5 Best British Movies You Should See

5 Best British Movies You Should See

British cinema holds a special place in my heart. There’s just something so classy and refined about British films, especially compared to their flashy Hollywood counterparts. There’s wit! There’s humor! There’s historical fiction!

Keep in mind that there are hundreds of British movies that should definitely be on your to-watch list. But, if you’re looking to jump into the world of British film but you’re not sure where to start, keep reading for my top 5 picks for the best British movies you should see!

1. Brief Encounter (1945)

Promotional poster for the British film Brief Encounter – WikiCommons

I’m starting my list with a black and white classic. Brief Encounter came out in 1945 and was directed by David Lean. Lean is a respected British filmmaker and is often considered to be one of the most influential directors of all time. You may recognize his name from the famous 1957 The Bridge on the River Kwai.

Brief Encounter tells the love story of two married Brits living in England on the cusp of World War II. The pair meet at a railway station and go on to fall in love. Their story isn’t without complications, but I’ll let you watch the movie yourselves to discover what happens! This movie is on nearly every list of the best British movies, and in 1999 the British Film Institute voted it the second greatest British film of all time.

2. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

Promotional poster for Monty Python and the Holy Grail – WikiCommons

This is another classic that I simply needed to put on my list! Monty Python and the Holy Grail is one of those movies that everyone seems to have seen once. So, if you make up that small percentage that hasn’t watched it yet, get to it!

This movie stars the comedy group Monty Python and follows the troupe on a quest for the Holy Grail. The movie is based on the story of King Arthur and his journey to find the Holy Grail himself. The film was directed by Monty Python members Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones. This 1975 movie stands up to the test of time and is truly hilarious!

This movie appears on countless top British movie lists, and it was deemed as the second-best comedy of all time by the American network ABC’s TV special, Best in Film: The Greatest Movies of Our Time.

3. Billy Elliot (2000)

Billy Elliot movie poster – WikiCommons

On to something a little more serious. Billy Elliot is one of my favorite movies on this list! This 2000 movie directed by Stephen Daldry is just as heartbreaking as it is beautiful and uplifting.

Billy Elliot tells the story of an 11-year-old boy growing up in Northern Ireland in the 1980s. Billy discovers that he has an interest in ballet, and decides to pursue his new passion despite his father’s disapproval. His father is a coal miner and doesn’t want his son to be made fun of for being a dancer, and tensions are high at home due to the miners’ strike of 1984. This is a feel-good movie without any of the cheesiness.

Something I really liked about this movie is its historical context. I wasn’t aware of the miners’ strike of the early ‘80s before I saw it, and so I felt like I was able to learn a bit more about Northern Ireland’s complicated history as I was watching.

4. Antonement (2007)

This is the cover art of Atonement. The cover art copyright is believed to belong to the distributor, Universal Pictures, the publisher of the video, or the studio which produced the video.

On to my all favorite movie on this list (and of all time, if I’m being honest), Joe Wright’s 2007 masterpiece, Atonement. This movie is all about dealing with the consequences of our own actions.

A little girl makes a wrongful accusation of her sister’s lover and goes on to change the entire course of action of one innocent man’s life. The story is set in England and begins in the 1930s. The film goes on to follow the main characters for six decades and it does an incredible job of showing what ramifications one seemingly small moment can carry into the far future.

I may be biased because this is my favorite movie, but I definitely consider it a must-watch!

5. The King’s Speech (2010)

Poster for The King’s Speech – WikiCommons

I know I have some The Crown and Downtown Abbey fans here! If you’re looking for something along the same line, I encourage you to check out The King’s Speech. This 2010 historical drama was directed by Tom Hooper and stars some of my favorites: Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, and Geoffrey Rush. The film won several Oscars and was generally well accepted by the public.

The King’s Speech delves into the relationship with King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II, and his speech therapist. King George had a stutter that prevented him from public speaking, which just happens to be extremely important as a king! His speech therapist helped him to overcome his speech impediment and they truly did have a beautiful relationship. The film wonderfully highlights the ups and downs of everything they went through together.

Conclusion

Get into your pajamas, pop your popcorn, and get comfortable! After reading this list, you’ve got plenty of British movies to catch up on. And, if you’ve already seen them, watch them again! All of these titles are worth it.

If you want even more movie advice, why not book a tour with one of our local guides? They are all experts on British culture and will likely have a lot more suggestions than I do! Click here to learn more about our tours and to make your booking! And happy watching!