What a daunting task to compile a "Top Movies" list for Anglophiles! So many wonderful films exist!
My Criteria My decisions were based upon a combination of a film's popularity and, more importantly, the degree to which a film "transports" viewers to Britain, makes us feel like we are there. I think this criteria of being "transported" makes my list of best films for Anglophiles different from a more general list of best British films based merely on popularity and sales data. Although several of the movies on my list are set outside of Britain, I included them because they feature strong British characters, which help the Anglophile to better understand the British mind-set. Please note: I'm neither brave enough nor daft enough to actually rank the films! Rather, I offer the titles below in alphabetical order.
Do you agree with this list? Have I missed an important title? Are there new titles I should add? Let me know what you think!
Zella's Pick of Best Movies for Anglophiles (In alphabetical order)
A Room with a View
All Creatures Great and Small
An Education
Bend It Like Beckham
Billy Elliot
Bridget Jones’ Diary
Calendar Girls
Chariots of Fire
Dirty Pretty Things
Educating Rita
Elizabeth
84 Charing Cross Road
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Gosford Park
Henry V
Howards End
Jane Eyre
Ladies in Lavender
Lawrence of Arabia
Match Point
Mrs. Dalloway
Notting Hill
Oliver Twist
Pride and Prejudice
Saving Grace
Sense and Sensibility
The Crying Game
The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain
The Full Monty
The Holiday
The Imitation Game
The King's Speech
The Madness of King George
The Queen
The Remains of the Day
The Theory of Everything
This is England
Trainspotting
Vera Drake
Waking Ned Devine
And in the "Fantasy Movie" category . . .
Bram Stoker's Dracula
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
V for Vendetta
Movies Recommended by Anglophiles United Readers:
Alfie
Attack the Block
Brief Encounter
Don't Look Now
Fish Tank
Great Expectations
Gregory's Girl
Hot Fuzz
In Which We Serve
Jack and Sarah
Kes
Kind Hearts and Coronets
Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
Layer Cake
Life Is Sweet
Local Hero
Love Actually
Melody
Nanny McPhee
Shaun of the Dead
Sliding Doors
The Angel's Share
The Bridge on the River Kwai
The Fallen Idol
The Lady Vanishes
The Man Who Would Be King
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Vanity Fair (2004)
Withnail and I
Zulu
NOTICE: The "Suggest a title" section, below, is temporarily closed. (On the plus side, the section is closed because of the fantastic response from you readers! I need to catch up, adding titles to the list, before opening this section again. Thank you for understanding! And THANK YOU for reading Anglophiles United!)