66 Essential British Films To Take Your Mind Off The World Cup

22. Performance (1970)

Mick Jagger made his acting debut opposite James Fox in Nic Roeg's 1970 gangster/rock identity swap film. It is as fascinating a glimpse of Jagger's decadent lifestyle at the time as it is a key moment in British cinema. Performance didn't just give us Jagger the actor, it more importantly launched the directorial career of Nic Roeg (here co-directing with writer Donald Cammell) who would go on to have a fascinatingly diverse career directing classics from Walkabout to Don't Look Now.

21. Local Hero (1983)

Alongside Gregory's Girl Local Hero is the film that Scottish director Bill Forsyth is most fondly remembered for. Its examination of Globalisation and themes of corporations encroaching upon local concerns, remains as distinctly relevant as it did in 1984. Far from being mired in politics though Local Hero is a beautifully observed comedy with a rich and diverse cast ranging from Hollywood legends (Burt Lancaster in one of his final roles) to British powerhouses like Fulton McKay and incumbent Doctor Who Peter Capaldi. Not to mention locals plucked from the village of Pannan where it was mainly shot.

20. Blow Up (1967)

Michelangelo Antonioni's Blow-Up was the first film on the list to be released after England's World Cup win. Arriving in January 1967 Blow-Up is a ground-breaking, fiercely contemporary thriller set in London's swinging Mod-scene. The film is a slow burner by modern standards and not to everyone's taste, but as snapshot of a particular time in British cultural history it is indispensable.