Wither it’s a slumber party or a bad break up, the chick flick is every girls stand by film. Chick flicks, or girly movies as my husband calls them, sometimes makes us laugh, cry and always cheer for the heroine. Britain has put out some absolutely fantastic chick-flicks in the past decade.
Without further ado ladies, here are my top ten British chick flicks:
1. Bridget Jones’ Diary: I never good sick of seeing this film. It has the perfect combination to be the ultimate British chick flick, cheating boyfriend, drinking, breakups and a happy ending. It think this movie is so successful as a chick flick because, Bridget vocalizes what most women are thinking. We can relate to her blunders and successes.
2.An Education: My husband and I went to go see this film while it was in the theater and I LOVED it! This is a story about a suburban British teenager coming into her own. The acting is superb. I cried and laughed, and wanted to be the main character so many times. This is a must see chick flick!
3. Bend It Like Beckham: This film has been around for a while, but it always feels fresh and fun every time I watch it. It is a unique look into life as a teenager of Indian immigrants, and see the cultural differences between generations. The steamy Jonathan Rhys Myers is also in this film. It is heartwarming and fun.
4. Love Actually; I originally saw this film in the theaters too, my husband and I counted the days until this film came out on DVD. This flick has it all, hilarious moments, and times that make you want to use an entire box of tissue. This film also contains a wedding scene which equates to bonus chick flick points.
5. Four Weddings and A Funeral; This movie has also been around for a while. What chick flick could be better than a movie containing four weddings! this film is heart warming and a must have for the British chick flick collector.
6. The Holiday; The basic concept of this film is a house swap by two women, one being Kate Winslet and the other Cameron Diaz. One lives in Hollywood, the other lives in a charming British cottage. There is a scene where Cameron Diaz’s character goes to the store and buys wine, after arriving in the UK… Hilarious!!! This movie is the perfect chick flick!
7. Atonement; This is another chick flick gem. The love story in this film starts with a steamy affair and then goes horribly wrong. The film is set against the backdrop of World War II Britain. A classic and beautiful love story.
8. Pride and Prejudice; This film is the retelling of the famous Jane Austen novel. It is filmed beautifully in period detail. Keira Nightly’s performance of the very spirited Lizzy is fantastic. This is the ultimate love story.
9. Calendar Girls; This is a funny yet heart warming chick flick about a group of older women and their quest to raise money for charity. This film was based on a true story. Very touching and fun, a great chick flick.
10. Wimbledon: This film was not wildly popular here in the United States, and I cannot figure out why. A great love story, dabbled in with a disapproving father. This film obviously has tennis intertwined in it too.
About jackie
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Anglotopia was founded by Jonathan and Jackie Thomas in 2007 in a closet in Chicago. Anglotopia is for people who love Britain - whether it's British TV, Culture, History or Travel - we cover it all. Anglotopia is now our full time jobs and we spend our time working on the site and planning our yearly trips to Britain. Join us as we explore Britain and everything it has to offer!
I’ve seen all these films! Love actually will always be one of my faves. Carrey Mulligan was brilliant in “an education”! Surprised that “I Capture the Castle” is not on the list. Maybe its not as popular as I thought it was. Haha
And, Jackie, you will appreciate Calendar Girls ever so much more when you are a bit older. I recommend it to every woman I hear stressing about aging. I swear you could be clinically depressed about it, then come out of the cinema with a whole new attitude after this film. I think it’s one DVD that should be covered by one’s health insurance, just like a prescription!
I must be an obsessed Anglophile haha, these are my favorite movies-Atonement, Bend It, Love Actually, Bridget Jones, 4 Weddings-I just recently watched the Holiday for the ump-tenth time!
I see no mention of:
Truly Madly Deeply with Juliet Stevenson and Alan Rickman.
Sliding Doors with Gywneth Paltrow and John Hannah.
About A Boy with Hugh Grant and Toni Collette.
I am with you on Sliding Doors – I think it’s omission is downright criminal!
I totally agree with Truly , Madly, Deeply…
Alan Rickman was great in this film
Can’t really understand why Nina did that to him. Why? WHY??!!!
*breathes heavily
Or how about:
Educating Rita with Julie Walters
Shirley Valentine with Pauline Collins
Or any Merchant Ivory Production.
