Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- irreverent
- breezy
- lazy weekend
- family movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly viewed it as a tame, uneven spy spoof that offers only occasional laughs despite Rowan Atkinson’s comic presence.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Johnny English approaches secret-agent missions with unwavering confidence despite repeated comic mistakes and poor judgment.
The film uses spy funerals, intelligence operations, royal danger, secret gadgets, and international conspiracies as setups for slapstick.
The theft of the British Crown Jewels drives English and Bough’s investigation and connects them to Pascal Sauvage.
Johnny English is presented as Britain’s last remaining spy while his behavior clashes with the formal world of intelligence and royalty.
Films like Johnny English, and why
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
Shares the spy parody format, broad physical comedy, incompetent secret-agent protagonist, and playful action set pieces.
The Man Who Knew Too Little
Combines British absurdist humor, eccentric character comedy, and a bumbling protagonist caught in an international conspiracy.
Get Smart
Features a comic secret agent, spoofed espionage conventions, cartoonish villains, and light action-comedy energy.
Movie Details
- Director
- Peter Howitt
- Release Date
- 2003-03-14
- Runtime
- 87 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (3942)
Cast
- Rowan Atkinson
- Natalie Imbruglia
- Ben Miller
- John Malkovich
- Greg Wise
- Tasha de Vasconcelos
- Douglas McFerran
- Steve Nicolson
- Terence Harvey
- Kevin McNally
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Johnny English about?
- Britain’s last surviving secret agent blunders through a royal jewel theft and an international conspiracy with unstoppable confidence.
- What is Johnny English like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Johnny English as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Johnny English violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Johnny English as mild.
- What did critics think of Johnny English?
- Critics broadly viewed it as a tame, uneven spy spoof that offers only occasional laughs despite Rowan Atkinson’s comic presence.
- Which films are like Johnny English?
- Films with a similar feel include Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, The Man Who Knew Too Little, and Get Smart.
- How long is Johnny English?
- Johnny English runs 87 minutes.
- Where can I watch Johnny English?
- In United States, Johnny English is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
