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Rowan Atkinson studied electrical engineering at Oxford University when he began taking the stage to perform comic sketches using facial contortions. He continued his studies while attending festivals and showing his classic playlet to improve his skills. After performing at one-man shows around London and starring in a comedy show, Mr. Bean, as a mute buffoon who gets into inane trouble. It became one of the most popular shows on television during its five-year run and yet continues to attract viewers even today through its reruns. Atkinson using his comic timing and British humor, has starred in numerous movies over the years that have made millions at the box office.
Rowan Atkinson and his comedic genius have entertained the audience for years, from starring in memorable cameos and playing supporting roles to making the audience hoot as the hilarious lead.
Johnny English Strikes Again (2018)
The third movie in the Johnny English series, Johnny English Strikes Again, is a spy-action comedy that sees Atkinson portray the titular role. The film grossed $159 million in theaters with a $25 million budget. The movie also stars Ben Miller, Emma Thompson, Olga Kurylenko, and Adam James, as noted by IMDB.
Never Say Never Again (1983)
Rowan achieved the feat to star in a James Bond movie early in his career. The actor played a minor role as a Foreign Office representative in the Sean Connery-starrer Never Say Never Again. A Bond film never fails at the box office, which led the film to gross a whopping $160 million in 1983, giving a proper farewell to seeing Connery as James Bond.
Johnny English Reborn (2011)
Johnny English Reborn takes an eight-year leap to show the MI7 spy portrayed by Atkinson taking on his next mission for the second movie. It received a positive reception from the audiences to see the actor reprise the role of the spy, and the film garnered over $160.1 million in theaters.
Johnny English (2003)
Johnny English has ironically dubbed the Little Brother of James Bond; moreover, the movie earned $160.4 million worldwide, which led to two additional films in the series. As mentioned by Rotten Tomatoes, it stars Rowan as the spy and John Malkovich as the antagonist who has intentions to steal the Crown jewels; the movie was a homage and parody of the spy genre and, more particularly, the James Bond movies.
Mr. Bean’s Holiday (2007)
A classic comedy film based on the popular television show character portrayed by Atkinson, Mr. Bean’s Holiday is a delightful movie where he wins a raffle contest to visit Cannes and is met with a series of unlikely events. The movie also starred Emma de Caunes and Willem Dafoe and became a box office success, grossing a hefty $232.2 million against a $25 million budget.
Four Weddings And A Funeral (1994)
Four Weddings And A Funeral is a classic rom-com of the 90s stars Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell. The film collected $245.7 million worldwide and has become a pop-culture classic. According to Screen Rant, the actor has a five-minute appearance as Father Gerald, a nervous trainee, and his role is an essential part of the movie.
Love Actually (2003)
Starring a string of A-list celebrities such as Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Keira Knightley, Colin Firth, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and more, Rowan Atkinson makes one of the most memorable performances in the movie as Rufus, the jewelry salesman. Within a 2.5 minute appearance on the screen, Atkinson showed his comical talent with meticulous gift-wrapping. The Christmas-themed movie had made $246.8 million at the box office.
Bean (1997)
After the television show Mr. Bean came to an end in 1995, fans eagerly awaited the return of the bumbling mute in the comedy film Bean that collected $251.2 million. The character got exposed to the Western audience as the character visited California for an important assignment. While it was challenging to put the comedy of ten-minute sketches into a full-feature film, Atkinson pulled off the role effortlessly.
Scooby-Doo (2002)
An animated live-action adventure comedy and mystery thriller, Scooby-Doo was based on the popular animated series of the same title. The artist played the supporting character of Emile Mondavarious, the resort owner where the Scooby Gang investigates. Starring Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar, the movie was made on an $84 million budget and grossed $275.7 million worldwide.
The Lion King (1994)
While The Lion King has had remakes over the years, the original movie by Disney remains an iconic film. Interestingly, Rowan initially rejected the offer to voice Zazu, Mufasa’s hornbill; however, he took the role after his Mr. Bean co-writer convinced him, as reported by Entertainment Weekly. His narration and the movie itself is a larger-than-life experience earning $968.5 million and becoming one of the highest-grossing movies of all time.
From making small cameos that add an element of humor to movies to starring in comedies loved by audiences, Rowan Atkinson has made a significant impact on the world of comedy through his iconic roles. The actor will be the next star alongside Timothée Chalamet and Keegan Michael-Key in the 2023 musical fantasy Wonka.
Sources: IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, Screen Rant, Entertainment Weekly