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Brief Encounter Reviews

One of the greatest classic romances, beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. This timeless cinematic gem is just as memorable as David Lean's big, epic films.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Feb 16, 2024

For a movie where it appears that very little happens, this classic 1940s British romantic drama packs an almighty emotional punch.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 6, 2021

Rate this offering as one of the better British films.

Full Review | Feb 1, 2021

Lean solidified his mastery of emotional intimacy even without the epic scope, and crafted what many consider to be one of his finest achievements.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4 | Aug 6, 2019

If it was made today it would probably be tawdry and tasteless but here it strikes just the right note.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | May 14, 2019

...captures roiling emotions with elegant panache.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4 | Aug 31, 2018

This is a poet's film, harsh, cruel and lovely. There have been few better British films than Brief Encounter even at a time when our studios are taking their place in the vanguard of this great contemporary art.

Full Review | Jan 23, 2018

Lean's sad, buttoned-up account of unconsummated love is about all of us and our cautious natures.

Full Review | Jan 17, 2018

Brief Encounter makes an illicit love affair more than that, giving the doomed romance more of a soul than a thousand tragic romances since then.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4 | May 31, 2016

Romance and goodness are evoked with equal power and from these conflicting impulses, voluptuous demons spring eternal.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Nov 9, 2015

The leads are outstanding, but credit should also go to the forgotten Cyril Raymond, whose decent dullness as Johnson's husband makes those stolen Thursdays seem so special.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Nov 5, 2015

One of cinema's classic love stories.

Noël Coward's Brief Encounter is, to my mind, not only the most mature work Mr Coward has yet prepared for the cinema, but one of the most emotionally honest and deeply satisfactory films that have ever been made in this country.

Full Review | Nov 3, 2015

One of the most vivid, impassioned and painfully believable love stories ever committed to celluloid.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Nov 2, 2015

Sheer perfection-the gold standard of tragic romances whose influence can still be seen to this day.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Oct 9, 2012

... still embraced as one of the most romantic films ever made, and it has earned its reputation.

Full Review | May 4, 2012

Haunting in its evocative mood -- one enhanced by Robert Krasker's cinematography and Lean's meticulous, muted direction -- Brief Encounter primarily hinges on the extraordinary performance by Celia Johnson.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4 | Apr 25, 2012

Retrata seu par romântico com sensibilidade e complexidade (especialmente para a época), pecando apenas pela insistência em introduzir diversas cenas de alívio cômico conduzidas por Holloway e Carey.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 15, 2009

Lovely, small-scale romance by David Lean.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Mar 17, 2009

Solid romantic classic directed by David Lean. Johnson and Howard are terrific.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Oct 16, 2008

Cast & crew

User reviews

Brief Encounter

75 years later, it's still the most real romance ever put to film.

Apr 8, 2021

The 36 Year Old Celia Johnson

richardchatten
Dec 15, 2019

A simple film with complex emotions

Oct 9, 2000
Jan 17, 2006

Briefly, a great film

Jun 19, 2002

An excellent, charming, moving film.

Nov 21, 2000

Yes, an affair, but really a tribute to committed married love

Mar 1, 2006

It's no use pretending that it hasn't happened because it has

Dec 21, 2006

The most famous romantic film of all time?

Leofwine_draca
Feb 14, 2012

I never thought I would appreciate Rachmaninov's music until now

TheLittleSongbird
Feb 21, 2009

Steam Trains and Rachmaninoff

JamesHitchcock
Apr 4, 2012
Dec 6, 2020

"Can you really say goodbye and never see me again?"

classicsoncall
Mar 22, 2018

"Whatever your dream was, it wasn't a very happy one, was it?"

justapilgrim
Apr 22, 2017

How Can I Describe Perfection.In Two words:Simply Sublime

vivian_baum_cabral
May 24, 2003
gbill-74877
May 19, 2018

The Original Doomed Love Affair, Beautifully Restored With a Soaring Johnson

Dec 19, 2005

Celia Johnson terrific

SnoopyStyle
Dec 14, 2014

Simple, Honest, and Unforgettable.

Harold_Robbins
Aug 9, 2004

Moving and intelligent film about a love affair initiated at a railroad station

Feb 2, 2021

this is a film very close to perfection by this reviewer's lights, and hopefully yours too

lasttimeisaw
Jan 14, 2018

a brief triumph

Oct 5, 2005

Closely watched trains.

Oct 30, 2009

A small tragedy that hasn't aged much

tapio_hietamaki
Jun 15, 2013

Dated? Obviously, but that's not the reason I don't like it...

Nov 6, 2005