Better Man 2024
Amanda's guess for Best Picture; not actually nominated.
The Big Picture · Discussion · Review
The 21st-Century (American) British Movie Canon, ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy,’ and ‘Paddington in Peru’
February 18, 2025/ 77 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins · Yasi Salek
Sean, Amanda, and Bandsplain's Yasi Salek review 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy' and 'Paddington in Peru,' then build a canon of 21st-century British movies Americans actually like, split five ways, from the lads to Gen Z.
72 films across 8 segments.
AI-generated This episode was transcribed and analyzed with AI models. The matches aren't perfect — expect the occasional misheard title or a link to the wrong film.
BAFTA weekendhandicapping the field
Conclave 2024
The consensus pick, a Pope movie the table stans.
The Brutalist 2024
Anora 2024
If it wins, they joke, they can just go home.
A Complete Unknown 2024
Emilia Pérez 2024
Wicked 2024
Snubbed at the BAFTAs; nobody at the table minds.
Bird 2024
Outstanding British Film nominee.
Blitz 2024
Outstanding British Film nominee.
Hard Truths 2024
Sean's pick of the British field; they're saving a full episode for after the Oscars.
Gladiator II 2024
Outstanding British Film nominee.
Kneecap 2024
A Belfast film, cited as best British film, which prompts a Northern Ireland vs. Ireland caveat.
Lee 2024
Outstanding British Film nominee.
Love Lies Bleeding 2024
Rose Glass's bodybuilding noir, set in Arizona: an odd 'British film' nominee.
The Outrun 2024
Outstanding British Film nominee.
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl 2024
Outstanding British Film nominee.
‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’streaming on Peacock
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy 2025
Fourth film, first directed by a man (Michael Morris). A movie about grief and middle-age single parenthood; the two romances aren't the center. Chiwetel Ejiofor is the new Darcy; Leo Woodall the younger fling. Long for the genre.
Bridget Jones's Diary 2001
The 2001 original: a light Pride and Prejudice, and Hugh Grant right after Notting Hill. The 'I like you just as you are' speech was read at a wedding.
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason 2004
The one they rate Mad About the Boy 'on par with.'
Bridget Jones's Baby 2016
Nine years ago; ends with Mark Darcy alive and a 'publisher found alive' newspaper gag that set up film four.
Babygirl 2024
Floated as a double feature: a Harris Dickinson / age-gap 'very French' movie that played bigger in Europe.
To Leslie 2022
Michael Morris's earlier film, of the surprise Andrea Riseborough call-in campaign.
‘Paddington in Peru’
Paddington in Peru 2024
Third film, first not directed by Paul King (Dougal Wilson takes over). An adventure back to Peru, called the 'Apocalypse Now of Paddington movies.' Anti-capitalist, pro-immigration; Sally Hawkins recast with Emily Mortimer, unacknowledged. Olivia Colman as a suspicious nun.
Paddington 2014
The 2014 original, drawing WWII-evacuee parallels not in the slim source book.
Paddington 2 2017
Called one of the most beloved movies of the 21st century, the reputation the third had to live up to.
The canon: For the ladsthe easiest list to write
24 Hour Party People 2002
Sean concedes this one's really for the music-loving people.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy 2011
Barely features a single woman, filed under 'lad dads.'
In the Loop 2009
'For anyone who likes to laugh.'
Snatch 2000
Guy Ritchie, best watched with subtitles.
Shaun of the Dead 2004
The Cornetto trilogy, Edgar Wright.
Hot Fuzz 2007
The Cornetto trilogy.
The World's End 2013
The Cornetto trilogy.
Layer Cake 2004
Chris would take a bullet for Sienna Miller in it.
In Bruges 2008
Martin McDonagh straddles the Irish/British line.
Sexy Beast 2001
Jonathan Glazer: some Glazer is for the lads, some for the cinephiles.
Kill List 2011
Ben Wheatley.
Attack the Block 2011
Sunshine 2007
Danny Boyle.
Four Lions 2010
Chris Morris's comedy.
The canon: For the lasses
Love Actually 2003
Yasi is a self-declared truther; Sean thinks it should be abolished. Emma Thompson's scene gets its due either way.
Atonement 2007
Joe Wright; the buried last-paragraph twist wrecked Sean 30 minutes after the book.
Wuthering Heights 2011
Andrea Arnold.
Pride & Prejudice 2005
Joe Wright, Keira Knightley: a Hall of Famer of these movies.
About a Boy 2002
The Hugh Grant of it all.
The Holiday 2006
Undeniable but not endorsed; a misuse of Kate Winslet.
The Young Victoria 2009
Emily Blunt, pre-Crown but Crown-esque.
The canon: The normiesthe ones that break through
Casino Royale 2006
The first, so the more 'normie' Bond.
Skyfall 2012
Amanda's stand: about the empire, mommy issues, the coffins, Tennyson. Arguably the cinephile Bond.
1917 2019
Paddington 2 2017
Darkest Hour 2017
Churchill during WWII.
The King's Speech 2010
Dreadful reputation for beating The Social Network, but not bad.
The Queen 2006
Slumdog Millionaire 2008
A tougher call: English filmmaker, set in India, empire-adjacent via history.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone 2001
The series, normie and Gen Z at once, tinged by a Weinstein afterglow.
Dunkirk 2017
The rare tic-tac-toe: lad dad, lasses, normies, and Gen Z all claim it.
The canon: For the cinephiles
The Souvenir 2019
Joanna Hogg.
The Souvenir Part II 2021
Weekend 2011
Andrew Haigh.
45 Years 2015
Andrew Haigh.
All of Us Strangers 2023
Andrew Haigh again.
Fish Tank 2009
Andrea Arnold.
Hunger 2008
Steve McQueen's first film.
Happy-Go-Lucky 2008
Sean's Mike Leigh pick, the most British until Hard Truths.
Morvern Callar 2002
Lynne Ramsay.
Bloody Sunday 2002
Paul Greengrass's first movie.
The Deep Blue Sea 2011
The late Terence Davies, with Rachel Weisz.
An Education 2009
Cinephiles or lasses? Amanda's wife's favorite; they refuse to gender it.
Phantom Thread 2017
PTA, but British: a Sean all-timer.
The canon: For Gen Z
What a Girl Wants 2003
Amanda Bynes finds out her dad is Colin Firth. If Colin Firth is in it, it counts.
Bend It Like Beckham 2002
Parminder Nagra; also for the normies.
Also mentioned raised along the way
Floated for the canon, ruled out Mamma Mia!Sing StreetFour Weddings and a FuneralBirthThe Parent Trap
Also mentioned Notting HillPhilomenaThe TripWonkaIndiana Jones and the Dial of DestinyCaptain America: Brave New WorldThe Incredible Hulk
Criterion's banner morning Withnail & IHow to Get Ahead in AdvertisingThe Three MusketeersThe Four MusketeersA Hard Day's Night
Homages and older touchstones Raiders of the Lost ArkApocalypse NowAfter HoursFollow That Bird
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
TV One DayThe White LotusPrime TargetThe CrownSay NothingLandmanIndustrySofia the FirstSesame StreetThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Stage Sunset Boulevard
Podcasts BandsplainGood Hang
Ads T-Mobile Home Run DerbyBoar's HeadGoogle AI Professional CertificateWhite ClawAbercrombie