The best British movies to stream

Want entertainment in the Queen’s English? Look no further than these great British movies to stream on Showmax.

Prefer series? Here are some of the best British series to stream »

Mrs Harris Goes to Paris

A tale of haute couture in collaboration with the House of Dior weaves the story of a widowed cleaner who sets out to own a beautiful Dior designer dress. Starring Lesley Manville.

Spencer

Kristen Stewart earned an Oscar nomination for portraying Princess Diana in this movie based on real life, about when she divorced Prince Charles during the Christmas holidays.

Downton Abbey

This historical drama ties the loose ends of an award-winning show of the same name. It shows the lives of a family and its servants as they navigate through changes in society.

Wild Mountain Thyme

Golden Globe winner Emily Blunt drives this quirky rom-com set across a beautiful Irish landscape. Two star-crossed lovers become entangled in a land dispute between their families.

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain

Benedict Cumberbatch is mesmerising in this film on Louis Wain’s life. Wain becomes a hit at the end of the 19th century thanks to his unique and surreal paintings of cats.

Blithe Spirit

Judi Dench stars in this remake of Noël Coward’s wonderful classic play. When a writer with writer’s block invites a medium to hold a seance, his first wife returns from the dead and wreaks havoc on his new marriage. Also starring Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens, Isla Fisher and Leslie Mann.

The Father

Anthony Hopkins won an Oscar for his sensitive, devastating portrayal of a man grasping for his mind in this adaptation of the play by Florian Zeller. Also starring Oscar winner Olivia Colman (who was nominated for her performance), it follows the relationship between a father and daughter as he slips behind the veil of dementia. Watch now »

Made In Italy

If you think the father-son relationship between Robert (Liam Neeson) and Jack (Michael Richardson) is unbelievable, here’s a little inside info: Michael is Liam’s real-life son. In this dramedy, the pair go on a roadtrip to Italy as they try to repair their estranged relationship. Jack plans to buy an art gallery from his soon-to-be-ex-wife, but he’ll need cash. And his only possible source is his artist dad, Robert, to whom he hasn’t spoken in years. Jack wants to sell the house in Italy that he and his dad own, but they’ll need to do a spot of upkeep on it first … and that means talking to each other.

Summerland

Gemma Arterton takes lead in this World War II-era period drama. She plays a writer living alone and with no desire to speak to people unnecessarily. That changes when she’s left to care for a young boy who not only warms her heart, he shows her the true meaning of a mother’s love when she starts to open up after years of heartache and heartbreak.