MORTFILMS

For me, British cinema is more than just period dramas and gangster flicks – though those are done excellently over here in the UK, to be fair. From heartfelt dramedies to dark comedies, pioneering animation, and social realism (just to name a few genres), the UK has produced some of the most entertaining, thought-provoking, and enriching films out there, and fostered many great directors. I love British filmmaking, and to highlight just 20 films was a monumental task. I think it’s important to note that this list isn’t just my personal favourites (though all the films I’ve listed I would consider to be in that category), it’s a collection of films that I believe offer something for both niche and general audiences. Whether you’re a seasoned cinephile or just looking to take your first step into the vast pool of films Britain has to offer, there will hopefully be something on this list for everyone. These films represent different lengths of British cinema; some are iconic classics, others lesser-known gems. But to me, all of them capture something essential and enriching about British culture and filmmaking. 

Before we dive into the list, let’s take a quick look at the history of British filmmaking, its influences and pioneers, and why British cinema has had such a lasting impact outside just the UK. British cinema began in the late 19th century, with pioneers like George Albert Smith and Robert W. Paul experimenting with the art form. Early British filmmakers were innovators, with Smith developing some of the first close-up shots, and Cecil Hepworth’s Rescued by Rover (1905) being one of the first films to use continuity editing. By the 1920s, British filmmakers were competing with Hollywood – with Alfred Hitchcock emerging as a key figure. In the 1930s and 40s, British cinema began to develop a stronger identity. Hitchcock had moved to Hollywood, but directors like Carol Reed and David Lean helped define British cinema’s mix of drama, realism, as well as psychological and social depth. Ealing Studios became legendary for its comedies, which often blended dark humour with sharp social satire. In the 1950s, British war films surged, and from the 50s-70s, a British New Wave emerged and further developed the genre of social realism that is often connected with British cinema still. Inspired by the Italian Neorealism movement, British cinema shifted to focus on working-class life and social issues, rejecting glossy storytelling in favour of more gritty realism. Directors like Ken Loach and Mike Leigh emerged in the late 1960s and 70s, using realism to highlight class struggles and refine British social realism for decades. In the 70s-90s, British cinema became more commercially ambitious, with series such as the Bond films becoming incredibly successful both abroad and domestically. The 1970s saw the emergence of Monty Python, whose surreal and absurdist comedy revolutionised British comedy. Furthermore, in the 1980s and 1990s, British filmmakers continued to succeed in making internationally recognised films that often blended British storytelling with global appeal and reflected cultural movements at the time. The 2000s saw British cinema continuing to diversify, with filmmakers presenting films from a range of different genres, adopting various styles. Today, British cinema continues to practice all the things we have come to love it for, with directors like Steve McQueen, Andrea Arnold, and Andrew Haigh pushing filmmaking boundaries and iconic veterans such as Mike Leigh and Ken Loach still working within their craft.

For more information, some of these films will include a link to my review of that film. Without further ado, here is my (incredibly tough to curate) list of 20 British films I would recommend: