Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- breezy
- mischievous
- lazy sunday
- classic movie night
What critics said
Its exceptional popularity with French audiences reflects an accessible, star-driven heist comedy built for broad entertainment.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Arthur and Anatole's robbery overlaps with plans made by Colonel Carol Matthews and Frankie Scannapieco.
The competing criminals target money traveling on a special train from Paris to Brussels.
The Paris-to-Brussels robbery premise, international cast, and elaborate train-centered action give the film a broad continental scale.
The inexperienced little robbers Arthur Lespinasse and Anatole form the central comic partnership.
Films like The Brain, and why
Rififi
comic heist plotting, ensemble caper energy, and playful criminal rivalries
The Italian Job
stylized international robbery, charismatic criminals, and breezy action comedy
The Great Muppet Caper
farce built around competing thieves, elaborate schemes, and escalating mishaps
Movie Details
- Director
- Gérard Oury
- Release Date
- 1969-03-07
- Runtime
- 115 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (315)
Cast
- Jean-Paul Belmondo
- Bourvil
- David Niven
- Eli Wallach
- Silvia Monti
- Raymond Gérôme
- Fernand Guiot
- Jacques Balutin
- Jacques Ciron
- Patrick Préjean
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- France Channel Amazon Channel
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Brain about?
- A pair of small-time French thieves collide with rival masterminds when they target the same train-bound fortune.
- What is The Brain like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Brain as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Brain violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Brain as mild.
- What did critics think of The Brain?
- Its exceptional popularity with French audiences reflects an accessible, star-driven heist comedy built for broad entertainment.
- Which films are like The Brain?
- Films with a similar feel include Rififi, The Italian Job, and The Great Muppet Caper.
- How long is The Brain?
- The Brain runs 115 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Brain?
- In United States, The Brain streams on France Channel Amazon Channel.
