Brief Encounter

1h 26m · 1945 · Directed by David Lean · 4.3 / 5 on Letterboxd

Brief Encounter (1945) runs 1h 26m, directed by David Lean. It is one of 3,647 films in the 100 Minute Movies catalog — every one rated 3.0 or higher by Letterboxd members and short enough to finish in an evening.

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.

Genres: Romance, Drama

Where to watch: HBO Max (US, checked 9 July 2026)