No nation has a sense of humor quite as distinctive as Britain . Although their humour is n’t for everyone , it ’s difficult to refuse that a huge portion of the all - time great comedy films come from Britain .
Typically , British humor is incredibly ironical , inappropriate , and bursting with social comment and satire . British funniness often has a dingy tinge and does not shy by from the controversial discipline matter . That ’s what make it both disgraceful and hilarious .
The comedy writing style is one which is saturate with mediocre film , but these 10 British gems are a snub above .
10. In Bruges (2008)
One of the great modern British comedies isIn Bruges . This colored comedy is write and direct by Martin McDonagh . It stars Colin Farrell as Ray and Brendan Gleeson as Ken , two Irish hitman who are ordered to lie down low in Bruges by their crime lord boss , Harry Waters ( Ralph Fiennes ) . Whilst there , Ken is informed that he must take out Ray , who is wracked with guilt after his first hit escort him accidentally pour down a new boy .
Although packed with pile of dark caper and classical British humor , a mess of the appeal ofIn Brugescomes from the contrasting personalities of the two triggerman . For instance , the younger Ray wanting to go out drinking , while Ken wants to lay miserable and see the historic good deal . Harry is also a fantastic and distinctly English part .
9. Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
British comedy lends itself well to the romantic funniness genre . This fact is most manifest with the 1994 classicFour Weddings and a Funeral . Directed by Mike Newell , it is the first of several coaction between Richard Curtis and Hugh Grant . Moreover , it ’s a rom - com that even those who do n’t care the writing style may enjoy .
This ever - so - British film find a bumbling and socially sticky young gentleman ( Grant ) fall for a beautiful American named Carrie ( Andie MacDowell ) at a wedding . They then cross paths again over three more weddings and a funeral , but each prison term their timing is slightly off .
Four Weddings and a Funeralis a affectionateness - heating pic . Plus , there are dozens of laugh out meretricious moments . Most of which spring out of socially awkward situations , a classic staple fiber of British bodily fluid .
8. A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
When one recollect of British comedy , John Cleese is the first person to bound to bear in mind for many people . Although he is well known forFawlty Towersand Monty Python , the 1988 heist comedyA Pisces the Fishes call Wandais a fantastic example of his work in clowning .
Written by Cleese and Charles Crichton , the film stars Jamie Lee Curtis , Kevin Kline , and Monty Python graduate Michael Palin . Together , they play a gang who undertake a successful baseball field holdup . However , things go awry when the leader of the gang hide the diamond just before being arrested . The thieves then continue to manipulate and two-fold - crossing one another in a bid to observe the diamonds for themselves .
A Fish Called Wandais mob with smart yet as dark joke and humor , all of which can make for a delightfully cringe - worthy watch at times .
7. Snatch (2000)
You will skin to find a film that is more “ British ” than Guy Ritchie’sSnatch , the sequel to the also fantasticLock , Stock and Two Smoking Barrels .
As much a crime film as it is a British drollery , Snatchfeatures an ensemble casting that includes Jason Statham , Stephen Graham , Alan Ford , Robbie Gee , Vinnie Jones , Adam Fogerty , Benicio del Toro , and Brad Pitt ( who steal the show as an unsufferable - to - empathise Irish traveller ) . The smartly - pen plot follows two interweaving tarradiddle . One follows the hunting for a steal infield , while the other involves a boxing booster who convinces an Irish bare - knuckle boxing maven to fight for him .
saucy , knavish , explosive , and packed full of British humor , Snatchis one of the dandy modern crime films that just so happens to be very funny .
6. Dr. Strangelove (1964)
One of theall - sentence great political satiresis Stanley Kubrick’sDr . Strangelove or : How I get a line to Stop Worrying and eff the Bomb . It ’s a black-market comedy that satirizes the fear of nuclear conflict between the USA and USSR during the Cold War .
The film stars Peter Sellers and George C. Scott . It also sport Sterling Hayden , Keenan Wynn , and Slim Pickens . Sellers ' steals the show by playing three unlike type ; a British RAF commutation officer , the President of the United States , and the titulary character , a wheelchair - bound nuclear war expert and former Nazi . The storey find an brainsick Air Force general decree a atomic strike on the Soviet Union , prompt the President and his consultant to desperately hear to recall the bombers to invalidate nuclear war .
