The Black Balloon
2008, English. Directed by Elissa Down.
Normal is relative.
Thomas is turning 16. His dad's in the army and they've just moved to a town in New South Wales; his mom is pregnant; his older brother, Charlie, who's autistic, has his own adolescent sexual issues. Thomas finds Charlie an embarrassment in public, so when Thomas is attracted to Jackie, a girl in his swim class, Charlie presents any number of obstacles when she drops by their house, when the three of them go for a walk, and during a family birthday dinner. Can Thomas find a way to enter the world of teen romance and still be his brother's keeper, or is Charlie's disability going to prove more than Thomas can handle?
- Runtime
- 1h 37m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG-13
Start now and it ends at ….
Popcorn Flick
Fun if you don’t overthink it.
6.4/10 from 100 TMDB viewer ratings.
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Where to watch The Black Balloon
The Black Balloon isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 8 March 2008.
No streaming listings yet. Search JustWatch.
Cast & crew
- Elissa DownDirector
- Rhys WakefieldThomas Mollison
- Luke FordCharlie Mollison
- Toni ColletteMaggie Mollison
- Erik ThomsonSimon Mollison
- Gemma WardJackie Masters
- Sarah WoodsWoman Next Door
- Sam FraserKid Next Door
- Zelie BullenMother in Van
- Anthony PhelanMr. Masters
- Deborah PiperJanet-Social Worker
- Henry NixonTrevor-Social Worker
- Rebecca MasseyMiss Babb
Details
- Released
- 8 March 2008
- Country
- Australia, United States of America
- Written by
- Jimmy Jack, Elissa Down
- Budget
- $5M
- Box office
- $5M
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
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The Black Balloon: quick answers
Is The Black Balloon worth watching?
Our verdict is Popcorn Flick: Fun if you don’t overthink it. It scores 6.4/10 from 100 TMDB viewer ratings.
How long is The Black Balloon?
The Black Balloon runs 97 minutes (1h 37m).
Does The Black Balloon have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for The Black Balloon. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
The Black Balloon parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
The Black Balloon is rated PG-13 in India. Check the rating guidance before watching with young children.
Which OTT platform is The Black Balloon on?
The Black Balloon isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 8 March 2008. (Checked 9 November 2026.)
What movies are like The Black Balloon?
If you liked The Black Balloon, try The Chronology of Water, Breath, Triumph.
Who directed The Black Balloon?
The Black Balloon (2008) was directed by Elissa Down and stars Rhys Wakefield, Luke Ford, Toni Collette.