Not Sure Where to Start With British Films? Watch These

So someone asked me the other day for some British film recommendations, and I gave them these titles, so thought I would make a post out of it.

As always, check justwatch.com to see where you can watch them.

The Wicker Man (1973)

Creepy as hell – folk songs, strange rituals, everyone smiling in a weird way, and if the ending doesn’t haunt you, I don’t know what will.

The Wicker Man Trailer

Dead Man’s Shoes (2004)

A gritty northern England revenge story, which is brutal, emotional, with brilliant slow-burn tension, that leaves you shook.

Dead Man’s Shoes Trailer

Snatch (2000)

Fast, chaotic, loud, and very funny, that features diamond heists, underground boxing, and cockney accents everywhere.

Brad Pitt is brilliant!

Snatch Trailer

Trainspotting (1996)

Dark, funny, sad, energetic, as young addicts in Edinburgh navigate the life, drugs, friendship, and chaos.

Heartbreaking and hilarious at the same time, iconic soundtrack too.

Trainspotting Trailer

Mike Leigh Films: Naked, Secrets & Lies, Happy-Go-Lucky

Leigh’s all about messy, human, real life.

Naked is dark, angry, existential.
Secrets & Lies is quieter, emotional, about family and loss.
Happy Go Lucky is bright, funny, about finding joy in life.

Naked Trailer

Secrets & Lies Trailer

Happy Go Lucky Trailer

Life of Brian & Monty Python’s Holy Grail (1979 & 1975)

Two Monty Python classics, absurd, quotable, and completely insane.

Life of Brian: guy accidentally thought to be the Messiah, satire and ridiculous moments.

Holy Grail: knights, coconuts, killer rabbits, utter nonsense.

Both are timeless British comedy at its peak.

Life of Brian Trailer

Holy Grail Trailer

Withnail & I (1987)

Two out-of-work actors drinking their way through misery.

Darkly funny, chaotic, endlessly quotable, which is painful and hilarious at the same time.

Withnail & I Trailer

The Cornetto Trilogy (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz & The World’s End)

Edgar Wright + Simon Pegg + Nick Frost.

Shaun of the Dead: zombie comedy done right.

Hot Fuzz: over-the-top cop parody.

World’s End: bittersweet, funny, sci-fi madness.

The Cornetto Trilogy is clever, hilarious, and very British

Cornetto Trilogy Trailer

Sexy Beast (2000)

Ben Kingsley is terrifying here, no, really – a stylish, tense, violent – British crime at its best.

Sexy Beast Trailer

The Italian Job (1969)

Mini Coopers, gold heist, swinging London.

The Italian Job Trailer

The Descent (2005)

An all-female spelunking horror.

Claustrophobic, terrifying, dark.

Oh and cave monsters.

The Descent Trailer

Dog Soldiers (2002)

Soldiers in Scotland fight werewolves – fun, violent, witty.

A cult British horror for sure.

Dog Soldiers Trailer

28 Days Later (2002)

Fast, scary, emotional, where the empty London streets are unforgettable.

28 Days Later Trailer

Shallow Grave (1994)

Danny Boyle’s first hit, where three flatmates find a dead guy and a suitcase full of cash.

Things go downhill fast.

Shallow Grave Trailer

Simon Leasher

A lover of cinema for over 35 years, I have watched many films from around the world in many different genres, yet I still normally always come back to trashy slasher horror films when in doubt. More

And yes, The Godfather 2 is better than The Godfather.