Roman Holiday (1953): cast, story & where to watch

1953 · Film · ★ 7.9

Roman Holiday poster

Released in 1953, Roman Holiday is a comedy, drama and romance film directed by William Wyler, running about 119 minutes. “Romance in romantic Rome!” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Overwhelmed by her suffocating schedule, touring European princess Ann takes off for a night while in Rome. When a sedative she took from her doctor kicks in, however, she falls asleep on a park bench and is found by an American reporter, Joe Bradley, who takes her back to his apartment for safety. At work the next morning, Joe finds out Ann's regal identity and bets his editor he can get exclusive interview with her, but romance soon gets in the way.

Who’s in it. Roman Holiday stars Gregory Peck as Joe Bradley, Audrey Hepburn as Princess Ann, Eddie Albert as Irving Radovich and Hartley Power as Mr. Hennessy, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.9/10, Roman Holiday has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $12M at the box office.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on YouTube TV and rent or buy it from JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Roman Holiday page.

If you liked it. Fans of Roman Holiday tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.

Frequently asked

Where can I watch Roman Holiday (1953)?
In US, Roman Holiday is available to stream on YouTube TV, and rent or buy from JustWatch TV, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
Is Roman Holiday worth watching?
Roman Holiday holds an audience score of 7.9 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, drama and romance. Most viewers rate it highly.
Who stars in Roman Holiday?
Roman Holiday stars Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn, Eddie Albert, Hartley Power and Harcourt Williams.
When was Roman Holiday released?
Roman Holiday was released in 1953, with a runtime of about 119 minutes.