Monday Morning Maybe

Add your email and we'll match picks to the services you stream at home.

Poster for Children of Paradise

Children of Paradise

Seen it?

1945 | 190 min | Drama, Romance

Friday Night Flick

Why it’s a Friday Night Flick

Critics loved it (98% on Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences rate it highly (8.0 out of 10). Make plans for this one.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for romantics. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Warm and romantic.
The pace
Unhurried and epic, at 3 hr 10 min.
What might put you off
  • It's long: 3 hr 10 min.
  • It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Made in 1945: an older pace and style.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

In a chaotic 19th-century Paris teeming with aristocrats, thieves, psychics, and courtesans, theater mime Baptiste is in love with the mysterious actress Garance. But Garance, in turn, is loved by three other men: pretentious actor Frederick, conniving thief Lacenaire, and Count Edouard of Montray.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 96 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesStrong

    8.0 out of 10

  • AwardsBelow par

    Nominated for 1 Oscar.

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $1K worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 60K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

More like this

Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks

Cast & crew

Directed by Marcel Carné

  • ArlettyClaire Reine, dite Garance
  • Jean-Louis BarraultBaptiste Debureau
  • Pierre BrasseurFrédérick Lemaître
  • Marcel HerrandPierre-François Lacenaire
  • María CasaresNathalie
  • Louis SalouÉdouard comte de Montray
  • Pierre RenoirJericho
  • Jane MarkenMme Hermine
  • Gaston ModotFil de Soie
  • Fabien LorisAvril