Sign up
Trailer

Brief Encounter

1945Movie1 h 26 minNR

DramaRomance
87
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.0Metacritic927.5Rotten Tomatoes95%91%

A profoundly sad, deeply romantic drama movie about history and the mind, with standout performances and direction.

Good for date night · friends night · thought-provoking

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

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for laughs, adrenaline or scares.

Movies with

Story

A story of the most precious moments in a woman's life!

Returning home from a shopping trip to a nearby town, bored suburban housewife Laura Jesson is thrown by happenstance into an acquaintance with virtuous doctor Alec Harvey. Their casual friendship soon develops during their weekly visits into something more emotionally fulfilling than either expected, and they must wrestle with the potential havoc their deepening relationship would have on their lives and the lives of those they love.

Feels like

  • Melancholic Romance
  • Non-Linear Narrative
  • Mid-Century British Drama
  • Emotional Catharsis
  • Iconic Score
  • Psychological Depth
  • Tragic Love Story
  • Slow-Burn Intimacy
  • Wistful Nostalgia
  • Masterful Performance

Cast

17 of 17

Crew

Directed by
David Lean
Written by
Noël Coward
Produced by
Noël Coward, Ronald Neame, Anthony Havelock-Allan
Music by
Harry Miller, Desmond Dew, Stanley Lambourne

Everyone

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

Facts

November 24, 1945 · 1 h 26 min · NR

Released
November 24, 1945
Runtime
1 h 26 min
Age rating
NR
Content
Nudity, Sexual Content
Genres
Drama, Romance
Original language
English
Made in
United Kingdom
Budget
$1 million
Available in
35 countries

Tropes

Caught in the Rain, Organ Grinder, Second-Person Narration +9

  • Caught in the Rain
  • Organ Grinder
  • Second-Person Narration
  • Romantic False Lead
  • Leitmotif
  • Sleeping Single
  • In Case You Forgot Who Wrote It
  • Hero of Another Story
  • Held Gaze
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Barkeeping
  • In Medias Res
  • Meet Cute

12 of 32 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream Brief Encounter?"

Questions about Brief Encounter

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Brief Encounter?

HBO MaxThe RokuCriterionPluto TVShout! Factory TVFlixFlingPlexBFI Player

In the United States, Brief Encounter streams on HBO Max, Criterion, FlixFling, and BFI Player, and it is free with ads on The Roku, Pluto TV, Shout! Factory TV, and Plex. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, and FlixFling. It also streams in 9 other countries.

Is Brief Encounter worth watching?

87
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 87 (IMDb 8, Rotten Tomatoes 95%, and Metacritic 92). Critics rate it higher (94 out of 100) than audiences (82).

Is Brief Encounter 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.

Is Brief Encounter plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and pathos (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

What tropes does Brief Encounter use?

Caught in the RainOrgan GrinderSecond-Person NarrationRomantic False LeadLeitmotifSleeping SingleIn Case You Forgot Who Wrote ItHero of Another StoryHeld GazeObsessive-Compulsive BarkeepingIn Medias ResMeet Cuteand 20 more

TV Tropes lists 32 tropes for it, including Caught in the Rain, Organ Grinder, and Second-Person Narration.