Georgie Girl, is a fabulous film,with James Mason and Lynn Redgrave
I would have to put “Sense and Sensibility” on that list! It’s hard to get better than Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson. Oh yeah, and some guy named Hugh
I LOVE Wimbledon and The Holiday. And, of course, BJD. I would also say that BRIEF ENCOUNTER would also apply as a quintessentially British dramatic romance.
I like very much the following b&w movies of the 1940′s
Pygmalion with Wendy Hiller and Leslie Howard
I Know Where I’m Going with Wendy Hiller and Roger Livesey
Brief Encounter with Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson
Also Calendar Girls for a newer film
With the Movies listed above, I have come on some that Americans probably don’t know about,
Undertaking Betty
Caught on a Train Breaking the Waves, Winter Guest Gosford Park Howards End
Saving Grace Topsy Turvy High Hopes Made in Dagenham The Madness of King George
Shooting the Past
Try these on your list, really neat
From Anglophile Kathleen
I’ve seen all but “An Education,” altho’ I saw a preview for “Ed” on a rented dvd & thought “That looks good; I’ll have to rent that!” BTW, I’ve got a very dominant Y-chromosome, so don’t go thinking these’re just “chick flicks!” A good yarn inevitably entertains across gender boundaries.
“Bend It…” was good, but highly overrated: Notting Hill easily knocks it out of the top 10, but then you were probably trying to avoid cries of favoritism, what with 4 Weddings & Love, Actually already in there [which are #s 1 & 2 on my own list, in no particular order, tho' Love Actually may take the lead what with it's closer attention to a great soundtrack...]
Where is Notting Hill? Sense & Sensibility? Price & Prejudice BUT it ahs to be the one with the young, divine and incredibly handsome Colin Firth as Mr. D’Arcy! You just cannot leave that one out. Love Actually makes me want to spend a snowy Christmas in London and ice skate at Somerset House . I spent February 1986 in London with lots of snow and ice but it wasn’t quite the same!
LOL, the intro on the front page as well as the photo mention Notting Hill but it didn’t make the list!
My mistake!
I’ve seen all ten of these, and the only one I’d remove would be Bend It Like Beckham, and replace it with The Girl in the Cafe. I also liked Pirate Radio more than Beckham, though I’m not sure if Pirate Radio would qualify as a chick flick. I also can’t understand why Wimbledon wasn’t more popular in the US. I watch it at least every other year, preceding the tournament.
I can’t believe Notting Hill didn’t make the list!
I have to agree with some of your list and also some of the people who commented. Love, Actually is one of my favorites, for the soundtrack and for the varied stories, and the excellent British cast. Truly, Madly, Deeply is one of the most moving and beautiful movies I’ve ever seen. Notting Hill is a true “Rom-Com” and such fun. I enjoyed Bridget Jones (and Colin Firth!!), but wouldn’t say it’s the best ever (Love, Actually–probably), and I love Calendar Girls and Educating Rita, too. And, Sense and Sensibility–combining Jane Austen, beautiful scenery, and a first rate cast (Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon–Oh my!), it would be embarrassing to say how many times I’ve watched this one. I do like Holiday (the first view of that cottage-it’s like an Anglophile’s dream!)
Thanks for your website, I love it!
Love this list! Have enjoyed every fulm on it, and most of the others mentioned. My favourites – far and away – are “Saving Grace” with Brenda Blethyn, “Calendar Girls”, and “About A Boy”. Saving Grace and Calendar Girls are amazing because they go beyond the chick flick – They are about impossible people doing impossible things against impossibly stacked odds. I think both of these should be covered by insurance as a prescription against depression!
I love “About a Boy” more than “Love Actually”. It is making me look forward to Christmas and New Year’s in London with my London-born and bred fiance (my own chick flick come true!).
Splendid list and posts!
A number of the films you have named are Richard Curtis films. (4 Weddings, BJD, Love Actually, Notting Hill, About a Boy, etc.). Curtis not only knows how to make films for the masses, but he has helped to raise millions of pounds for at-risk children in poor countries in the world. He considers that a far greater accomplishment than his films. My hat is off to him!!
How could you forget ;-
The Remains of The Day
The Full Monty
War Bride
Dr Zhivago
Elizabeth
Goodnight Mr Tom
Goodbye Mr Chips
Shakespeare in Love
The English Patient
& of course Shadowlands – Warning: Hankies at the ready
Agree totally with the list but need to add “Sliding Doors”.
My personal favorite will always be “Love Actually”.