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Trailer

The French Lieutenant's Woman

1981Movie2 h 4 minR

DramaRomance
71
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb6.9Letterboxd3.5/5Metacritic647.4Rotten Tomatoes83%67%

A deeply romantic, slow-burning drama movie about history and show business.

Good for date night · friends night · drop-in friendly

Skip it if you want fast pacing · you want to half-watch while scrolling

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for laughs, scares or brutality.

Movies with

Story

She was lost from the moment she saw him.

In this story-within-a-story, Anna is an actress starring opposite Mike in a period piece about the forbidden love between their respective characters, Sarah and Charles. Both actors are involved in serious relationships, but the passionate nature of the script leads to an off-camera love affair as well. While attempting to maintain their composure and professionalism, Anna and Mike struggle to come to terms with their infidelity.

Feels like

  • Literary Adaptation
  • Meta-Narrative
  • Dual Romance
  • Historical Drama
  • Psychological Complexity
  • Infidelity
  • Star-Crossed Lovers
  • British Cinema
  • Ambiguous Ending

Cast

24 of 27

Crew

Directed by
Karel Reisz
Written by
Harold Pinter, John Fowles
Produced by
Leon Clore
Music by
Carl Davis

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

August 28, 1981 · 2 h 4 min · R

Released
August 28, 1981
Runtime
2 h 4 min
Age rating
R
Content
Sexual Content
Genres
Drama, Romance, History
Original language
English
Made in
United Kingdom
Budget
$8 million
Box office
$27 million
Available in
117 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Tropes

Innocent Blue Eyes, In-Series Nickname, Vomit Indiscretion Shot +9

  • Innocent Blue Eyes
  • In-Series Nickname
  • Vomit Indiscretion Shot
  • Distracted by My Own Sexy
  • Bloodstained Defloration
  • Wham Line
  • Wounded Gazelle Gambit
  • Hired Help as Family
  • Nobility Marries Money
  • Goal-Oriented Evolution
  • Maiden Aunt
  • Reasonable Authority Figure

12 of 30 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream The French Lieutenant's Woman?"

Questions about The French Lieutenant's Woman

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The French Lieutenant's Woman?

PrimeThe RokuMGM+HooplaTubi TV

In the United States, The French Lieutenant's Woman streams on Prime and MGM+, and it is free with ads on The Roku, Hoopla, and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 12 other countries.

Is The French Lieutenant's Woman worth watching?

71
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 71 (IMDb 6.9, Letterboxd 3.5 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 83%, and Metacritic 64).

Is The French Lieutenant's Woman good for date night?

and 1 moreDate NightPartner WatchAdultsFriends NightPublic Viewing Safe

Yes: romance is 9 of 10, and the viewing guide lists it for date night.

Can I half-watch The French Lieutenant's Woman?

Easy watchDemanding

No, it needs your attention: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for meta narrative and 8 for non-linear narrative.

Was The French Lieutenant's Woman a box office hit?

Budget$8 million
Box office$27 million

Yes: it cost about $8 million to make and earned $27 million worldwide, 3.4 times its budget.

What tropes does The French Lieutenant's Woman use?

Innocent Blue EyesIn-Series NicknameVomit Indiscretion ShotDistracted by My Own SexyBloodstained DeflorationWham LineWounded Gazelle GambitHired Help as FamilyNobility Marries MoneyGoal-Oriented EvolutionMaiden AuntReasonable Authority Figureand 18 more

TV Tropes lists 30 tropes for it, including Innocent Blue Eyes, In-Series Nickname, and Vomit Indiscretion Shot.