Brief Encounter (1945): cast, story & where to watch
1945 · Film · ★ 7.8
Released in 1945, Brief Encounter is a drama and romance film directed by David Lean, running about 86 minutes. “A story of the most precious moments in woman's life!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. 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.
Who’s in it. Brief Encounter stars Celia Johnson as Laura Jesson, Trevor Howard as Dr. Alec Harvey, Stanley Holloway as Albert Godby and Joyce Carey as Myrtle Bagot, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.8/10, Brief Encounter has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Criterion Channel and FlixFling and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home and FlixFling. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Brief Encounter page.
If you liked it. Fans of Brief Encounter tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Brief Encounter (1945)?
- In US, Brief Encounter is available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and Criterion Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Brief Encounter worth watching?
- Brief Encounter holds an audience score of 7.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and romance. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Brief Encounter?
- Brief Encounter stars Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, Stanley Holloway, Joyce Carey and Cyril Raymond.
- When was Brief Encounter released?
- Brief Encounter was released in 1945, with a runtime of about 86 minutes.