Common Sense Media Review
By JK Sooja
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Language, fear, distressing scenes in fascinating docu.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Trainwreck: Balloon Boy
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In TRAINWRECK: BALLOON BOY, Richard Heene builds a homemade "spaceship" balloon aircraft in 2009, with his wife and three young boys (ages 6, 8, and 10) lovingly helping along the way. But when the balloon aircraft accidentally lifts off into the sky, they realize that their youngest boy might very well be inside it.
Is It Any Good?
This film deftly summarizes this incredible 2009 story chronologically, allowing those who aren't familiar with it to experience the twists and turns afresh. It also greatly helps that the family Trainwreck: Balloon Boy profiles is full of seemingly legit, truthful, and baffled individuals who marvel at how their story became so overblown. On the other hand, more than a handful of moments after the initial drama was over clearly indicate subterfuge of some kind, and yet, for each instance, there's some kind of reason offered as to why this thing happened.
While some viewers won't believe a word of anything Richard Heene has to say, many other viewers will genuinely find themselves repeatedly jumping back over the proverbial fence. In the end, another fascinating possibility tacitly reveals itself: Might the truth involve both possibilities? The parents always had some notion of manipulating a drama of some kind for fame, but didn't specifically plan this particular accident. Or they did but didn't tell the children? Who knows. And that's what makes this Trainwreck absolutely captivating.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about fame hunting, hoaxes, and reality television. Do you think Trainwreck: Balloon Boy depicts the Heene family fairly? Why, or why not?
Do you believe the Heene family or not? How many times did you go back and forth between believing them and not believing them?
Are you eager to see "the big thing" Richard is working on? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : July 15, 2025
- Cast : Richard Heene , Mayumi Heene , Falcon Heene , Robert Sanchez
- Director : Gillian Pachter
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Documentary
- Run time : 52 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : July 27, 2025
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