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The 400 Blows

Play trailer 3:47 Poster for The 400 Blows 1959 1h 33m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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99% Tomatometer 72 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
For young Parisian boy Antoine Doinel (Jean-Pierre Léaud), life is one difficult situation after another. Surrounded by inconsiderate adults, including his neglectful parents (Claire Maurier, Albert Remy), Antoine spends his days with his best friend, Rene (Patrick Auffray), trying to plan for a better life. When one of their schemes goes awry, Antoine ends up in trouble with the law, leading to even more conflicts with unsympathetic authority figures.

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The 400 Blows

The 400 Blows

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Critics Consensus

A seminal French New Wave film that offers an honest, sympathetic, and wholly heartbreaking observation of adolescence without trite nostalgia.

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Critics Reviews

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Kathleen Sachs Chicago Reader 02/11/2023
Jean-Pierre Léaud’s revelatory turn... Go to Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian 01/06/2022
5/5
A portrait of the artist as an unhappy child. Go to Full Review Robert Daniels 812filmreviews 03/18/2019
[The 400 Blows'] most prevalent connection to the then burgeoning French New Wave is its message of freedom Go to Full Review Daniel Barnes Dare Daniel Oct 28
5/5
Instantly recognizable to anyone who was ever a child, this debut film from Francois Truffaut helped launch a cinematic revolution. Go to Full Review David Parkinson Radio Times 07/09/2024
5/5
The story paints a grimly authentic portrait of troubled adolescence, with 13-year-old Jean-Pierre Léaud effortlessly conveying both mischief and vulnerability in the lead role. Go to Full Review Sean Burns Crooked Marquee 12/11/2022
As far as great filmmakers’ fictionalized childhood stand-ins go, Antoine Doniel would probably steal Sammy Fabelman’s lunch money and stuff him in a locker. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Isaiah Y @zayman2 Dec 3 Perhaps Francois Truffaut's greatest film and Jean-Pierre Léaud's greatest performance See more BJ M @HotMovieStar Nov 23 I did not get why this film is so highly rated. It is said to be influential - but I don't see that it influenced anything - it was slow and lacked depth. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 7 Success in 1 hour and 33 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Lars N @movie_douche 01/25/2025 It didn't quite hit me the way I had hoped. Beautiful though See more William B @RT83652365 11/22/2024 One of my favourite Frech films. See more Rob C @rcarle 07/02/2024 A film about life. If Montaigne wrote an essay about this film, he might see himself. He led a noble’s life, but he could connect with the expression of daily moments. He would feel the heartbeat of the editing and the characters. I love this movie. See more Read all reviews
The 400 Blows

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Cast & Crew

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François Truffaut

Director

Jean-Pierre Léaud

Antoine Doinel

Claire Maurier

Gilberte Doinel, the Mother

Albert Remy

Julien Doinel

Guy Decomble

'Petite Feuille', the French teacher

Patrick Auffray

René

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The 400 Blows

The 400 Blows: Trailer 1 The 400 Blows: Trailer 1 3:47 View more videos
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The 400 Blows

The 400 Blows (1959) The 400 Blows (1959) The 400 Blows (1959) The 400 Blows (1959) The 400 Blows (1959) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis For young Parisian boy Antoine Doinel (Jean-Pierre Léaud), life is one difficult situation after another. Surrounded by inconsiderate adults, including his neglectful parents (Claire Maurier, Albert Remy), Antoine spends his days with his best friend, Rene (Patrick Auffray), trying to plan for a better life. When one of their schemes goes awry, Antoine ends up in trouble with the law, leading to even more conflicts with unsympathetic authority figures.
Director
François Truffaut
Producer
François Truffaut
Screenwriter
François Truffaut, François Truffaut, Marcel Moussy
Distributor
Criterion Collection
Production Co
Les Films du Carrosse
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 16, 1959, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 29, 2011
Runtime
1h 33m
Sound Mix
Mono
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