The 400 Blows (1959)
A neglected Parisian boy navigates a gritty world of adult indifference, yearning for a better life.
For young Parisian boy Antoine Doinel, life is one difficult situation after another. Surrounded by inconsiderate adults, including his neglectful parents, Antoine spends his days with his best friend, Rene, 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.
How intense is The 400 Blows?
The 400 Blows has no gore and some violence. Emotionally it is heavy. The pace is measured, and it is a full-attention watch.
What The 400 Blows feels like
- Tone
- melancholygrittyintimateearnest
- Pace
- Measured
- Best for
- Full attention
Where to stream The 400 Blows
US availability via TMDB, last checked Sep 15, 2026. The app filters picks to the services you actually have.
Is The 400 Blows for you?
Is The 400 Blows scary?
No. The 400 Blows is not a scary watch (scare level 0 of 3).
Is The 400 Blows gory or violent?
No gore (0 of 3) and some violence (1 of 3). Squeamish viewers are fine here.
Is The 400 Blows sad or heavy?
It is emotionally heavy (2 of 3). Expect it to land.
How long is The 400 Blows?
The 400 Blows runs 1h 39m.
Where can I stream The 400 Blows?
The 400 Blows is streaming on Max, Criterion, Kanopy and YouTube (free).
Does The 400 Blows have a happy ending? spoiler-safe answer
It leaves the ending open to interpretation.
Cast and crew
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