If you’re out here searching for the natalie portman movie hitman, you're almost certainly thinking of Léon: The Professional. You know the one. It’s that 1994 flick where a tiny, pre-teen Natalie Portman carries a potted plant like it’s her only friend while hanging out with a middle-aged guy who kills people for a living.
It's a weird movie.
Honestly, it’s one of those films that feels more uncomfortable the older you get. When you're a kid watching it, it’s a cool action movie about a girl learning to be a "cleaner." When you’re an adult, you’re watching a 12-year-old girl tell a grown man she’s falling in love with him while they play dress-up in a New York apartment. It’s a lot.
The Natalie Portman Movie Hitman Connection: What Is It Actually About?
Most people call it The Professional, but the original title is Léon. It was Natalie Portman’s big debut. She was only 11 when she was cast, which is wild considering the heavy lifting she does. She plays Mathilda, a girl whose family gets absolutely slaughtered by a drug-addicted, corrupt DEA agent named Stansfield—played by a terrifyingly unhinged Gary Oldman.
Mathilda ends up seeking refuge with her neighbor, Léon (Jean Reno).
Léon is an illiterate, milk-drinking hitman who lives a monk-like existence. He doesn't want her there. He even thinks about killing her in her sleep just to avoid the hassle. But eventually, they strike a deal: she cleans his house and teaches him to read; he teaches her how to be an assassin so she can avenge her younger brother.
Why it was almost never made
Luc Besson, the director, had some pretty "out there" ideas for the script. Originally, the relationship was way more explicit. Portman's parents actually stepped in and made Besson cut a bunch of scenes.
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For instance:
- In the original draft, Léon and Mathilda were supposed to be lovers.
- There were scenes involving Mathilda’s nudity that were rightfully scrapped.
- The smoking was a huge sticking point; her parents only allowed her to hold a cigarette if she never actually inhaled.
Even with those cuts, the "International Version" (or the Director’s Cut) is about 25 minutes longer than what most Americans saw in theaters. That version includes the "dress scene" where Mathilda wears a gift from Léon and tries to seduce him. It’s cringey. Even Portman has admitted in recent years that she looks back at her debut with a mix of gratitude and "yikes."
The "Cringe" Factor in 2026
We're living in a different world now. In 2023 and 2024, Portman did a few interviews where she didn't hold back. She told The Hollywood Reporter that the movie is "complicated" for her. She acknowledged that it gave her a career, but the sexualization of her character at such a young age basically "sexual-terrorized" her as a teenager.
She felt she had to act "serious" and "conservative" in real life just to make people stop looking at her like the character in the movie.
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There's also the elephant in the room: Luc Besson. Since the movie came out, multiple women have come forward with allegations against him. While Portman hasn't reported any misconduct personally from the set, the context of his personal life—including his marriage to a 16-year-old when he was in his late 20s—makes the themes of Léon feel less like a "subversive fairy tale" and more like something darker.
Is it still a "good" movie?
Technically? Yes. The acting is top-tier.
Jean Reno plays Léon with this heart-wrenching simplicity. He’s a killer, but he has the emotional intelligence of a child. Gary Oldman is doing some of the best over-the-top acting in cinematic history. Every time he screams "EVERYONE!" you can practically feel the spittle hitting the camera lens.
And then there’s Natalie. It’s probably one of the greatest child performances ever. She doesn't feel like a "movie kid." She feels like a person who has seen too much and is desperately trying to find power in a world that already took everything from her.
Real Talk: Common Misconceptions
People often get the ending mixed up. They think Mathilda becomes a hitman. She doesn't.
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After the final explosive showdown (no spoilers, but there are a lot of grenades), Mathilda ends up back at a school. She plants Léon's beloved aglaonema plant in the dirt, finally giving it roots. It’s a metaphor for her finally getting a chance at a normal life, but the trauma is clearly baked in.
How to watch it today
If you're looking for the natalie portman movie hitman on streaming, keep an eye on the version.
- The Theatrical Cut: This is the "safe" version. It focuses more on the action and the DEA corruption. It’s the version most people saw on cable TV for years.
- The Director’s Cut (Version Integrale): This is the one that includes the more "problematic" bonding scenes. If you want to see the full scope of what Besson intended, this is it, but be prepared for some serious discomfort.
Moving Forward with the Portman Catalog
If you want to see Natalie Portman in roles where she’s actually a "hitman" or an action lead without the weird baggage of Léon, you've got better options now.
Check out Annihilation for some high-concept sci-fi survival. Or go for Thor: Love and Thunder where she literally becomes a god. Even in Black Swan, she captures that same obsessive intensity she had as a kid, but in a much more mature (and frankly, less creepy) way.
As for 2026, keep your eyes peeled for Photograph 51. She’s playing Rosalind Franklin, the scientist who actually discovered the structure of DNA before the men took the credit. It’s a different kind of "hit," but it’s the kind of role that reminds you why she’s been a powerhouse since she was eleven years old.
If you’re planning a rewatch of Léon, try to find a 4K restoration. The cinematography of 1990s New York is beautiful, even if the plot makes you want to take a long shower afterward. Just remember to separate the art from the artist—or at least acknowledge that the "artist" was a bit of a weirdo.
To get the most out of Natalie Portman’s filmography without the "cringe," start by comparing the theatrical cut of Léon with her performance in Heat (1995). It shows how she quickly became the go-to for playing "troubled but brilliant" kids in 90s cinema.