Movie

Brief Encounter

“A story of the most precious moments in a woman's life!”

★ 7.7(703)19451h 26m

Brief Encounter is streaming on Criterion Channel and FlixFling in Canada, and available to rent or buy on Apple TV Store and FlixFling. Availability checked 16 June 2026.

Where to watch Brief Encounter

🇨🇦 Canada

Criterion ChannelStream

Good to know

Director: David Lean
Release date: 1945-11-24
Runtime: 1h 26m
Language: English
Budget: $1,200,000
Status: Released
Country: United Kingdom
Studio: Cineguild

Brief Encounter — trailer

About Brief Encounter

Brief Encounter is a 1945 movie in the Drama and Romance genres, directed by David Lean, starring Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard and Stanley Holloway. It has a runtime of 1 hour 26 minutes. It holds an average rating of 7.7/10 from 703 viewers. Below you can see where to watch Brief Encounter in Canada — across streaming, rental and purchase options — along with the full cast, trailer and viewer reviews.

Synopsis

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.

Cast

Celia Johnson

Laura Jesson

Trevor Howard

Dr. Alec Harvey

Stanley Holloway

Albert Godby

Joyce Carey

Myrtle Bagot

Cyril Raymond

Fred Jesson

Everley Gregg

Dolly Messiter

Marjorie Mars

Mary Norton

Margaret Barton

Tea Room Assistant Beryl Walters

Wilfred Babbage

Policeman at War Memorial (uncredited)

Alfie Bass

Waiter at the Royal (uncredited)

Wallace Bosco

Doctor After Bobbie's Accident (uncredited)

Sydney Bromley

Johnnie, the Second Soldier (uncredited)

Themes & keywords

infidelityfarewellhusband wife relationshipnarrationmarriagehousewifedutyblack and whitedoctorlove affairtearjerkertold in flashbackimpossible loveshameguilty conscience