Reviewers generally describe Ballon as a highly suspenseful, "edge-of-your-seat" thriller that effectively captures the oppressive atmosphere of the GDR and the constant threat of the Stasi.

Some reviewers felt the script relied on occasionally "showy" or "cliché" Hollywood tropes to manufacture extra suspense.

Strong performances, particularly Thomas Kretschmann as a "creepy" and effective Stasi antagonist. High research effort evident in the setting and equipment. Score

: Critics on IMDb praise the film's relentless tension, noting that even though the outcome is a matter of historical record, the storytelling maintains a "cat-and-mouse" intensity throughout.