High Hopes
Working-class couple Shirley and Cyril are in conflict over whether they should have children, their problems with 'yuppies' moving into the neighbourhood and outpricing them, and the advent of Cyril's ageing mother's seventieth birthday.
Where to watch High Hopes in United States
Can I watch High Hopes in United States? Yes — you can stream High Hopes in United States on Criterion Channel.
Criterion ChannelClick a service to open High Hopes there. Availability last verified on October 11, 2026.
Where is High Hopes streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Criterion Channel | — |
| United Kingdom | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, BFI Player |
| Canada | Criterion Channel | — |
| France | — | LaCinetek |
About High Hopes
High Hopes is a 1989 English-language comedy and drama film directed by Mike Leigh. The cast is led by Phil Davis, Ruth Sheen, Edna Doré. It has a runtime of 1h 48m. Viewers rate it 7.0/10 across 100 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.
High Hopes was produced by British Screen Productions, Portman Productions, and Film Four International and made in United Kingdom. It was released on January 13, 1989, and carries a PG certification. At the box office it grossed around $1 million worldwide.
- Director
- Mike Leigh
- Writers
- Mike Leigh
- Release date
- January 13, 1989
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- PG
- Status
- Released
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Box office
- $1 million
- Production
- British Screen Productions, Portman Productions, Film Four International
High Hopes cast & crew
High Hopes was directed by Mike Leigh and written by Mike Leigh.
The cast features Phil Davis as Cyril Bender, Ruth Sheen as Shirley, Edna Doré as Mrs Bender, Philip Jackson as Martin Burke, Heather Tobias as Valerie, and Lesley Manville as Lætitia Boothe-Brain.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Andrew Dickson, cinematography is by Roger Pratt, and it was produced by Tom Donald and Simon Channing Williams.
Is High Hopes worth watching?
High Hopes holds an audience score of 7.0/10 from 103 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed comedy films.
At 1h 48m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy comedy and drama, High Hopes is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch High Hopes
In United States, you can stream High Hopes on Criterion Channel. Click any service above to open it directly.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
Rate & review
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Cast of High Hopes
Phil Davis
Cyril Bender
Ruth Sheen
Shirley
Edna Doré
Mrs Bender
Philip Jackson
Martin Burke
Heather Tobias
Valerie
Lesley Manville
Lætitia Boothe-Brain
David Bamber
Rupert Boothe-Brain
Cheryl Prime
Martin's Girlfriend
Judith Scott
Suzi
Jason Watkins
Wayne
Diane-Louise Jordan
Chemist Shop Assistant
Linda Beckett
Receptionist
High Hopes — FAQs
▸Where can I watch High Hopes in United States?
High Hopes is streaming on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸Is High Hopes on Criterion Channel?
Yes — High Hopes is currently available on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸What language is High Hopes in?
High Hopes is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is High Hopes?
High Hopes runs 1 hours 48 minutes (108 minutes).
▸What is High Hopes rated?
High Hopes is rated PG. It holds a 7.0/10 audience score from 103 ratings.
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