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Johnny English

He knows no fear. He knows no danger. He knows nothing.

2003 · 87 min · Adventure
7.2 Modest
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Adventure Action Comedy

A lowly pencil pusher working for MI7, Johnny English is suddenly promoted to super spy after Agent One is assassinated and every other agent is blown up at his funeral. When a billionaire entrepreneur sponsors the exhibition of the Crown Jewels—and the valuable gems disappear on the opening night and on English's watch—the newly-designated agent must jump into action to find the thief and recover the missing gems.

Country of origin
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Year
2003
Studio
Working Title Films

Trivia & behind the scenes

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Origins

The character of Johnny English is derived from Richard Latham, a bumbling spy character Rowan Atkinson played in a series of British television adverts for Barclaycard in the 1990s.

Origins

Rowan Atkinson signed on to star as a spoof 007-type agent in March 2000, before the release of his film Maybe Baby.

Origins

The character of Bough was carried over from the Barclaycard adverts, though he was originally played by a different actor, Henry Naylor, in those ads.

Filming

Some gags from the original Barclaycard adverts were reused in the film, including English misidentifying a waiter and accidentally shooting someone with a tranquilliser ballpoint pen (a secretary instead of Pegasus in the movie).

Filming

Principal photography lasted fourteen weeks, taking place at Shepperton Studios and on location in London and St. Albans, before wrapping with two days of filming in Monte Carlo for the final scene.

Filming

Canary Wharf's single real tower (One Canada Square) was filmed and duplicated on screen to represent two separate buildings, the fictional London Hospital and Sauvage's headquarters.

Filming

The Westminster Abbey scenes were actually filmed at St. Albans Abbey, with the coronation choir performed by the St Albans Cathedral Choir, though this substitution is only implied through dialogue and never shown alongside real Westminster Abbey footage.

Filming

The exterior of Pascal Sauvage's French château was actually filmed at the castle atop St Michael's Mount in Cornwall, England.

Reception

The film topped the UK box office for three consecutive weekends after its April 2003 release before being overtaken by X2.

Reception

Despite grossing $160 million worldwide against a $40 million budget, the film received mixed reviews, holding a 33% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 51/100 score on Metacritic.

Memorable quotes

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A good agent doesn't need gadgets. The only gadgets I've ever needed are a sharp eye, a finely tuned ear and a slightly bigger brain than is strictly necessary.

Johnny English Explaining his philosophy on spy work and equipment.

[Addressing the Archbishop of Canterbury, who he believes to be an impostor] Do you or do you not have tattooed on your bottom the words, "Jesus is coming – look busy"?

Johnny English Interrogating the Archbishop of Canterbury, whom he suspects is an impostor.

[After climbing into a castle via the sewage system] Oh, pull yourself together, it's only a little bit of poo!

Johnny English After crawling through the castle sewage system.

The word 'mistake' sir is not one that appears in my dictionary.

Johnny English Responding to accusations of making errors.

You might have taken me, but you'll never take England. Not as long as I have breath in my body or a bullet in my gun. [English pulls the trigger, but poo splurts out instead of a bullet]

Johnny English Confronting the villain, but his weapon malfunctions in an embarrassing way.

[furious because his coronation has been interrupted by English, pulls a gun on crowd] Shut up! All this stupid little country has to do is stand in line and do what it's told for one miserable day! But can it do that? My fragrant French Ass it can!

Pascal Sauvage Furious that his coronation is being disrupted.

[after accidentally being crowned king; points to Sauvage after a pause] Arrest that man... and lock him away! [the crowd cheers as four guards take Sauvage away]

Johnny English After accidentally being crowned king, pointing out the real villain.

I've been dropped into the Kalahari desert, carrying nothing but a toothbrush and a packet of Sherbet Lemons, and I still found my way to Bulawayo before Ramadan.

Johnny English Boasting about surviving a difficult desert mission with minimal supplies.

Good morning, gentlemen! MI7 at your service.

Johnny English Greeting upon arriving at a briefing.

Clearly, the aptly-named English is a fool.

Pascal Sauvage Commenting on Johnny English's competence.

He knows no fear. He knows no danger. He knows nothing.

Tagline

How the community felt

😆 Amused 100%
🙃 Confused 33%

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