Brief Encounter (1945)
Kernel Score: 87% · 692 ratings · Rated NR
Genres: Drama, Romance
Released: 1945-11-24
Runtime: 86 minutes
Where to watch Brief Encounter
- Stream: FlixFling, HBO Max
- Free with ads: The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Shout! Factory TV, YouTube Free, Plex
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
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.
Brief Encounter parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that Brief Encounter is a classic drama-romance about a married woman's emotional affair with another man.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Some — Centers on an emotional extramarital love affair, though depicted with restraint typical of 1940s cinema.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official NR rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Brief Encounter
If you liked Brief Encounter, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Revolutionary Road (2008) — 79%
- American Beauty (1999) — 94%
- Malcolm & Marie (2021) — 79%
- The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) — 82%
- Beyond the Universe (2022) — 88%
- The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) — 78%
- Gone Girl (2014) — 90%
- Fireworks (1997) — 85%
Director
Cast
- Celia Johnson as Laura Jesson
- Trevor Howard as Dr. Alec Harvey
- Stanley Holloway as Albert Godby
- Joyce Carey as Myrtle Bagot
- Cyril Raymond as Fred Jesson
- Everley Gregg as Dolly Messiter
- Marjorie Mars as Mary Norton
- Margaret Barton as Tea Room Assistant Beryl Walters
- Wilfred Babbage as Policeman at War Memorial (uncredited)
- Alfie Bass as Waiter at the Royal (uncredited)
Brief Encounter FAQ
Is Brief Encounter good?
Brief Encounter has an 87% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 692 audience ratings.
Where can I watch Brief Encounter?
In the US you can stream Brief Encounter on FlixFling and HBO Max, watch it free with ads on The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Shout! Factory TV, YouTube Free and Plex and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home and FlixFling.
Is Brief Encounter OK for kids?
Brief Encounter is rated NR. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Brief Encounter is a classic drama-romance about a married woman's emotional affair with another man.
What movies are like Brief Encounter?
If you liked Brief Encounter, try Revolutionary Road, American Beauty, Malcolm & Marie and The Bad and the Beautiful.