The 400 Blows | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

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Where to Watch The 400 Blows What to Know Critics Reviews Audience Reviews My Rating Cast & Crew More Like This Related Movie News Videos The 400 Blows Photos The 400 Blows

99%

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71 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

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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

Jean-Pierre Léaud’s revelatory turn...

Feb 11, 2023

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

A portrait of the artist as an unhappy child.

Rated: 5/5

Jan 6, 2022

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Robert Daniels

812filmreviews

[The 400 Blows'] most prevalent connection to the then burgeoning French New Wave is its message of freedom

Mar 18, 2019

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David Parkinson

Radio Times

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.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 9, 2024

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Sean Burns

Crooked Marquee

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.

Dec 11, 2022

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

“The 400 Blows” is a gripping and deeply penetrating picture that instantly grabbed me with its heartfelt realism and its crisp visual style.

Rated: 5/5

Aug 20, 2022

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Audience Reviews

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William B One of my favourite Frech films. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/22/24 Full Review Rob C 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. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/02/24 Full Review Benjamin H Such a simple, expressive and thematically rich coming-of-age story that really does depict the hopes, aspirations and challenges of growing up in a beautiful and sympathetic way. Some scenes could have been structured a tad better but that's about it. This classic definitely earns its respect and admiration. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/11/24 Full Review Robson C Antoine Doinel está entrando na adolescência. Tem problemas na escola. Tem problemas em casa. Aos poucos, de simples mentiras e faltas à escola, ele vai cometendo pequenas deliquências. Primeiro filme de François Truffaut, é quase autobiográfico. O filme tem doses de humor com as pequenas desobediências de Antoine e seus colegas, que evoluem para o drama. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/13/24 Full Review Luca D Maybe a bit overrated. It's undoubtedly a great movie though it's nothing more than ahead of it's time. There are plenty of other movies that are ahead of their time and don't have as good reviews. Probably won't end up watching again, not because I didn't like it just because it wasn't very unique or interesting in any way. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/29/23 Full Review Teddy B Francois Truffaut's directorial debut that paints a simply sordid, disquieting, and morose picture of the tough-to-swallow elements of adolescence soars due to its beautiful cinematography, sympathetic performances, and touchingly cold screenplay. A genuine French masterwork. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

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

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The 400 Blows

The 400 Blows (1959)

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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