Overview
A daring escape plan unfolds as two families risk everything for freedom.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- tense
- earnest
- propulsive
- historical thriller night
- cold war cinema marathon
What critics said
Critics generally found the film solidly made and often engrossing as a political thriller, while considering it less exciting than the true story and overly melodramatic at times.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Strelzyk and Wetzel families sew, test, repair, and redesign a homemade balloon while trying to evade the manhunt.
The families must finish a stronger second balloon before investigators identify them and close in.
The escape plan arises from the families' desperation to leave East Germany and avoid state authorities, border patrols, and the Stasi system.
Fabric, weatherproofing, balloon construction, wreckage, and physical clues receive detailed attention throughout the escape preparations.
Films like Balloon, and why
The Lives of Others
shared historical escape thriller structure, escalating surveillance tension, and grounded political drama
West
shared Cold War setting, divided Germany context, and suspense built around escape from state control
Argo
shared true-story survival suspense, determined families, and a race against authorities
Sophie Scholl: The Final Days
shared historical political thriller atmosphere and ordinary people confronting an oppressive regime
Movie Details
- Director
- Michael Herbig
- Release Date
- 2018-09-27
- Runtime
- 125 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (499)
Cast
- Karoline Schuch
- Friedrich Mücke
- Alicia von Rittberg
- David Kross
- Jonas Holdenrieder
- Tilman Döbler
- Thomas Kretschmann
- Ronald Kukulies
- Emily Kusche
- Ulrich Brandhoff
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Balloon about?
- Two East German families race to build a homemade hot-air balloon and outrun a state manhunt before their dream of reaching the West disappears.
- What is Balloon like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Balloon as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Balloon violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Balloon.
- What did critics think of Balloon?
- Critics generally found the film solidly made and often engrossing as a political thriller, while considering it less exciting than the true story and overly melodramatic at times.
- Which films are like Balloon?
- Films with a similar feel include The Lives of Others, West, Argo, and Sophie Scholl: The Final Days.
- How long is Balloon?
- Balloon runs 125 minutes.
- Where can I watch Balloon?
- In United States, Balloon is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
