Maurice

Play trailer

3:26

Maurice

R

1987

2h 20m

Drama

Romance

LGBTQ+

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

36 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

In 1909, Maurice Hall (James Wilby) enters Cambridge, where he befriends wealthy Clive Durham (Hugh Grant). Clive confesses he is sexually attracted to Maurice, who realizes he is a homosexual when he begins to return Clive's feelings. The two embark on an intense but chaste affair to avoid tarnishing Clive's reputation, but eventually the relationship ends, and Clive marries Anne (Phoebe Nicholls). While visiting Clive, Maurice is drawn toward his friend's servant, Alec Scudder (Rupert Graves).

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Maurice sensitively explores the ramifications of forbidden desire with a powerful love story brought to life by the outstanding efforts of a talented cast.

Read Critics Reviews

Donald Clarke

Irish Times

Jul 31, 2018

4/5

A triumph of the Merchant Ivory aesthetic. The cast are gorgeous. The passion is polite. The conclusion is a little surprising. Well worth reviving.

Go to Full Review

Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

The Times (UK)

Jul 27, 2018

4/5

This elegant, heart-rending romance is now ripe for the reclaiming as a gay landmark.

Go to Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Jul 26, 2018

5/5

Maurice is a candid, lucid, passionate film.

Go to Full Review

Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

Jul 20, 2026

2.5/5

A rare Merchant Ivory miss, this adaptation of the E. M. Forster novel proved a breakout role for Hugh Grant but manages to make a tale of forbidden love frightfully dull.

Go to Full Review

Frank J. Avella

The Contending

Jul 5, 2026

A

(Rupert) Graves has the trickiest part and delivers such a wickedly startling yet authentic performance, brimming with youthful yearning, he should have easily received an Academy Award nomination.

Go to Full Review

Lauren Humphries-Brooks

Citizen Dame

Apr 25, 2025

That's what I like about this film: It goes into the social and cultural ramifications of being a gay man.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Robert P

@Superbad 2 days ago

Maurice = a *4.5* Movie

See more

Mauricio S

@RT09245616 Aug 6, 2026

Clásico imperdible, vale completamente la dos horas

See more

Howie B

@Howie10 Jul 8, 2026

Another one of those classic films which has been re-released to mark its almost 40th anniversary, and to be part of ‘Pride Month’. Always felt this was one of the most moving films I’d seen displaying the suppression of homosexuality in British society in the very early 20th century (and went on to be problematic for decades to come). A touching yet restrained love story which played out the way many such relationships still do to this day. Fortunately for ‘Maurice’ love conquered all eventually with the superbly played by Rupert Graves’s ‘Alec Scudder’ removing the shackles from James Wilby’s ‘Maurice’ while Grant’s constricted and closeted Clive will resignedly live out his existence under a pretence of being ‘straight’. Know who I’d rather be!

See more

Jon E.

@jes30 Mar 24, 2026

One of the best films of the 1980s, and as rewarding as A Room with a View upon rewatch.

See more

Kalissa H

@kali_416 Sep 1, 2025

I liked the book better, but the movie is descent.

See more

Jacob B

@RT48293763 Mar 4, 2025

Merchant/Ivory’s underrated gem.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

James Ivory

Director

James Wilby

Maurice Hall

Hugh Grant

Clive Durham

Rupert Graves

Alec Scudder

Denholm Elliott

Doctor Barry

Simon Callow

Mr. Ducie

The Wild Party

40%

25%

The Wild Party

Watchlist

Brokeback Mountain

88%

82%

Brokeback Mountain

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Brokeback Mountain

Nine 1/2 Weeks

58%

55%

Nine 1/2 Weeks

Watchlist

My Policeman

45%

96%

My Policeman

Watchlist

TRAILER

for My Policeman

Lianna

80%

63%

Lianna

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Maurice: Trailer 1

3:26

Now Playing

Maurice: Re-Release Trailer

2:21

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

In 1909, Maurice Hall (James Wilby) enters Cambridge, where he befriends wealthy Clive Durham (Hugh Grant). Clive confesses he is sexually attracted to Maurice, who realizes he is a homosexual when he begins to return Clive's feelings. The two embark on an intense but chaste affair to avoid tarnishing Clive's reputation, but eventually the relationship ends, and Clive marries Anne (Phoebe Nicholls). While visiting Clive, Maurice is drawn toward his friend's servant, Alec Scudder (Rupert Graves).

Director: James Ivory
Producer: Ismail Merchant
Screenwriter: Kit Hesketh-Harvey, James Ivory
Distributor: Home Vision Entertainment
Production Co: Merchant Ivory Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Romance, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 18, 1987, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): May 19, 2017
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 5, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $45.9K
Runtime: 2h 20m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.66:1)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings