Rowan Atkinson is perhaps best known for his role as “Mr. Bean” and fans have enjoyed his antics for nearly three decades. It is believed that Rowan created this character while he was in college, and he was always drawn to portray such a persona. He entertained audiences with his physical humor and relationship with different people and situations. His performance in the Mr. Bean role was hugely successful and became so popular that two film adaptations followed it.

Atkinson discovered his flair for comedy while attending Oxford University. In collaboration with Richard Curtis, he started by writing comedy lampoons at the Oxford Playhouse. He became famous and landed a stint in the comedy series, Not the Nine O’clock News. Rowan debuted in motion pictures with, Never Say Never Again, a James Bond thriller,and also displayed his comedy genius in The Black Adder. Atkinson has appeared in several otherfilms, such as Johnny English, Lion King, and Four Weddings and a Funeral. We can go on and on about Rowan’s illustrious career but first, here are his favorite films.

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5 Being There (1979)

     Lorimar Productions

Being There is based on a novel by Jerry Kosinski. Chance (Peter Sellers) plays a pure-hearted gardener who is thrust into the real world upon the death of his wealthy guardian. He is taken under the wing of a tycoon, and presidents look to him for advice; he makes millionaire friends too. He is accepted in their circles since he carries himself like a man of good breeding, which are mannerisms Chance picked from the wealthy elder man whose house he resided in. Chance also wears the older man’s tailored suits, which though a bit dated, still exude class.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

4 The Apartment (1960)

     The Mirisch Company

The Apartment is a movie with some astute social observations and ironies. C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) lends his Upper West Side apartment to company bosses who use it for their extramarital affairs. In exchange, the bosses give him promises of promotions and a raise. He develops a crush on one of the elevator girls, Miss Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine) but is disappointed to learn that she has a relationship with the big boss, Mr. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray). Mr. Sheldrake keeps saying he will divorce his wife, but he never does, and C.C. Baxter must choose whether to pursue a career at the firm or his love for Miss Kubelik.

3 This is Spinal Tap (1984)

     Embassy Pictures

This is Spinal Tap is a comedy about an English heavy metal band attempting an American comeback tour. Their escapades are documented by a fan who accompanies them and happens to be a filmmaker. There are some great performances by the band, and one is treated to the dramatic processes that go into planning and executing a concert. They experienced dismal reception until their song became a hit in Japan, leading to a series of sold-out shows in the country. The film is full of odd moments, such as the drummer who explodes onstage, and funny moments such as the out-of-scale prop that descends on the stage, making them laughingstocks.

2 Mr. Hulot’s Holiday (1953)

     DisCina

Mr. Hulot’s Holiday barely has any dialogue - it is a silent film with background music, similar to Charlie Chaplin’s pictures, and is about a relaxing vacation by the seaside. Mr. Hulot (Jacques Tati) decides to holiday at a beautiful seaside resort, where he fumbles his way into numerous misadventures. He is friendly to a fault and is often found with a pipe in his mouth. He gets along with many other resort guests, such as the Beautiful Martine and the Englishwoman.

Mr. Hulot barely gets noticeable, well, until something clumsy occurs. For instance, there is a time he leaves the door to the lobby of his seaside hotel open, and the wind blows in and creates a series of minor but amusing annoyances. There’s also an instance where he makes a horrible attempt at playing tennis. Though the film unfolds slowly, viewers still find it funny once they get the rhythm.

1 Toy Story (1995)

     Walt Disney Pictures

Toy Story occurs in a setting where toys come to life when humans are not present. Andy Davis (John Morris) is a young boy whose favorite toy is named Woody (Tom Hanks), a cowboy doll. Andy receives a Buzz Lightyear action figure for his birthday, which makes Woody jealous and anxious about replacement as his favorite toy. Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) is deluded, thinking he is actually a Space Ranger and proudly shows off his many features to the rest of the toys.

Woody’s fears come true when Andy starts playing with Buzz Lightyear more. Andy’s family decides to move, and Buzz and Woody find themselves stuck in a gas station with no idea how to get home. Later the duo has to escape Sid Philips (Erik von Detten), the dreadful neighbor who takes his toys apart and puts them back in grotesque fashion.