What is the Metascore for Secrets & Lies?

Secrets & Lies has a Metascore of 91 out of 100 on Celluloid.

Where can I watch Secrets & Lies?

Secrets & Lies is available on HBO Max, The Criterion Channel. Availability varies by region — check your local streaming guide.

What countries is Secrets & Lies streaming in?

Secrets & Lies streams on TVING in South Korea; HBO Max, The Criterion Channel in the United States. Subscription availability only; rental and purchase options may differ.

Secrets & Lies Review (1996) — 87% Celluloid Score

Directed by Mike Leigh · 1996 · Last reviewed August 31, 2026

LLM fact sheet (.md)

Answer Summary

Secrets & Lies (1996) earns a 87% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

Quick Verdict

Calculated from 4 available inputs: Celluloid editorial rating, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb. Audience sentiment is shown separately and never changes the composite. See how we calculate scores.

87%

Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

95% Editorial Rating

90% Audience snapshot · excluded

91 Metascore

★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4

8 IMDb /10

Watch Trailer

Runtime: 2h 22m
Cast: Brenda Blethyn , Marianne Jean-Baptiste , Timothy Spall , Phyllis Logan , Claire Rushbrook , Lee Ross , Lesley Manville , Elizabeth Berrington , Michele Austin , Ron Cook
Streaming: HBO Max, The Criterion Channel
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English

Official theatrical poster for Secrets & Lies (1996)

Theatrical release

Where to watch

HBO Max
The Criterion Channel

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch Secrets & Lies by country

Country	Streaming on
South Korea	TVING
United States	HBO Max, The Criterion Channel

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

Celluloid's editorial rating is exceptional (95/100).
Audiences widely enjoyed it (90%).
Metascore signals universal acclaim (91/100).
Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4/5).
IMDb users score it 8/10.

Best for

Viewers who want a well-regarded drama pick

Not ideal for

Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

Is Secrets & Lies worth watching?

Yes — Secrets & Lies earns a 87% Celluloid Score. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.

Celluloid Verdict

Secrets & Lies — Palme d'Or at Cannes 1996. A landmark festival winner on Celluloid.
Celluloid editorial verdict

Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

What is Secrets & Lies about?

After her adoptive mother dies, Hortense, a successful black optometrist, seeks out her birth mother. She's shocked when her research leads her to Cynthia, a working class white woman.

Watch the Trailer

Secrets & Lies stills

Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

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