25 Brilliant British Movies on Amazon Freevee in 2024 (US)

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Last Updated on August 10, 2024 by Stefanie Hutson

Despite massive increases in output, it seems like there just isn't enough British TV coming out to satisfy the incredible hunger for new content. Whether it's better stories, more natural-looking actors, or the incredible scenery, there's just something a bit different about programming from the UK and Ireland. If you're having trouble finding a good show you haven't already seen, it's always worth poking around in the UK's film exports.

To that end, we wanted to feature some of the best and most interesting British films currently on Amazon's Freevee series. All the shows are free with the inclusion of ad breaks, and even if you don't have Amazon Prime, you can add the Freevee app on your phone or smart TV to enjoy these films. Many are also available on services like Tubi or Pluto TV if you prefer those platforms.

Please note that we're publishing this list on the 9th of August in 2024. Depending on when you access the post, the availability of selections below might have changed.

Emma (2020) – This updated adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel may have had mixed reviews, but it's hard to deny that it's gorgeous. The film stars Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen's Gambit) as Emma Woodhouse, a wealthy young woman who delights in playing matchmaker among her friends and neighbors. Set in Regency-era England, it follows her romantic misadventures and her journey to self-awareness as she meddles in the love lives of those around her, often with unintended consequences.

Mrs. Dalloway (1997) – This elegant period drama is based on Virginia Woolf's iconic novel, and it stars Vanessa Redgrave (Atonement) as Clarissa Dalloway, a socialite in post-World War I London. The film takes place over a single day while Clarissa prepares for a party, reflecting on her past choices, lost loves, and the inexorable passage of time. Interwoven with her story is that of Septimus Warren Smith (Rupert Graves, The Madness of King George), a shell-shocked war veteran struggling with his own demons.

Meet You in Scotland (2023) – This predictable but fun rom-com follows the unexpected romance between an American travel writer and a Scottish innkeeper, set against the always-gorgeous backdrop of the Scottish Highlands. As they navigate cultural differences and personal baggage, they ultimately grow apart and go their separate ways. Just kidding. Obviously, they fall in love and live happily ever after. Though cheesy and full of questionable stereotypes, it's still a fun film if you don't take it too seriously. And of course, the scenery is perfection.

A Handful of Dust (1988) – Based on the 1934 Evelyn Waugh novel of the same name, this British period drama stars James Wilby as Tony Last, a gentleman whose idyllic life in the English countryside unravels after his wife Brenda (Kristin Scott Thomas) has an affair. It explores themes of betrayal, increasing social change, and the decline of the British aristocracy – and the supporting cast that includes Dame Judi Dench, Stephen Fry, Sir Alec Guinness, and Anjelica Huston. Even if you're not a huge fan of older films or stories about infidelity, this is one that's well worth watching.

Toast (2010) – Based on the memoirs of food writer Nigel Slater, this heartwarming drama stars Freddie Highmore (Bates Motel) as the young Nigel and Helena Bonham Carter (The Crown) as his stepmother, Mrs. Potter. Set in the 1960s, it follows Nigel's coming-of-age journey as he discovers his passion for cooking while struggling with a complicated family life. After his mother’s death, Nigel’s relationship with his father (Ken Stott) becomes strained, especially when Mrs. Potter enters their lives and creates a culinary rivalry.

Roald Dahl's Esio Trot (2015) – Adapted from Roald Dahl's novella of the same name, this delightful film stars Dustin Hoffman (The Graduate) as Mr. Hoppy, a shy, retired bachelor with a secret crush on his neighbor, Mrs. Silver, played by Judi Dench (A Fine Romance). Mrs. Silver is devoted to her pet tortoise, Alfie, and wishes for him to grow bigger. To win her affection, he devises an elaborate plan involving a magical “Esio Trot” (read it backwards) spell and a series of increasingly larger tortoises.

The Railway Children (2000) – Based on E. Nesbit’s classic novel, this fun and family-friendly film follows the adventures of three siblings, Roberta (Jemima Rooper), Peter (Jack Blumenau), and Phyllis (Clare Thomas), who move to the countryside after their father is unjustly imprisoned. Living near a railway station, they befriend the stationmaster and a kind old gentleman (Richard Attenborough) who helps them uncover the truth behind their father’s disappearance.

The Vanishing (2019) – This eerie thriller was inspired by the Flannan Isles mystery of 1900, when three lighthouse keepers vanished without a trace. Though men scoured every corner of the island they called home, the only evidence ever found was a bit of storm damage on the west landing. The clocks were stopped, indicating they'd disappeared about a week prior to the discovery – and the final assumption was that they must have drowned or been blown over a cliff.

The film takes a more sinister, creative approach to the incident, and it stars Gerard Butler (300), Peter Mullan (Westworld), and Connor Swindells (Sex Education) as the three lighthouse keepers. Together, they discover a hidden chest of gold on a remote Scottish island. As greed and paranoia take hold, their camaraderie unravels, leading to violent confrontations and a descent into madness.

Mrs. Henderson Presents (2006) – Directed by Stephen Frears, this fun British dramedy stars Dame Judi Dench (Philomena) as Laura Henderson, a wealthy widow who opens the Windmill Theatre in London during the 1930s. Partnering with impresario Vivian Van Damm (Bob Hoskins, The Changeling), she revolutionizes the theater by featuring nude performances during wartime, offering a morale boost to British soldiers. If you got a chuckle out of Calendar Girls, you'll probably enjoy this one, too.

Persuasion (2008) – This ITV adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel stars Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water) as Anne Elliot, a woman who reconnects with her former fiancé, Captain Frederick Wentworth (Rupert Penry-Jones, Spooks/MI-5), after years of separation. Set in the early 19th century, it's an adaptation of one of Austen's final works, believed by many to be her most mature and complex tale.

The Scapegoat (2012) – Matthew Rhys (The Americans) stars as John Standing, a down-on-his-luck teacher who encounters his doppelgänger, Johnny Spence, a wealthy but morally questionable man. After a night of drinking in the hotel bar, John wakes up to find himself forced into Johnny's life, thrust into a world of luxury, deception, and dark family secrets. Directed by Charles Sturridge, the film is a compelling exploration of identity and moral dilemmas. It's based on Daphne du Maurier's 1957 novel of the same name.

Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians (1989) – This adaptation of Agatha Christie’s classic mystery novel And Then There Were None moves the action to a remote African safari lodge, where ten strangers have been invited under false pretenses. As they're systematically killed off, each death is connected to a line from the “Ten Little Indians” children's rhyme. Cast members include Donald Pleasance, Brenda Vaccaro, and Frank Stallone.

Stonehearst Asylum (2014) – Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether,” this gothic thriller stars Jim Sturgess, Kate Beckinsale, and Sir Ben Kingsley. Set in a mental institution during the Victorian era, it follows an Oxford graduate who takes a position at a mental institution, only to find the treatments are horrific and inhumane.

The Lady Vanishes (1938) – Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, this classic thriller follows young socialite Iris Henderson (Margaret Lockwood) as she travels by train across Europe. When an elderly woman, Miss Froy (Dame May Whitty), mysteriously disappears, Iris teams up with a fellow passenger, Gilbert (Michael Redgrave), to uncover the truth about what happened.

The Lady Vanishes (2013) – This BBC adaptation of the previously mentioned Hitchcock classic stars Tuppence Middleton as Iris Carr, a young woman who befriends an elderly governess, Miss Froy (Selina Cadell), on a train journey. When Miss Froy disappears, Iris is thrust into the investigation, facing skepticism and danger at every turn.

A is for Acid (2002) – This British true-crime drama stars Martin Clunes (Doc Martin) as John George Haigh, the infamous “Acid Bath Murderer” who used sulfuric acid to dispose of his victims' bodies during the 1940s. It chronicles not just Haigh's calculated and gruesome crimes, but also the police investigation that ultimately brought him to justice. His creepy portrayal is a far cry from Clunes's performance in Manhunt, a decidedly different true crime series in which he played the diligent detective instead.

Coming Through (1985) – Helen Mirren, Kenneth Branagh, and Alison Steadman star in this 1985 film that weaves together two stories – the romance of DH Lawrence and Frieda, and a modern romance between two university scholars.

Sometimes Always Never (2020) -This quirky British dramedy stars Bill Nighy as Alan, a tailor with a sharp wit and a troubled family. His obsession with Scrabble becomes a way to cope with the disappearance of his son, Michael – until he encounters a mysterious online player who might just be Michael.

Go Now (1998) – Robert Carlyle stars in this emotional film about a young construction worker whose life is going pretty well until he's diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. It won a BAFTA TV Award for its powerful and often funny look into life with the condition (informed by co-writer Paul Powell's own experiences).

The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1986) – This TV adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s classic tale stars George C. Scott as Auguste Dupin, the talented detective who investigates a gruesome double murder in 19th-century Paris. The book is widely considered to be one of the first detective stories, and it's especially enjoyable for anyone who likes the classic, analytical types of detectives.

Once Upon a Time in London (2019) – This gritty film dramatises the violent reign of two of London's most notorious real-life gangsters from the 1930s and 40s, Billy Hill (Leo Gregory) and Jacker Comer (Terry Stone). As they battle for control of the city's criminal underworld, we get a sometimes-gruesome look at how London's organised crime world developed between the wars.

Man & Boy (2002) – Ioan Gruffud (Harrow) stars in this film about a TV producer who makes a terrible mistake by cheating on his wife, then has to deal with the consequences to his life and relationships (and perhaps grow a bit in the process). When his wife leaves him, he finds himself an overnight single parent with a kid who isn't all that wild about him. It's based on Tony Parsons's novel of the same name.

Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont (2005) – This lovely drama stars Dame Joan Plowright as Mrs. Palfrey, an elderly widow who moves into the Claremont Hotel in London. Feeling lonely and disconnected, she strikes up an unlikely, mutually beneficial friendship with an impoverished young writer named Ludovic (Rupert Friend). The film is based on Elizabeth Taylor's classic novel of the same name.

Me Without You (2001) – Anna Friel and Michelle Williams star in this film about two girls growing up together in the 1970s and 80s on the Isle of Wight and in Brighton. Their friendship is intense and occasionally toxic, and as they each move in different directions, their bond is tested and sometimes made stronger.

Gemma Bovery (2014) – Directed by Anne Fontaine, this /French-British drama stars Gemma Arterton as Gemma, a British woman who moves to a small French village with her husband. Their arrival captures the attention of local baker Martin Joubert (Fabrice Luchini),and he becomes obsessed with the parallels between Gemma’s life and the classic Flaubert novel Madame Bovary. As Gemma’s new life in France unfolds, Martin’s fantasies about her and the novel's tragic heroine begin to blur the lines between fiction and reality.

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