Brief Encounter (1945)
0.1282Canon Score · ranked #219 all time
Aggregated from 7 of 31 authoritative lists, weighted by authority and adjusted for each list's scope and age. How scoring works →
About the film
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.
Why it ranks #219
Every list on which Brief Encounter appears, with its position as published.
| List | Authority | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Halliwell's Top 1000 (2005) | Critics' canon | #106 / 1041 |
| Letterboxd Top 500 (2026-07 snapshot) | Editorial list | #139 / 500 |
| Empire 500 Greatest (2008) | Editorial list | #171 / 500 |
| Sight & Sound Critics' 250 (2022) | Major international poll | #213 / 264 |
| 1001 Movies (2003-2024 union) | Critics' canon | Selected |
| NYT Best 1000 Movies (2004) | Critics' canon | Selected |
| Cannes Palme d'Or winners | Award | Winner |