Great Expectations
Year: 1947
Runtime: 118 min
Language: English
Director: David Lean
A young orphan's humble existence is dramatically altered when he unexpectedly inherits a fortune from a mysterious benefactor. This sudden wealth introduces him to a privileged lifestyle and a new social circle, but also brings complicated relationships and long-held secrets to light. He must navigate the intricacies of love, class, and the consequences of ambition as he confronts the truth about his past and the source of his unexpected opportunity.
Warning: spoilers below!
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Timeline & Setting – Great Expectations (1947)
Explore the full timeline and setting of Great Expectations (1947). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.
Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:02
Main Characters – Great Expectations (1947)
Meet the key characters of Great Expectations (1947), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.
Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:02
Major Themes – Great Expectations (1947)
Explore the central themes of Great Expectations (1947), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.
Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:02
Explore Movie Threads
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Bittersweet journeys of self-discovery like in Great Expectations
Stories where personal growth comes with profound loss and hopeful redemption.If you liked the poignant character arc in Great Expectations, you'll find similar movies here. These films explore profound personal growth intertwined with loss and redemption, offering stories with a bittersweet tone and steady, reflective pacing much like this classic drama.
Lucky Them
2014
Crossroads
2002
Little Black Book
2004
The Trip to Bountiful
1986
The Sweet Life
2017
Vincent Wants to Sea
2011
Is That You?
2016
Sunlight
2025
A Perfect Ending
2012
Long Life, Happiness and Prosperity
2002
An Autumn’s Tale
1987
The Hedgehog
2009
Un/Happy for You
2024
Hello, My Name Is
2022
The Map That Leads to You
2025
Narrative Summary
These narratives typically follow a protagonist through a pivotal life stage or a series of life-altering events. They often involve disillusionment, the shattering of initial ambitions, and a confrontation with hard truths, culminating in a more mature, albeit scarred, understanding of themselves and the world.
Why These Movies?
Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared emotional core: a balance between sorrow and hope. They feature steady pacing that allows for deep character reflection, a moderate complexity in plotting, and an ending that acknowledges pain while suggesting the possibility of a wiser, more authentic future.
Gothic-tinged dramas of secrets and social ascent like in Great Expectations
Atmospheric tales where hidden pasts and sudden wealth disrupt fragile lives.For viewers who enjoyed the mysterious benefactor and class commentary in Great Expectations, this section collects similar movies. Discover atmospheric dramas with gothic elements, themes of inheritance and identity, and a focus on the complexities of social mobility, all reminiscent of this classic story.
Great Expectations
1947
Secrets & Lies
1996
Sense and Sensibility
1995
Back to Burgundy
2018
Downton Abbey: A New Era
2022
Downton Abbey
2019
Good Grief
2023
The Actress
2011
Stolen Holidays
2007
Tears in the Rain
1988
The Dark at the Top of the Stairs
1960
Escape Me Never
1947
The Forbidden Street
1949
Anastasia
1956
Sommersby
1993
Narrative Summary
The narrative pattern often involves a protagonist, usually from a humble background, whose life is irrevocably changed by a mysterious windfall or revelation. This new status introduces them to a higher social sphere, but also uncovers long-buried secrets, leading to moral dilemmas, complicated relationships, and a confrontation with their true origins.
Why These Movies?
These films share a specific blend of mood and theme: a gothic or melancholic atmosphere, a central mystery related to identity or fortune, and a critical exploration of social class. The pacing is typically steady, allowing the secrets to unfold methodically, and the tone is often bittersweet, reflecting the costs of ambition and the pain of revelation.
Unlock the Full Story of Great Expectations
Don't stop at just watching — explore Great Expectations in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Great Expectations is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Great Expectations Summary
Read a complete plot summary of Great Expectations, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.
Great Expectations Timeline
Track the full timeline of Great Expectations with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