Dr. Strangeloveis preserved in the National Film Registry . Plus , it is remembered for many classic quotes , including " Gentleman , you ca n’t fight in here ! This is the War Room ! "
5. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
The first — and arguably best — of Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright ’s hilarious “ Cornetto Trilogy”,Shaun of the Deadis mod British humour at its best . This is evident in the moving picture ’s external success .
Shaun of the Deadfollows Shaun ( Pegg ) , a man seek to get his life-time on track and his girl back whilst a zombie uprising causes end and destruction across the country . The film is prevalent with societal comment . It ’s also packed with hidden jokes and references which ensure that you pick up something new each fourth dimension you watch it . Plus , many of these jokes carry through to the subsequent films in the trilogy : Hot FuzzandThe World ’s oddment .
In addition to Pegg and Nick Frost ( as Shaun ’s good friend Ed ) , the film boasts many well - known British actor and comedians . This include Dylan Moran , Bill Nighy , Lucy Davis , and Kate Ashfield . For fans of Pegg ’s former television seriesSpaced , there is also a cameo by co - wiz Jessica Stevenson .
4. The Ladykillers (1955)
British comedy is a genre that is still break secure today with many wondrous films being released just within the last few years . Despite that , there are many earlier movies in this genre that have stood the test of time and influenced all those that pursue .
One exercise of this is 1955’sThe Ladykillers , which is one of the later Ealing Comedies ( films initially made by Ealing Studios from 1947 to 1957 ) . The film sees an aged woman ( Katie Johnson ) who often describe suspicions she make up to the police , only to have a crew of criminals move into her construction .
The success ofThe Ladykillersand how it has stand the tryout of time is evidenced by the movie being remade for American audiences in2004 . This time guide by the Coen brother and starring Tom Hanks , Irma P. Hall , Marlon Wayans , J.K. Simmons , and Ryan Hurst .
3. Kind Hearts & Coronets (1949)
As one of the earliest British comedies , 1949’sKind Hearts & Coronetscertainly inspired all the great motion picture that followed . It is a black comedy which sees Alec Guinness dally a whopping eight characters . In increase to Guinness , it also asterisk Dennis Price , Joan Greenwood , and Valerie Hobson .
The flick falls under the Ealing Comedies umbrella . As such , it is perhaps the most far-famed example . These picture show aimed to muse British national values to the masses . In the font ofKind Hearts & Coronets , the value being lampoon is the British socio-economic class system . The game follows an blue-blooded serial killer , who schemes to kill the eight people — all played by Guinness — before him in the crease of heritage .
Kind Hearts & Coronetsis a extremely entertaining celluloid . Much of this is powered by Guinness ’s clever and funny portrayal of the unlike characters .
2. Withnail and I (1987)
One of the great British films , Withnail and Iis slackly base on author and director Bruce Robinson ’s life in London during the 1960s . It follows Withnail ( Richard E. Grant ) and " I " ( Paul McGann ) , two unemployed player who are flamboyant soaker living in sordidness in Camden during the late 60s . The two decide to rent a country cottage in the Lake District . They then embark on a very drunk and odd journey to the bungalow for their holiday , which is not quite as restful as they had anticipated .
Since dismissal , Withnail and Ihas developed a cult following . In the UK , it is one of the most quote flick of all - time . There is even a imbibition biz associated with the film !
Withnail and Iwould launch Grant ’s very successful drollery career and inspired many debauched comedy to trace .
1. Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979)
All of the Monty Python pic could have easily featured on this list . However , for cellular inclusion ’s sake , we pick the best – Monty Python ’s Life of Brian .
Monty Python was a phantasmagoric British drollery group that had a profound impact on British clowning and democratic acculturation as a whole . Many state the influence ofThe Holy Grail , The Life of Brian , andThe substance of Lifeto be the equivalent to The Beatles ’ influence on music .
Life of Brianis a satiric swipe on organized religion . The film follows Brian Cohen , who is misguided for the " Messiah " .
