Secrets & Lies (1996): cast, story & where to watch
1996 · Film · ★ 7.6
Released in 1996, Secrets & Lies is a drama film directed by Mike Leigh, running about 142 minutes.
What it’s about. After her adoptive mother dies, Hortense, a successful black optometrist, seeks out her birth mother. She's shocked when her research leads her to a working class white woman, Cynthia. At first Cynthia denies the claim, but she eventually admits to birthing Hortense as a teenager, and the two begin to bond. However, when Cynthia invites Hortense to a family barbecue, Cynthia's already tense relationship with her family becomes even more complicated.
Who’s in it. Secrets & Lies stars Brenda Blethyn as Cynthia Rose Purley, Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Hortense Cumberbatch, Timothy Spall as Maurice Purley and Phyllis Logan as Monica Purley, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.6/10, Secrets & Lies has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $13.4M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Criterion Channel and HBO Max and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Secrets & Lies page.
If you liked it. Fans of Secrets & Lies tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Secrets & Lies (1996)?
- In US, Secrets & Lies 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 Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Secrets & Lies worth watching?
- Secrets & Lies holds an audience score of 7.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Secrets & Lies?
- Secrets & Lies stars Brenda Blethyn, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Timothy Spall, Phyllis Logan and Claire Rushbrook.
- When was Secrets & Lies released?
- Secrets & Lies was released in 1996, with a runtime of about 142 minutes.