The 400 Blows

1h 39m · 1959 · Directed by François Truffaut · 4.3 / 5 on Letterboxd

The 400 Blows (1959) runs 1h 39m, directed by François Truffaut. It is one of 3,647 films in the 100 Minute Movies catalog — every one rated 3.0 or higher by Letterboxd members and short enough to finish in an evening.

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.

Genres: Drama

Where to watch: HBO Max (US, checked 9 July 2026)