Shoot the Piano Player (1960)
Kernel Score: 80% · 437 ratings · Rated NR
Genres: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: 1960-11-25
Runtime: 85 minutes
Where to watch Shoot the Piano Player
- Stream: The Criterion Channel, Darkroom, HBO Max
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Charlie is a former classical pianist who has changed his name and now plays jazz in a grimy Paris bar. When Charlie's brothers, Richard and Chico, surface and ask for Charlie's help while on the run from gangsters they have scammed, he aids their escape. Soon Charlie and Lena, a waitress at the same bar, face trouble when the gangsters arrive, looking for his brothers.
Shoot the Piano Player parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that Shoot the Piano Player is a French noir crime drama involving gangsters and a man on the run.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — Organized crime and gangster pursuit drive the plot, implying gunplay and danger typical of noir thrillers.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official NR rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Shoot the Piano Player
If you liked Shoot the Piano Player, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Le Samouraï (1967) — 89%
- Le Doulos (1962) — 82%
- Detour (1945) — 81%
- Brute Force (1947) — 80%
- The Asphalt Jungle (1950) — 84%
- Election 2 (2006) — 82%
- Election (2005) — 78%
- The Butcher (1970) — 78%
Director
Cast
- Charles Aznavour as Charlie Kohler/Edouard Saroyan
- Marie Dubois as Léna
- Nicole Berger as Thérèse Saroyan
- Michèle Mercier as Clarisse
- Serge Davri as Plyne
- Claude Mansard as Momo
- Richard Kanayan as Fido Saroyan
- Albert Rémy as Chico Saroyan
- Jean-Jacques Aslanian as Richard Saroyan
- Daniel Boulanger as Ernest
Shoot the Piano Player FAQ
Is Shoot the Piano Player good?
Shoot the Piano Player has an 80% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 437 audience ratings.
Where can I watch Shoot the Piano Player?
In the US you can stream Shoot the Piano Player on The Criterion Channel, Darkroom and HBO Max and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango At Home.
Is Shoot the Piano Player OK for kids?
Shoot the Piano Player is rated NR. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Shoot the Piano Player is a French noir crime drama involving gangsters and a man on the run.
What movies are like Shoot the Piano Player?
If you liked Shoot the Piano Player, try Le Samouraï, Le Doulos, Detour and Brute Force.