The Red Balloon (Le Ballon Rouge)

The Red Balloon (Le Ballon Rouge) (1956)

  • 95% of critics liked it
    (20 reviews)

  • 88% of users liked it
    (7,977 ratings)

Most of French director Albert Lamorisse's films celebrate the miracle of flight, but few were as landmark as his 1956 short subject The Red Balloon. The story, told with a minimum of dialogue, concerns a little boy (played by the director's son Pascal) who comes across a helium-filled… More

In Theaters
Nov 16, 1956 Wide
Lopert Pictures Corporation

Critic Reviews

  • Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

    A beautiful little meditation on childhood, on imagination literally taking flight.

  • Kate Fuscoe, Time Out

    As enjoyable for adults who wistfully view scenes of post-war France in all its black and white chicness, as it is for kids.

  • Bosley Crowther, New York Times

    An utterly charming little story.

  • Dan Jardine, Cinemania

    The absence of one key scene near the film's end renders the entire thing pablum.

  • Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

    Lamorisse's lyrical tale, largeky told through imagery, holds up extremely well, and it's still the only short feature to ever win a major Oscar (original screenplay).

Read all 19 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Lady D


    For an older film, I like the creativity of this short, the dull backgrounds as a backdrop with the infusion of bright colours is almost reminiscent of black, white and reds, used in films such as Sweeney Todd, so shows this in a much older age. I felt this could have been a great… More

  • Cindy I


    A WONDERFUL little film about a balloon with a mind of its own. The ending will stick with you forever.

  • Randy T


    How cool!!! If I weren't so awesomely masculine I'd be tempted to say "enchantingly delightful', but of course I AM awesomely masculine so I just say "how cool!"

  • Pierluigi P


    Sweet fantasy that, like all great fables, takes us back to the best years of our lives.

  • Jennifer X


    One of the most affecting and audience accessible silent movies ever. Symbolic, full, and innocent. Perfect length.

Read all 16 featured audience ratings

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