The Red Balloon (1956): cast, story & where to watch
1956 · Film · ★ 7.7
Released in 1956, The Red Balloon is a comedy, fantasy, drama and family film directed by Albert Lamorisse, running about 34 minutes. “The Academy Award Winning Sensation!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A young boy discovers a stray balloon, which seems to have a mind of its own, on the streets of Paris. The two become inseparable, yet the world’s harsh realities finally interfere.
Who’s in it. The Red Balloon stars Pascal Lamorisse as Pascal, the Little Boy, Georges Sellier as The Irritated Schoolmaster, Paul Perey as Pascal's Father and Vladimir Popov as A Tenant, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.7/10, The Red Balloon has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $49K at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Criterion Channel and FlixFling and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home and FlixFling. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Red Balloon page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Red Balloon tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Red Balloon (1956)?
- In US, The Red Balloon is available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and Criterion Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Red Balloon worth watching?
- The Red Balloon holds an audience score of 7.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, fantasy, drama and family. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Red Balloon?
- The Red Balloon stars Pascal Lamorisse, Georges Sellier, Paul Perey, Vladimir Popov and Renée Marion.
- When was The Red Balloon released?
- The Red Balloon was released in 1956, with a runtime of about 34 minutes.