Actress Imelda Staunton (1956)

Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022) serves as a continuation of its predecessor, the 2019 film. Written by Julian Fellowes, creator and writer of the eponymous television series, and directed by Simon Curtis, the story follows Tom Branson, the widowed son-in-law of Earl of Grantham. He marries Lucy Smith, illegitimate daughter and sole heir to Lady Maud Bagshaw – Queen Mary’s lady-in-waiting. The family is taken aback when Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham, surprises them with news that she was gifted a villa in Southern France years ago by now-deceased ...

Downton Abbey (2019) is a historical drama film written by Julian Fellowes, the series creator and writer of its TV counterpart, and directed by Michael Engler. Produced by Carnival Films and Perfect World Pictures, the movie picks up where the series left off, bringing back much of the original cast. Set in 1927, the Crawleys are thrilled to learn that King George V and Queen Mary plan to visit Downton as part of their royal tour of Yorkshire. Amidst preparations by the servants, Lady Mary feels Barrow, the house butler, is ill-prepared for such an important event and ...

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019) is an American fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Pictures. It is a sequel to Maleficent (2014) and directed by Joachim Rønning, with a screenplay written by Linda Woolverton, Micah Fitzerman-Blue, and Noah Harpster. Angelina Jolie reprises her role as the iconic title character. After King Stefan’s passing, Aurora has ruled as Queen of the Moors while Maleficent remains its ...

The comedy film, Paddington 2 (2017), directed and written by Paul King and Simon Farnaby respectively, is a live-action animated sequel to the 2014 movie Paddington. Produced by Heyday Films and StudioCanal UK, it is based on the beloved stories of Paddington Bear by Michael Bond. The lovable bear, now living with the Browns in Windsor Gardens, offers his support to his neighbors in various ways. In order to purchase a special pop-up book of London for his aunt Lucy’s milestone birthday from Samuel Gruber’s antique shop, Paddington takes on odd jobs ...

The Crown (2016–2023), a historical drama series following Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, was created and principally written by Peter Morgan and produced by Left Bank Pictures and Sony Pictures Television for Netflix. Critics have praised its acting, directing, writing, cinematography, and production values, while some have noted its historical inaccuracies. The show has achieved multiple awards, including a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series and two Golden Globes for Best Television Series – Drama. It chronicles Queen Elizabeth II’s life from the 1940s to the present day, starting with her ascension ...

Paddington (2014), a live-action animated comedy film, was written and directed by Paul King. Based on Michael Bond’s beloved character Paddington Bear, the story was developed by King and Hamish McColl. In the depths of the Peruvian jungle, a British explorer comes across a group of bears with a love for marmalade. He dubs them Lucy and Pastuzo before bidding them farewell with an invitation to London. Forty years later, after their home is destroyed in an ...

The movie Maleficent (2014) was helmed by director Robert Stromberg and written by Linda Woolverton. The film centers around the titular character, a formidable fairy residing in the enchanted Moors, which shares a border with a neighboring human kingdom. In her youth, Maleficent meets a peasant boy named Stefan and they fall in love. However, as they grow older, their paths diverge – Stefan’s affection is overshadowed by his desire for power and control as king, while Maleficent becomes determined to protect the Moors. When the human King Henry attempts to ...

The animated Christmas comedy film, Arthur Christmas (2011), was co-produced by Sony Pictures Animation and Aardman Animations. Instead of a single individual, the title of Santa Claus has been passed down for generations to gift-givers. Currently on his seventieth mission, the current Santa, Malcolm Claus, holds more of a ceremonial role. The traditional sleigh and reindeer have been replaced by the S-1, a state-of-the-art vessel operated by hundreds of elves who use advanced equipment and military precision to deliver presents. All the intricate details of Christmas are meticulously managed from Mission Control at the North Pole by Malcolm’s eldest son, Steve. ...

The film Alice in Wonderland (2010), directed by Tim Burton and produced by Walt Disney Pictures, follows the story of a 19-year-old Alice Kingsleigh. Still grieving the loss of her father and feeling trapped by societal expectations, Alice begins to have strange recurring dreams. At a garden party, she is proposed to by Hamish Ascot, but her attention is soon drawn to a familiar white rabbit wearing a waistcoat and carrying a pocket watch. Following the rabbit down a rabbit hole, she accidentally shrinks after drinking from a bottle labeled ‘Drink Me’ (also known as a Pishsalver). This makes it impossible ...

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010) is a fantasy film directed by David Yates and written by Steve Kloves. Based on J. K. Rowling’s novel of the same name, it is the first of two cinematic installments. At Malfoy Manor, Severus Snape meets with Lord Voldemort and his followers to report that Harry Potter will be moved to a safe location by the Order of the Phoenix. Voldemort takes Lucius Malfoy’s wand since his own is powerless against Harry’s, as they both share a phoenix feather core. ...

The fantasy film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), was directed by David Yates and written by Michael Goldenberg. It was based on the 2003 novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. While staying at the Dursleys’, Harry Potter is attacked by Dementors alongside his cousin, Dudley. With the use of a Patronus spell, Harry repels them successfully. However, this results in him being detected by the Ministry of Magic for underage magic use, leading to his temporary expulsion from Hogwarts. Luckily, he is ...

Chicken Run (2000) is an animated comedy film, a joint production of Pathé, Aardman Animations, and DreamWorks Animation. Set in the Yorkshire countryside, the film follows a flock of chickens living on an egg farm that resembles a prisoner-of-war camp. The farm is under the control of Mrs Tweedy and her husband, Mr Tweedy, who have no qualms about killing and eating any chicken that can no longer lay eggs. Led by the rebellious Ginger, the chickens continuously devise new escape plans but are always caught. Despite Mr Tweedy’s suspicions that they are organizing resistance, his wife dismisses his theories while becoming increasingly frustrated with their meager ...

The romantic comedy film, Shakespeare in Love (1998), was directed by John Madden. Set in London during 1593, it follows the story of William Shakespeare as he struggles with writer’s block while working for Philip Henslowe, owner of The Rose Theatre and the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. In an attempt to sell his new comedy, Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate’s Daughter, to rival theatre owner Richard Burbage, Shakespeare tries to seduce Rosaline, Burbage’s mistress. He also seeks advice from fellow playwright Christopher Marlowe. However, his plans are complicated when he discovers Rosaline is involved with ...

Citizen X (1995) is an American television film based on the true story of Soviet serial killer Andrei Chikatilo. The film follows detectives in the 1980s as they work to capture an unknown serial killer responsible for the murder of women and children. Despite bureaucratic obstacles, forensic specialist Viktor Burakov leads an eight-year hunt for the perpetrator after a body is discovered on a collective farm in 1982. As they continue their search, seven more bodies are found in nearby woods, all showing signs of mutilation and murder. In total, 53 lives were taken, with 52 victims under the age of 35. Burakov’s rise to ...

The romantic comedy film, Much Ado About Nothing (1993), is an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play of the same name. After quashing an uprising led by his half-brother Don John, Don Pedro of Aragon and his comrades pay a visit to their friend Leonato in Messina. Accompanying Don Pedro is Benedick, a quick-witted man who has a history with Leonato’s clever niece, Beatrice. Claudio, a young count and friend of Benedick’s, also joins them. Despite his previous rebellion, Don John seems to have reconciled with his brother. Claudio has been enamored with Hero, Leonato’s daughter, since before he ...