Billy Liar

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Billy Liar

Released Dec 16, 1963

1h 38m

Comedy

Drama

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95%

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21 Reviews

83%

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.

Peter Harcourt

Sight & Sound

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.

Feb 11, 2020

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Ryan Gilbey

New Statesman

It's the director's most assured work, and it includes Courtenay's greatest performance. The young actor balances zestiness and frustration, levity and rage, and never soft-pedals his character's more unsympathetic tendencies.

May 31, 2013

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Empire Magazine

Rated: 4/5

Aug 17, 2007

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David Parkinson

Radio Times

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.

Rated: 5/5

Jun 7, 2024

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Penelope Gilliatt

Observer (UK)

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.

Mar 9, 2024

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Kat Halstead

Common Sense Media

Billy Liar takes what could be a wildly unlikable character and creates an antihero it's possible to root for, his frustration and rage making him more sympathetic than his selfish tendencies should allow.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 13, 2023

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Audience Member

Billy is a compulsive liar and day dreamer. He also lives a bigger life than pretty much anyone so he's probably the real winner. A lovely film with a lot of heart and some funny moments. Enjoyed it

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

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Audience Member

Hugely influential and the movie's observations about a particular kind of lazy young male dreamer will be eternally relevant.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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William L

Wonderfully imaginative, with a protagonist that is simultaneously empathetic and detestable. The main character's penchant for self-delusion, initially comical, is gradually revealed to be a debilitating personal fault, that dooms him to eternal dissatisfaction, and the conclusion is ultimately quite poignant. (4/5)

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/12/20

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Audience Member

Loved this movie. Hilarious at time and poignant at others - one of Julie Christie's best.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

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Audience Member

Ouch. It's hard to watch the selfishness of Billy. He's just so spoiled and trashy. Everyone has a little of that side to them, but Billy is 99% dirty devil and pretty much always listens to 'em.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

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S R

Quirky, but entertaining. A nice time capsule. NYT 1000 films.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/08/25

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John Schlesinger

Director

Tom Courtenay

Billy Fisher

Julie Christie

Liz

Wilfred Pickles

Geoffrey Fisher

Mona Washbourne

Actor

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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: Anglo-Amalgamated Productions, Vic Films
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 16, 1963, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 2, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $35.6K
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)