Summary
- BritBox offers a wide variety of British TV shows and films, making it stand out from other streaming services like Netflix and Hulu.
- With a total of 2.6 million global subscribers, BritBox has become incredibly popular in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa.
- From iconic British sitcoms to intense crime dramas and period dramas, BritBox has a catalog of some of the best British movies and TV shows of all time.
While there are plenty of online subscription-based streaming services that people can access to watch their favorite movies and TV shows like Netflix, Hulu, Max, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+, there is another service that provides just as much great content as the rest of them: BritBox. Founded by BBC Studios and ITV, what makes BritBox stand out from the other streaming services is that it unsurprisingly features mostly British TV and films. Whether it’s an iconic British sitcom, a modern-day Scottish murder mystery series, or a classic movie that features a cast of famous English actors, there is a variety of British content to pick from on BritBox.
In July 2022, BritBox reached a total of 2.6 million global subscribers, showcasing just how popular the streaming service has become not just in the United Kingdom, but in other countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa (via Mumbrella). While other streaming services like Hulu and Netflix may have several great British shows and movies in their digital libraries, BritBox is the only one that is completely dedicated to British content. This allows BritBox to have some of the best British movies and TV shows of all time in their catalog.
10 A Room with a View (1985)
Merchant Ivory Productions’ faithful adaptation of E.M. Forster’s 1908 novel of the same name, A Room with a View explores the love story between Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter) and George Emerson (Julian Sands). While the film primarily focuses on the romance between Lucy and George, it also uses it to criticize England during the Edwardian era, which brought an oppressive and restrictive culture to the country. This is one of the best movies on BritBox as it not only features an all-star cast of British actors including Maggie Smith, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Judi Dench, but it also was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
9 An Inspector Calls (2015)
Adapted from the 1945 play of the same name by J. B. Priestley, An Inspector Calls is a TV movie that follows Inspector Goole (David Thewlis) whose investigation into a woman’s suicide leads him to the mysterious Birling family. In the same vein as some of the best British murder mysteries, what makes this one of the best movies to watch on BritBox is that the case is surrounded by mystery and intrigue, with twist and turns that make predicting the culprit an engrossing challenge. Thewlis delivers a stellar performance as Goole, which only makes this mysterious adventure all that more exciting.
8 A Confession (2019)
A Confession is a 2019 miniseries that tells the story of Detective Sergeant Stephen Fulcher (Martin Freeman) who attempts to track down a serial killer responsible for the disappearance of a woman named Sian O’Callaghan. However, as Stephen immerses himself further and further into this investigation, both his career and personal life slowly start falling apart. What makes A Confession stand out from the other British murder mysteries is not only Freeman’s top-notch performance but also that the entire story of this miniseries is based on a real-life event surrounding a police officer who lost his career because of an investigation.
7 Shetland (2013 – Present)
When it comes to gritty and intense Scottish crime dramas, not many are quite like the BBC’s iconic TV show, Shetland. While Shetland features a strong ensemble of characters, the series primarily focuses on Detective Inspector Jimmy Pérez (Douglas Henshall) who, along with the help of a team of fellow police officers, must investigate a series of grisly murders and crimes. What makes this one of the best series on BritBox is not just all the fascinating cases that Pérez and his team have to solve, but the inner demons they are forced to confront while investigating these grisly crimes.
6 Luther (2010 – 2019)
Considered one of the greatest British crime shows ever made, Luther follows Detective Chief Inspector John Luther (Idris Elba), a brilliant detective who becomes so dedicated to his police work that the job begins consuming his every waking moment. This leaves him with very few meaningful and personal connections aside from a genius killer named Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson) who is infatuated with him. Through a combination of Elba’s excellent performance as the iconic John Luther, the dark tone and atmosphere the show presents, and incredible writing, Luther is one of the best psychological crime shows that can be watched on BritBox.
5 The Office (2001 – 2003)
Created by British comedians Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, The Office is a mockumentary sitcom that explores a group of office workers at an English paper company who attempt to get through their 9–5 jobs while dealing with the wacky antics of their boss, David Brent (Gervais). While those in the US may be more familiar with the American remake of The Office that stars Steve Carell as Michael Scott, the UK version of The Office is a tightly written, well-acted, and incredibly funny series that perfectly executes the cringe comedy that both Gervais and Merchant are masters at, making this one of the best sitcoms on BritBox.
4 Downton Abbey (2010 – 2015)
Downton Abbey is a period drama that primarily follows a wealthy English family called the Crawleys and the domestic workers employed at their estate. The Crawleys are not only based on real people, but they are also affected by real-life historical events such as the sinking of the Titanic and the Teapot Dome Scandal, and throughout its six seasons the show explores how this aristocratic family reacts to such events. The show has become so popular that it eventually spawned two sequel films, Downton Abbey (2019) and Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022). Downton Abbey‘s enduring legacy easily makes it one of the best period dramas on BritBox.
3 Mr. Bean (1990 – 1995)
Considered one of the funniest British sitcoms ever made, Mr. Bean is the brainchild of legendary British actor and comedian, Rowan Atkinson. The show tells the story of a bumbling man-child named Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson) who attempts to solve everyday problems in the most outlandish ways possible, which often is at the cost of annoying other people. What makes the comedy in Mr. Bean so hilarious is that it requires a lot of physical acting from Atkinson, so the humor comes from not just the jokes themselves, but the physical action needed to deliver them. This makes Mr. Bean one of the best comedies on BritBox.
2 Pride And Prejudice (1995)
A six-episode adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic 1813 novel, Pride and Prejudice centers on the relationship between Elizabeth Bennet (Jennifer Ehle) and Fitzwilliam Darcy (Colin Firth), two English aristocrats who learn to overcome their pride and get past the prejudices they have of each other in order truly be together and fall in love. Austen’s Pride and Prejudice has been adapted multiple times in film and TV, but the 1995 miniseries adaptation stands out as one of the best is both the writing and the amazing performances from Ehle and Firth, making this one of the finest shows to watch on BritBox.
1 Doctor Who (1963 – 1989)
While audiences may be more familiar with the modern seasons of the iconic British sci-fi series that began when Christopher Eccleston played the Ninth Doctor, BritBox is home to all 26 seasons of classic Doctor Who. Doctor Who is about an alien Time Lord, referred to as “The Doctor”, who travels through time and space using the TARDIS to protect both humanity and history from a series of threats like the Daleks and the Cybermen. Doctor Who is one of the most iconic sci-fi properties of all time with a loyal fanbase, making it a must-see on BritBox.
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