Celebrate the London Film Festival With Some of the Best British Films of the Last 20 Years

Posted on 07 Oct 2016 by Anna Scott
This week saw the opening of the 2016 London Film Festival, now a key event in the movie industry calendar. Unfortunately, most of us won’t get the chance to attend any screenings but until these movies get a general cinema release or you catch them at home, console yourself with a selection of some (but by no means all) of the very best British films from the last 20 years. There’s a broad range here so we think you’ll find something to suit no matter what your taste or age…

 

Billy Elliot


Billy Elliot DVDYou know what will make you feel old? The fact that the actor who played aspiring dancer Billy (Jamie Bell) is not only in his thirties but also a divorced father. Yep, that should do it. But going back to this masterpiece from the turn of the century, it told the story of a boy in a mining community in 1984 who just wants to dance, but his dreams are at odds with the concerns of his struggling family. Guaranteed to bring a tear to the eye of those with even the hardest hearts.

 


Paddington


Paddington DVDThe most recent entry is only a couple of years old, but has already taken its place as a bonafide children’s classic. There was a bit of controversy during the production when Colin Firth was replaced as the voice of Paddington, and some eyebrows were raised after the release of the trailer when many feared it would sully the reputation of the much-loved character. But all this was forgotten once viewed in full when it proved itself to be funny, clever, timely and that very rare of things – a film that people of ALL ages genuinely adored. And if you haven’t got a copy yet, you can make a saving using The Hut promo codes.

 

Shaun of the Dead


Shaun of the Dead DVDFrom cuddly Peruvian bears to zombies, but this movie is no less worthy a place on this list because of the extra gore involved. Of course, Shaun of the Dead wasn’t just a straight horror flick, but one of the first films to combine horror and romantic comedy (leading to much use of the slightly annoying term ‘romcomzom’). From the people who created the cult TV comedy, Spaced, this is a very important and original landmark in the history of British screen comedies and don’t forget, you can stock up on this and other comedy classics using Zavvi discount codes for extra savings on your DVD order.

 

Slumdog Millionaire


Slumdog Millionaire DVDMovie fans have come to expect great and unique things from Danny Boyle (more on why later on), but many won’t forget the sheer spectacle of Slumdog Millionaire, combining a modern day fairy tale, stunning and heart-breaking shots of the slums of Delhi, unimaginable horrors and a memorable song and dance routine during the closing credits. It quite rightly scooped up a number of Oscars, Baftas and Golden Globes and remains a modern day classic.

 



Amy


Amy DVDLast year’s winner of the Oscar for Best Documentary, Amy detailed the story of singer Amy Winehouse using the stories and memories of those who knew her best, told over both home video footage and her many memorable appearances on TV and stage. From the team who produced another classic British documentary, Senna, this is a must-watch, even for those who weren’t a fan. But for those who were and still are, you can order a copy using Amazon promotional codes as well as copies of her albums.

 


Trainspotting


Trainspotting DVDRegularly voted one of the best British films of all time, never mind of the last 20 years, this unforgettable film from Danny Boyle and its unique depiction of the consequences of drug abuse recently celebrated its 20th anniversary (which means we’re cheating slightly by including it here, but only for a few months). There’s not really much to be said about it apart from it just watch it and then wonder why you hadn’t before now.

 

 

As the London Film Festival shows, there are so many great British films to look forward to, but there will always be those classics that you just haven’t gotten around to watching yet. So if any of the above represent a gap in your film viewing history, then now is the time to set aside a few hours and appreciate their greatness.

Discount Promo Codes Blog