Billy Liar

Play trailer

Billy Liar

1963,

1h 38m,

Comedy/

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

92%

24 Reviews

Tomatometer

84%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

24 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

A young Englishman dreams of escaping from his working class family and dead-end job as an undertaker's assistant. A number of indiscretions cause him to lie in order to avoid the penalties. His life turns into a mess, and he has an opportunity to run away and leave it all behind.

Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

Aug 21, 2026

5/5

The genius of this kitchen sink drama, and the reason it is the finest film from the British new wave, is that it dares to deliver a bleak social realist message through bonkers flights of fancy.

Go to Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Jul 30, 2026

3/5

I still can’t bring myself to join in the chorus of praise. It is however a lovely performance from Courtenay, an enduringly amazing actor who is still doing outstanding work right now.

Go to Full Review

Peter Harcourt

Sight & Sound

Feb 11, 2020

Finally, of course, the film is Tom Courtenay's. In this, his finest part so far, no praise could be too much and yet all seems impossible.

Go to Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Jan 20, 2026

1.5/4

...a relentlessly erratic endeavor that remains, for much of its running time, unable to wholeheartedly capture the viewer’s interest and attention...

Go to Full Review

David Parkinson

Radio Times

Jun 7, 2024

5/5

A hit on page and stage, Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall's Billy Liar was brought to the screen by John Schlesinger as a faultless blend of social realism and satirical fantasy.

Go to Full Review

Penelope Gilliatt

Observer (UK)

Mar 9, 2024

There is nothing sentimental in the film, which is buoyantly accurate and finally very bitter. Tom Courtenay's gritty performance is one of the things that contribute to its seriousness: he's too good an actor to try to make a character sympathetic.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Leia R

Jun 28, 2017

Quirky, but entertaining. A nice time capsule.

Draco S

Feb 15, 2017

The energy and pace grabs you, then the wonderful editing highlighting Billy's vivid imagination keep you enthralled. Great film with a great performance by Courtenay

See more

Han S

Feb 11, 2017

Billy Liar takes it's time to set up it's story which is impressive given it's short run time. It is truly the epitome of British Social Realism films, with cinematography very innovative for it's time and a very relatable protagonist. A-

See more

Read all reviews

John Schlesinger

Director

Tom Courtenay

Billy Fisher

Julie Christie

Liz

Wilfred Pickles

Geoffrey Fisher

Mona Washbourne

Actor

Ethel Griffies

Actor

Ball of Fire

100%

89%

Ball of Fire

Watchlist

4 Little Girls

100%

89%

4 Little Girls

Watchlist

Angels With Dirty Faces

100%

92%

Angels With Dirty Faces

Watchlist

Of Mice and Men

100%

85%

Of Mice and Men

Watchlist

The Gunfighter

93%

89%

The Gunfighter

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

A young Englishman dreams of escaping from his working class family and dead-end job as an undertaker's assistant. A number of indiscretions cause him to lie in order to avoid the penalties. His life turns into a mess, and he has an opportunity to run away and leave it all behind.

Director: John Schlesinger
Producer: Joseph Janni
Screenwriter: Willis Hall, Willis Hall, Keith Waterhouse, Keith Waterhouse, Keith Waterhouse
Distributor: Continental Distributing Inc., Rialto Pictures
Production Co: Vic Films, Anglo-Amalgamated Productions
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 16, 1963, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Aug 14, 2026
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 2, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.6K
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings