Movie · 1953 · Romance, Comedy, Drama · 1h 59m · G · English
Curator score: 9.1/10 (447.8K ratings)
Overview
Overwhelmed by her suffocating schedule, touring European princess Ann takes off for a night while in Rome. When a sedative she took from her doctor kicks in, however, she falls asleep on a park bench and is found by an American reporter, Joe Bradley, who takes her back to his apartment for safety. At work the next morning, Joe finds out Ann's regal identity and bets his editor he can get exclusive interview with her, but romance soon gets in the way.
Ratings
Curator score: 9.1/10
IMDb: 8.0/10
Letterboxd: 4.19/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Metacritic: 78
TMDB: 7.9/10
Director
William Wyler
Production
Paramount Pictures
Cast
Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Eddie Albert, Hartley Power, Harcourt Williams, Margaret Rawlings, Tullio Carminati, Paolo Carlini, Claudio Ermelli, Paola Borboni, Alfredo Rizzo, Laura Solari, Gorella Gori, Armando Annuale, Maurizio Arena, Gildo Bocci, Andrea Esterhazy, George Higgins, Richard McNamara, Luigi Moneta
Where to watch
fuboTV, Philo
Curator Review
Verdict
A classic romantic comedy with real emotional grace: light on its feet, beautifully staged, and quietly bittersweet beneath the charm. Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck have effortless chemistry, and the film’s final note gives it lasting resonance beyond the fairytale setup.
Best for
fans of elegant old Hollywood romance
viewers who like bittersweet love stories
people in the mood for a warm, witty comfort watch
audiences interested in star-driven classic cinema
Skip if
you want fast pacing or modern-style comedy
you prefer romance with a definitive happy ending
you are not in the mood for a nostalgic, gently sentimental tone
Overview
Roman Holiday is one of those rare romances that feels both airy and deeply felt. The premise is pure fantasy, but William Wyler keeps it grounded with crisp comic timing, a real sense of place, and a melancholy awareness that the dream can only last so long.
Worth noting
Audrey Hepburn is radiant in a star-making performance, and Gregory Peck gives the story a relaxed, humane wit that keeps it from floating away into pure confection. Their chemistry is the movie’s engine, but the film’s charm also comes from how observant it is about freedom, performance, and the cost of duty.
Bottom line
What lingers most is the ending: not cruel, just honest. It turns a breezy day in Rome into something tender and memorable, which is why the film still lands so strongly decades later.
Top Letterboxd reviews
giovana :) (4★) · 9627 likes
that photographer does not fit at all in this movie cause he looks too much like someone who's seen an iphone and drinks coffee at starbucks while working from his macbook, i think he's a time traveler
maria (5★) · 7194 likes
this movie is the warmest hug none of us can get now and we all need
mulaney (5★) · 7125 likes
omg!!!!! if you watch the scene where she gets further away from joe in the handshake line and listen really closely, you can hear the sound of my heart breaking in half!!!!!!
eely (4★) · 5948 likes
really put the roman in romance am i right fellas hahaha i am so sad
siobhan (5★) · 4778 likes
fact: rome, italy, was not actually a city until the year 1953 when it was created for the setting of roman holiday. it was so life-like that the city continued to flourish long after filming had ended. tourists can still visit today to have their own roman holiday at all the same landmarks that gregory peck and audrey hepburn visited in the film.
bonus fact: romance also did not exist until the year 1953
1963 · Comedy, Mystery, Romance · 1h 53m · NR · Curator 8.5/10 (289K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, Pure Flix, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Bloodstream
If you want charm, chemistry, and glamorous European atmosphere, this delivers with a playful romantic-thriller edge.