While escorting a group of children through New York City, a harried man loses hold of a bouquet of one hundred balloons. Among them, a single black balloon drifts free, seemingly lifeless, only to revive and embark on a strange journey through the city. Searching for companionship, it drifts among the highs and lows of human life, discovering both joy and despair along the way. Conceived as a children’s tale but emerging as a surreal urban fable, The Black Balloon follows the haunting odyssey of a balloon that longs to belong.
Directed by Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie
new york city
short film
IMDB
N/A
Cast
Eléonore Hendricks
Larry Sloman
Crew
Benny Safdie
Director
Josh Safdie
Director
Benny Safdie
Writer
Josh Safdie
Writer
Benny Safdie
Editor
Sean Price Williams
Director of Photography
Eléonore Hendricks
Casting Director
Josh Safdie
Casting Director
Benny Safdie
Casting Director
Benny Safdie
Sound Recordist
Nēv Schulman
Production Assistant
Popular Reviews
29 reviews
Faizi
Not as good as gold vs silver
Not as good as gold vs silver
1
Kourtis
5.0★ · 06/27/26
Great score, and I really enjoyed dropping in on the lives of different New Yorkers throughout the film. That structure kept things interesting, but overall this wasn’t for me.
Great score, and I really enjoyed dropping in on the lives of different New Yorkers throughout the film. That structure kept things interesting, but overall this wasn’t for me.
Hayden Matthews
6.0★ · 05/24/26
the only film to not have "no balloons were harmed in the making" during the credits 😓
the only film to not have "no balloons were harmed in the making" during the credits 😓
MaxRako
8.0★ · 03/11/26
Almost as good as good time.
Almost as good as good time.
Priscilla Morris
7.0★ · 08/06/25
Muy lindo. Si todo el corto hubiera sido solo el globo flotando por ahí, sin diálogos, también me hubiese gustado.
Muy lindo. Si todo el corto hubiera sido solo el globo flotando por ahí, sin diálogos, también me hubiese gustado.
