War of the Buttons

PG-13

Released Oct 12, 2012

1h 39m

Adventure

History

Drama

List

25%

Tomatometer

24 Reviews

42%

Audience Score

1,000+ Ratings

In World War II France, the leader (Jean Texier) of a children's gang falls for a Jewish girl, leading his gang and their rivals to consider putting aside their differences in order to protect her from the Nazis.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Sep 17

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Rent War of the Buttons on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

Joe Williams

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Although it's updated to World War II and alludes to the Holocaust, this golden-hued remembrance is about as horrific as "Hogan's Heroes."

Rated: 2/4

Oct 31, 2012

Full Review

Tom Keogh

Seattle Times

Barratier can't seem to do anything with it other than keep raising the violence and anger.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 25, 2012

Full Review

Tom Russo

Boston Globe

The two threads aren't really woven together into the sort of tight, overarching theme that the film seems built to convey.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 25, 2012

Full Review

Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

This "family adventure" is exactly the type of yarn made for adults too uncomfortable with revealing the truth of a cruel world to the little beings they've brought into it.

Aug 5, 2019

Full Review

Sandie Angulo Chen

Common Sense Media

WWII drama is overly cute but has worthy lessons for tweens.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 25, 2012

Full Review

Peg Aloi

Boston Phoenix

The cast is fine, especially the boys, and the cinematography lush and wistful, but the score is pure fromage and the storyline sacrifices tension for romance.

Rated: 2.5/4

Oct 25, 2012

Full Review

Read all reviews

lanfranco c

A classic "Bildungsroman" !

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

walter m

In "War of the Buttons," boys will be boys. In this case, it is rural France and boys from one town wage a campaign against those from another town. What starts out with graffiti gets increasingly violent. In the meantime, there is a real war going on in 1944, with France being occupied by the Nazis. And Simone(Laetitia Casta) takes the opportunity to enroll her goddaughter Violette(Ilona Bachelier) at the local school. "War of the Buttons" is a movie that is somehow simultaneously cloying and heavy-handed.(And as a proud coward, I resent it whenever somebody is called out for their cowardice.) Throughout, the movie is resolutely sentimental about a trying time for many people. In this case, the characters seem very naive about what has been going on for the previous four years of occupation.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Acceptable, not too naive or kiddish.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Not sure that setting this version during WWII was really necessary -- the book is much earlier, and this movie, while somewhat following, does not come close to the 1962 version.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A 2011 version of "War of The Buttons" isn't as good as the 1994 version and 1962 version. There's some a disappointing moment such as replacing the best scene with another version that is unacceptable (you should see the older remake and the original ones, and you'd know), different final scene that never did better than the older and a more sentimental story. But as the concept, this film always entertaining and funny.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Despite undeniable good intentions, La guerre des boutons can't quite overcome its schmaltzy narrative, corny musical score, confusing editing choices and underwhelming treatment on a powerful topic. Bravo, however, to its young cast, whose performances enlighten the screen.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Christophe Barratier

Director

Laetitia Casta

Simone

Guillaume Canet

Teacher

Kad Merad

Lebrac's Father

Gérard Jugnot

L'Aztec's Father

Jean Texier

Lebrac

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

44%

59%

Walking With the Enemy

44%

58%

Robin Hood

27%

34%

Pompeii

25%

52%

Ben-Hur

TRAILER

for Ben-Hur

49%

73%

The Book Thief

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Critics Consensus: Argo Is Certified Fresh

View more photos

Synopsis

In World War II France, the leader (Jean Texier) of a children's gang falls for a Jewish girl, leading his gang and their rivals to consider putting aside their differences in order to protect her from the Nazis.

Director: Christophe Barratier
Screenwriter: Thomas Langmann, Christophe Barratier, Stephane Keller
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: Mars Film
Rating: PG-13 (Some Thematic Elements|Language)
Genre: Adventure, History, Drama
Original Language: French (France)
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 12, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 17, 2013
Runtime: 1h 39m

Most Popular at Home Now