alien mercenaries. Only a severed hand in metal armour survives the wreck.
Set in Above an alien planet — Where the ship carrying the weapon is attacked.
A virtual setting; no real place stands in for it.
Rebuilding Leeloo
The government uses biotechnology to recreate the original occupant of the sarcophagus from the severed hand. Leeloo wakes with memories of her previous life, panics at the high security and escapes by jumping off a ledge.
Set in A government research facility, New York — Where scientists grow a woman from a single hand.
A laboratory set built on a soundstage.
Filmed at Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire — The film was shot mainly on Pinewood soundstages; which stage held the laboratory is not named in the source. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: Working film studio; the entrance is visible from the road, there is no public access to the stages.
Leeloo falls into a taxi
Leeloo jumps from the ledge and crashes into the flying taxicab of Korben Dallas, a former major in Earth's special forces. He has a stranger with no ID in his back seat.
Set in Downtown New York, 23rd century — The flying-traffic city where Leeloo lands in a cab.
A future New York built as a studio set and scale miniatures.
Filmed at Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire — Studio sets plus miniatures and effects; no real street stands in for this city. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: Working film studio; the entrance is visible from the road, there is no public access to the stages.
Dallas brings her to the priest
Dallas delivers Leeloo to Cornelius and his apprentice, David, who recognises her as the fifth element. As Leeloo recuperates, she tells Cornelius that the stones were not on board the Mondoshawan ship.
Set in Cornelius's home — Where the priest and his apprentice see who she is.
An apartment set built at Pinewood.
Filmed at Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire — Studio set; the source does not say which stage. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: Working film studio; the entrance is visible from the road, there is no public access to the stages.
Zorg turns on his hired guns
Zorg reneges on his deal with the Mangalores for failing to obtain the stones, and kills some of them. He is working for the great evil.
Set in Zorg's office — Where an industrialist works for the great evil.
A corporate office set built at Pinewood.
Filmed at Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire — Studio set; the source does not say which stage. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: Working film studio; the entrance is visible from the road, there is no public access to the stages.
The diva sings
Dallas wins a luxury trip to Fhloston, the cover for a mission to meet the diva Plavalaguna, who holds the stones. During her concert the Mangalores attack.
Set in Fhloston Paradise concert hall — A concert aboard a flying hotel.
Stage and audience cut from a real opera house.
Filmed at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London — Wikipedia says the opera scene was filmed at the Royal Opera House. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: In Covent Garden, a short walk from Covent Garden tube station.
Aboard the flying hotel
Dallas, Leeloo and the talk-show host Ruby Rhod are on board the luxury hotel while Zorg and the Mangalores pursue the stones.
Set in Fhloston Paradise, a flying hotel — A luxury resort that floats above a planet.
Corridors and rooms made on sets and green screen.
Filmed at Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire — Studio sets and green screen; which stage held the hotel is not named in the source. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: Working film studio; the entrance is visible from the road, there is no public access to the stages.
Back at the temple
The four stones and the priest's group make for the temple, where David is waiting, as the great evil approaches Earth.
Set in The temple, 23rd century — Where the elements are to be used.
The same temple as the prologue, three centuries later.
Filmed at Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire — Studio set for the interior; the desert background was shot in Mauritania, with no exact spot given. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: Working film studio; the entrance is visible from the road, there is no public access to the stages.
Characters
- Korben Dallas — A former special forces major turned flying-taxi driver.
- Leeloo — A woman rebuilt from a single cell, who falls into his cab.
- Vito Cornelius — A priest of a secret order who knows the history of the great evil.
- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg — An industrialist who works for the great evil.
Questions answered on the map
- Where was the opera scene in The Fifth Element filmed?
- Where was the Egyptian temple in The Fifth Element really filmed?