The 400 Blows

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3:47

The 400 Blows

1959

1h 33m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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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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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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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Daniel Barnes

Dare Daniel

Instantly recognizable to anyone who was ever a child, this debut film from Francois Truffaut helped launch a cinematic revolution.

Rated: 5/5

Oct 28, 2025

Full Review

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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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 33 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/07/25

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Lars N

It didn't quite hit me the way I had hoped. Beautiful though

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/25/25

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William B

One of my favourite Frech films.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/22/24

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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 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 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 out of 5 stars

05/13/24

Full Review

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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: Trailer 1

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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

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