Billy Liar (1963): cast, story & where to watch
1963 · Film · ★ 6.9
Released in 1963, Billy Liar is a comedy, drama and romance film directed by John Schlesinger, running about 98 minutes. “one guy ... three girls ... one ring!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A young Englishman dreams of escaping from his working class family and dead-end job as an undertaker's assistant. A number of indiscretions cause him to lie in order to avoid the penalties. His life turns into a mess and he has an opportunity to run away and leave it all behind.
Who’s in it. Billy Liar stars Tom Courtenay as William Terrence 'Billy' Fisher, Wilfred Pickles as Geoffrey Fisher, Mona Washbourne as Alice Fisher and Ethel Griffies as Grandma Florence, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.9/10, Billy Liar has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $35.6K at the box office.
Where to watch. In GB you can stream it on Studiocanal Presents Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, BFI Player and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Billy Liar page.
If you liked it. Fans of Billy Liar tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Billy Liar (1963)?
- In GB, Billy Liar is available to stream on Studiocanal Presents Amazon Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Google Play Movies and BFI Player. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Billy Liar worth watching?
- Billy Liar holds an audience score of 6.9 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, drama and romance. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Billy Liar?
- Billy Liar stars Tom Courtenay, Wilfred Pickles, Mona Washbourne, Ethel Griffies and Finlay Currie.
- When was Billy Liar released?
- Billy Liar was released in 1963, with a runtime of about 98 minutes.