Discover the best of British cinema, film, and television

Discover the definitive list of popular and critically-acclaimed movies and TV shows from United Kingdom. Find your next binge-watch, streaming on Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Prime Video, and other top services!

The cinema of United Kingdom

British cinema stands as one of the world's most influential and enduring film traditions, with a rich history dating back to the late 19th century, playing a foundational role in the development of global filmmaking. The early days saw short, silent films in the 1890s, following the invention of motion picture technology, though the First World War allowed American films to dominate screens initially. The golden age emerged in the 1930s and 1940s with visionary directors like Alfred Hitchcock, whose thriller masterpieces including "The 39 Steps" established British cinema's reputation for sophisticated storytelling. Gainsborough Studios, founded in 1924, pioneered their own genre with the famous Gainsborough melodramas, whilst later decades brought social realism through the "kitchen sink" movement and eventually the British New Wave. What truly sets Britain apart is its television legacy. Doctor Who, launched in 1963, became a cultural phenomenon that has run for decades, inspiring generations and proving that British creativity could captivate global audiences. EastEnders premiered in 1985 and became the longest-running soap opera on BBC television with over 6,000 episodes, whilst shows like Coronation Street have entertained families for over six decades. Contemporary British television continues to punch above its weight internationally. From period dramas like Downton Abbey to crime series like Sherlock, British productions consistently set global trends. The industry's ability to blend high production values with distinctly British humour, social commentary, and storytelling has made it a cultural export powerhouse that influences entertainment worldwide.

Best British series

  • Poster for Dept. Q

    Dept. Q 2025

    A brash but brilliant cop becomes head of a new police department, where he leads an unlikely team of misfits in solving Edinburgh's cold cases.

    Netflix
    80
  • Poster for All Her Fault

    All Her Fault 2025

    In Chicago, Marissa Irvine arrives at 14 Arthur Avenue, expecting to pick up her young son Milo from his first playdate with a boy at his new school. But the woman who answers the door isn't a mother she recognizes. She isn't the nanny. She doesn't have Milo. And so begins every parent's worst nightmare.

    Sky Atlantic
    77
  • Poster for Black Rabbit

    Black Rabbit 2025

    A rising-star restaurateur is forced into New York's criminal underworld when his chaotic brother returns to town with loan sharks on his trail.

    Netflix
    74
  • Poster for Young Sherlock

    Young Sherlock 2026

    Sherlock Holmes is a disgraced young man, raw and unfiltered, when he finds himself wrapped up in a murder case that threatens his liberty. His first ever case unravels a globe-trotting conspiracy that changes his life forever.

    Prime Video
    77
  • Poster for House of Guinness

    House of Guinness 2025

    Dublin, 1868. The Guinness family patriarch is dead, and his four children — each with dark secrets to hide — hold the brewery's fate in their hands.

    Netflix
    76
  • Poster for Steal

    Steal 2026

    A typical day at Lochmill Capital is upended when armed thieves burst in and force Zara and her best friend Luke to execute their demands. In the aftermath, conflicted detective Rhys races against time to find out who stole £4 billion pounds of people's pensions and why.

    Prime Video
    71

Best British movies

  • Poster for 28 Years Later

    28 Years Later 2025

    Twenty-eight years after the Rage virus outbreak, a heavily-defended island survives connected to the mainland by a single causeway. When one of the group leaves the island into the dark heart of the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well.

    64
  • Poster for Fountain of Youth

    Fountain of Youth 2025

    A treasure-hunting mastermind assembles a team for a life-changing adventure. But to outwit and outrun threats at every turn, he'll need someone even smarter than he is: his estranged sister.

    64
  • Poster for Heads of State

    Heads of State 2025

    The UK Prime Minister and US President have a public rivalry that risks their countries' alliance. But when they become targets of a powerful enemy, they're forced to rely on each other as they go on a wild, multinational run. Allied with Noel, a brilliant MI6 agent, they must find a way to thwart a conspiracy that threatens the free world.

    68
  • Poster for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

    28 Years Later: The Bone Temple 2026

    Dr. Kelson finds himself in a shocking new relationship - with consequences that could change the world as they know it - and Spike's encounter with Jimmy Crystal becomes a nightmare he can't escape.

    71
  • Poster for Crime 101

    Crime 101 2026

    When an elusive thief whose high-stakes heists unfold along the iconic 101 freeway in Los Angeles eyes the score of a lifetime, with hopes of this being his final job, his path collides with a disillusioned insurance broker who is facing her own crossroads. Determined to crack the case, a relentless detective closes in on the operation, raising the stakes even higher.

    70
  • Poster for The Woman in Cabin 10

    The Woman in Cabin 10 2025

    On a lavish yacht for an assignment, a journalist sees a passenger go overboard. But when no one believes her, she risks her life to uncover the truth.

    64