The Black Balloon
“Normal is relative.”
Synopsis
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?
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
THE BLACK BALLOON - U.S. TRAILER
Type: Trailer • Published 2008-11-11
Top Cast
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Rhys Wakefield
Thomas Mollison
Luke Ford
Charlie Mollison
Toni Collette
Maggie Mollison
Erik Thomson
Simon Mollison
Gemma Ward
Jackie Masters
Sarah Woods
Woman Next Door
Sam Fraser
Kid Next Door
Zelie Bullen
Mother in Van
Anthony Phelan
Mr. Masters
Deborah Piper
Janet-Social Worker
Henry Nixon
Trevor-Social Worker
Rebecca Massey
Miss Babb
Ryan Clark
Dean
Aaron Glenane
Bucko
Lisa Kowalski
Sally
Nathin Art Butler
Chris
Firass Dirani
Russell
Kate Box
Elizibeth
Release History & Theatrical Window
December 5, 2008
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$5M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$5M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
1x
+undefined net gain
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Elissa Down
- Screenplay & Story
- Duncan Thompson, Kelly Lefever, Elissa Down, Jimmy Jack
- Original Score
- Michael Yezerski
- Original Title
- The Black Balloon
- Country of Origin
- Australia, United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 37m
- Production Budget
- $5M
- Worldwide Gross
- $5M
- Production Studios
- Black Balloon Productions, Icon Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Elissa Down
Duncan Thompson, Kelly Lefever, Elissa Down, Jimmy Jack
Michael Yezerski
Denson Baker
Veronika Jenet
Tristram Miall, Toni Collette
Department Leadership Roster
Veronika Jenet
Editor
Tristram Miall
Producer
Elissa Down
Director
Denson Baker
Director of Photography
Michael Yezerski
Original Music Composer
Claire Granville
Costume Design
Nicholas McCallum
Production Design
Elissa Down
Writer
Jimmy Jack
Writer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Black Balloon.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Black Balloon.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Black Balloon
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Black Balloon about?
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?
Who directed The Black Balloon?
The Black Balloon was directed by Elissa Down.
Who stars in The Black Balloon?
The principal cast of The Black Balloon includes Rhys Wakefield, Luke Ford, Toni Collette, Erik Thomson, Gemma Ward.
When was The Black Balloon released and how long is it?
The Black Balloon was released in 2008 with a total runtime of 1h 37m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Black Balloon?
The Black Balloon had a reported production budget of $5M and grossed $5M at the worldwide box office (1 return on budget, classified as a budget recovered).
Who composed the musical score for The Black Balloon?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Black Balloon was composed by Michael Yezerski.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Black Balloon?
The Black Balloon holds official age classifications: GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).