Nikita

Nikita is a 1990 French-Italian action thriller written and directed by Luc Besson, starring Anne Parillaud in the title role. Nikita is a rebellious young drug addict who takes part with her gang in the armed robbery of a pharmacy. The heist turns into a shootout with the police: her accomplices are killed, and she is arrested and convicted of murdering an officer, receiving a long prison sentence.

Instead of prison, a secret government agency offers her a way out. Her death is faked, and under the supervision of her handler Bob (Tchéky Karyo) she undergoes intense training to become a professional assassin. Given a new identity, she tries to build an ordinary life and falls in love, while struggling to reconcile her personal feelings with the deadly missions she is ordered to carry out.

The film was a major commercial success in France and earned nine nominations at the 1991 César Awards, winning Best Actress for Parillaud. Its popularity led to remakes in Hong Kong and Hollywood as well as two later television series.