The French Lieutenant's Woman
“She was lost from the moment she saw him.”
In this story-within-a-story, Anna is an actress starring opposite Mike in a period piece about the forbidden love between their respective characters, Sarah and Charles. Both actors are involved in serious relationships, but the passionate nature of the script leads to an off-camera love affair as well. While attempting to maintain their composure and professionalism, Anna and Mike struggle to come to terms with their infidelity.
Where to watch The French Lieutenant's Woman in United States
Can I watch The French Lieutenant's Woman in United States? Yes — you can stream The French Lieutenant's Woman in United States on Amazon Prime Video, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, and Amazon Prime Video with Ads, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
Amazon Prime Video
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Amazon Prime Video with Ads
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The Roku Channel
YouTube Free
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Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
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Fandango At HomeClick a service to open The French Lieutenant's Woman there. Availability last verified on October 20, 2026.
Where is The French Lieutenant's Woman streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Amazon Prime Video, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Hoopla | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| India | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| United Kingdom | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Tubi TV, YouTube Free | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Sky Store |
| Canada | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Hoopla, Tubi TV | Apple TV Store, YouTube, Amazon Video |
| Australia | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| Germany | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Rakuten TV, YouTube Free | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| France | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads | Apple TV Store, Orange VOD, Canal VOD |
| Spain | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| Brazil | Amazon Prime Video, Oldflix, Amazon Prime Video with Ads | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
About The French Lieutenant's Woman
The French Lieutenant's Woman is a 1981 English-language drama, romance and history film directed by Karel Reisz. The cast is led by Meryl Streep, Jeremy Irons, Hilton McRae. It has a runtime of 2h 4m. Viewers rate it 6.5/10 across 300 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
The French Lieutenant's Woman was produced by Juniper Films and made in United Kingdom. It was released on August 28, 1981, and carries a R certification. Made on a budget of about $8 million, it went on to gross $27 million worldwide.
- Director
- Karel Reisz
- Writers
- Harold Pinter
- Release date
- August 28, 1981
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- R
- Status
- Released
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Budget
- $8 million
- Box office
- $27 million
- Production
- Juniper Films
The French Lieutenant's Woman cast & crew
The French Lieutenant's Woman was directed by Karel Reisz and written by Harold Pinter.
The cast features Meryl Streep as Sarah / Anna, Jeremy Irons as Charles Henry Smithson / Mike, Hilton McRae as Sam, Lynsey Baxter as Ernestina, Emily Morgan as Mary, and Penelope Wilton as Sonia.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Carl Davis, cinematography is by Freddie Francis, and it was produced by Leon Clore.
Is The French Lieutenant's Woman worth watching?
The French Lieutenant's Woman holds an audience score of 6.5/10 from 250 ratings, a solidly received drama films.
At 2h 4m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy drama, romance, and history, The French Lieutenant's Woman is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The French Lieutenant's Woman
In United States, you can stream The French Lieutenant's Woman on Amazon Prime Video, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Hoopla, and The Roku Channel, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. 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.
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Cast of The French Lieutenant's Woman
Meryl Streep
Sarah / Anna
Jeremy Irons
Charles Henry Smithson / Mike
Hilton McRae
Sam
Lynsey Baxter
Ernestina
Emily Morgan
Mary
Penelope Wilton
Sonia
Jean Faulds
Cook
Charlotte Mitchell
Mrs. Tranter
Peter Vaughan
Mr. Freeman
Colin Jeavons
Vicar
Liz Smith
Mrs. Fairley
Patience Collier
Mrs. Poulteney
The French Lieutenant's Woman — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The French Lieutenant's Woman in United States?
The French Lieutenant's Woman is streaming on Amazon Prime Video, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Hoopla in United States.
▸Is The French Lieutenant's Woman on Amazon Prime Video?
Yes — The French Lieutenant's Woman is currently available on Amazon Prime Video in United States.
▸What language is The French Lieutenant's Woman in?
The French Lieutenant's Woman is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is The French Lieutenant's Woman?
The French Lieutenant's Woman runs 2 hours 4 minutes (124 minutes).
▸What is The French Lieutenant's Woman rated?
The French Lieutenant's Woman is rated R. It holds a 6.5/10 audience score from 250 ratings.
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