Brief Encounter

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Brief Encounter

1946

1h 26m

Romance

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

78 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Returning home from a shopping trip to a nearby town, bored suburban housewife Laura Jesson (Celia Johnson) is thrown by happenstance into an acquaintance with virtuous doctor Alec Harvey (Trevor Howard). 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.

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Critics Consensus

Brief Encounter adds a small but valuable gem to the Lean filmography, depicting a doomed couple's illicit connection with affecting sensitivity and a pair of powerful performance.

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Mildred Stockard

Houston Chronicle

Aug 18, 2026

It is merely an amusing sketch, a short episode in a woman's life that has been made into a tedious full-length picture. Its plot is thin, and when stretched to the proportions of a feature picture, it becomes almost nonexistent.

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Gita Bumpass

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com

Aug 18, 2026

[Noel Coward's] story is an honest portrayal of an interlude that might have come from real life. Emphasis is on character and feeling, with the result a quality film for adults.

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Times (UK) Staff

The Times (UK)

Aug 18, 2026

Mr. Noel Coward has worked in a deliberately minor key, and while the notes are struck with an admirable clarity and precision, the composition is lacking in dramatic force and imaginative range.

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George Bourke

Miami Herald

Aug 18, 2026

"Brief Encounter" is one of those worthwhile film efforts that will be mentioned whenever great pictures are the subject of conversation.

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Herbert Cohn

Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Aug 18, 2026

It is an honest and casual bit of drama acted with amazing simplicity by Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard, and told by Mr. Coward with crisp originality.

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Dilys Powell

Sunday Times (UK)

Aug 18, 2026

[The film is told] with a breadth of sympathy less expected in Mr. Coward than his professional skill: but equally contributory to the total effect of what, in my opinion, is his best film.

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Stephanie

Feb 9, 2023

Brief Encounter was excellent. The cinematic elements of the film deserved an Oscar!

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bruce F

@bruce999 Sep 11, 2026

highly over -rated. A little bit interesting, but many times i wanted to turn it off, as it was boring. we never hear of his family life. like why is it ok, for him to persue her. i'd skip this one, unless you like being bored, and fall asleep. don't listen to all the high reviews... everyone appears to be going along with the idea that this movie is superb. utter nonsense. there's no suspense, no emotion, no true love, just two people who like each other....and the womans voices in her head of what she is thinking. its not a bad movie. it is well acted... but a boring script. the poor acters.

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G L.

@RT09869090 Jun 22, 2026

Two strangers fall in love during their brief, emotional affair but they never cross the line.

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Mike N.

@artcarney55 Apr 6, 2026

Excellent film. Wonderful script and performances. Film still hold up. Very moving

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Russ G

@RT78760655 Feb 3, 2026

I tried to get into this slow-moving melodrama but the atmospherics alone weren't enough to hold my attention; I bailed on it after about half an hour.

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Ed .

@RT01276001 Aug 29, 2025

Miss Mackay would NOT approve. aka Don't wanna be all by myself It's rare for a motion picture to have as its protagonist someone who would be viewed with both disdain and compassion. It's rarer for such a film to do so in the most tasteful way. This is a testament to the writing and directing skills of a Coward and a Lean, mean directing machine. A must viewing for all affair partners!

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David Lean

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Celia Johnson

Laura Jesson

Trevor Howard

Dr Alec Harvey

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Synopsis

Returning home from a shopping trip to a nearby town, bored suburban housewife Laura Jesson (Celia Johnson) is thrown by happenstance into an acquaintance with virtuous doctor Alec Harvey (Trevor Howard). 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.

Director: David Lean
Producer: Noël Coward, Anthony Havelock-Allan, Ronald Neame
Screenwriter: Noël Coward, Anthony Havelock-Allan, David Lean, Ronald Neame
Distributor: Paramount Pictures, Samuel Goldwyn Company, Universal Pictures, Criterion Collection
Production Co: G.C.F., The Rank Organization [gb], Cineguild
Genre: Romance, Drama
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 24, 1946, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 18, 2016
Runtime: 1h 26m
Sound Mix: Mono

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