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Maverick: The Epic Adventures of David Lean

Play trailer Maverick: The Epic Adventures of David Lean 2026 1h 45m Biography Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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David Lean is widely considered one of the greatest film directors of all time. His films, Brief Encounter (1945), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Doctor Zhivago (1965), Ryan's Daughter (1970) and A Passage to India (1984), mark him out as a Master of both the large-scale epic and the more intimate romantic drama. It is an extraordinary achievement from a man born in Croydon, a dreary suburb of London, to a Quaker family, who didn't approve of the cinema, and to a father who described his own as a 'dullard'. His personal life was chaotic. He was married six times. He had a son and two grandchildren, from whom he was estranged. He left England as a young man to roam the world, mostly living in hotels, not returning to his home country until late in life. He was a master of his art, able to impose great form, order and beauty on the stories he told. Yet, the great David Lean failed to impose on his own life, which was often messy, difficult, rootless and painful, in spite of his great career success. This is the definitive story of one of the greatest Hollywood directors, responsible for films captivating audiences and directors alike across all generations.

Critics Reviews

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Owen Gleiberman Variety 1d
“Maverick” is an enthralling celebration of a director who was one of the visionaries of movies. Go to Full Review Brian Tallerico RogerEbert.com 3d
This one gets away with being traditional by highlighting a creative ambition that was anything but. Go to Full Review Kevin Maher The Times (UK) 5d
4/5
Maverick: The Epic Adventures of David Lean is suitably epic (see title) and easily ratifies Lean’s status as one of a handful of film-makers who defined the parameters of the medium. Go to Full Review Nikki Baughan Screen International 2d
Maverick is not just a celebration of the brilliance of Lean, who died in 1991 aged 83; it’s also a passionate clarion call for the preservation of cinema as a big-screen art form. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

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Barnaby Thompson

Director

Autumn Durald

Self

Denis Villeneuve

Self

Cate Blanchett

Self

Kenneth Branagh

Self

Francis Ford Coppola

Self
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Maverick: The Epic Adventures of David Lean

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Movie Info

Synopsis David Lean is widely considered one of the greatest film directors of all time. His films, Brief Encounter (1945), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Doctor Zhivago (1965), Ryan's Daughter (1970) and A Passage to India (1984), mark him out as a Master of both the large-scale epic and the more intimate romantic drama. It is an extraordinary achievement from a man born in Croydon, a dreary suburb of London, to a Quaker family, who didn't approve of the cinema, and to a father who described his own as a 'dullard'. His personal life was chaotic. He was married six times. He had a son and two grandchildren, from whom he was estranged. He left England as a young man to roam the world, mostly living in hotels, not returning to his home country until late in life. He was a master of his art, able to impose great form, order and beauty on the stories he told. Yet, the great David Lean failed to impose on his own life, which was often messy, difficult, rootless and painful, in spite of his great career success. This is the definitive story of one of the greatest Hollywood directors, responsible for films captivating audiences and directors alike across all generations.
Director
Barnaby Thompson
Producer
Nick Taussig, Jack Heller
Production Co
Embankment Films, Fragile Films, Assemble Media
Genre
Biography, Documentary
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 45m