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July 26, 2026Sources cited
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Colombiana

Colombiana is a 2011 action thriller film directed by Olivier Megaton and written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Colombiana is a 2011 action thriller film directed by Olivier Megaton and written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen. It stars Zoë Saldaña as Cataleya Restrepo, a young woman who becomes an assassin while seeking revenge for the murder of her parents in Bogotá. The film was released in 2011 and received a PG-13 rating in the United States.

Plot

The story follows Cataleya Restrepo, who witnesses the killing of her parents as a child and later grows up to hunt the people responsible. Her revenge mission drives the film’s action and crime-thriller structure.

Production

Colombiana was directed by Olivier Megaton and co-written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen. Available source material identifies it as a French or French-American production associated with Besson’s production work.

Cast

Zoë Saldaña plays the lead role, with supporting cast members including Jordi Mollà, Lennie James, Cliff Curtis, and Michael Vartan.

Release and reception

The film was released theatrically in 2011 and later became available through home and streaming platforms. Source material describes it as a revenge-driven action thriller with a PG-13 rating.

Key facts

  • The film centers on Cataleya Restrepo, who survives her parents’ murder and later becomes a professional assassin.
  • The story is set in motion by violence in Bogotá, Colombia, and follows Cataleya’s revenge quest.
  • Zoë Saldaña plays the lead role of Cataleya Restrepo.
  • The film was directed by Olivier Megaton and written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen.
  • It was released in 2011 and was rated PG-13 in the United States.
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Canadian context

Canadian viewers may know Colombiana through home video and streaming availability in Canada, but the film is not specifically tied to Canadian history or production.

Frequently asked questions

What is Colombiana about?
It follows Cataleya Restrepo, who becomes an assassin and seeks revenge for the murder of her parents.
Who directed Colombiana?
Colombiana was directed by Olivier Megaton.
Who stars in Colombiana?
Zoë Saldaña stars as Cataleya Restrepo.
When was Colombiana released?
It was released in 2011.
What genre is Colombiana?
It is an action thriller film, with crime and drama elements.

References

  1. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1657507/
    Supports: 2011 release, PG-13 rating, runtime, basic premise
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombiana
    Supports: Director, writers, cast, plot overview, production background
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/colombiana
    Supports: Plot synopsis, rating, genre, release date
  4. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/70178640
    Supports: Streaming availability and plot description
  5. Google Play — https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Colombiana?id=Kgn-x-MkRxY&hl=en_ZA
    Supports: Director, production credits, and plot description