Synopsis

Lucy is a 2014 science fiction action film written and directed by Luc Besson, shot across Taipei, Paris, and New York City. Scarlett Johansson stars as Lucy, a woman who gains psychokinetic abilities after a nootropic, psychedelic drug is absorbed into her bloodstream. She plays a reluctant drug mule who is transformed into an incredible fighter capable of clairvoyance, telekinesis, and an ability to disregard pain and emotion as the substance takes hold of her nervous system.

The premise builds on the popular (if scientifically inaccurate) myth that humans only use a small percentage of their brain capacity — and explores what would happen if someone unlocked the rest.

Official Trailer

Official trailer published by Universal Pictures on YouTube.

Gallery

Why It’s Worth Watching

The film became a massive box office success, grossing over $469 million against a $40 million budget — more than eleven times its production cost. Critics praised its themes, visuals, and Johansson’s performance, though many found the plot’s ten-percent-brain premise nonsensical. As Rotten Tomatoes sums it up: “Lucy powers through the movie’s logic gaps with cheesy thrills plus Scarlett Johansson’s charm — and mostly succeeds at it.”

Is There a Lucy 2 or Lucy 3?

For fans hoping for a sequel: a follow-up has been anticipated since the 2014 release, but a decade later, Lucy 2 still hasn’t materialized — director Luc Besson has spoken openly about struggling to connect with a sequel concept. There is currently no confirmed Lucy 2 or Lucy 3 in production, and no official pairing of Scarlett Johansson with Jason Statham has been announced for this franchise. Interestingly, the original film found a second life a decade later as a Netflix hit, which spurred a spinoff series featuring Morgan Freeman reprising his Professor Norman role.

Where to Watch

Lucy (2014) currently streams on Netflix in several regions and is available for digital rental or purchase on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Google Play.