Movie · 2011 · Crime, Action, Comedy · 1h 41m · PG · English
Curator score: 0.8/10 (152.1K ratings)
A little intelligence goes a long way.
Overview
The most prominent heads of state in the world begin gathering for a conference that could have a major impact on global politics. When MI-7 receives word that the Chinese premier has become the target of some high-powered killers, it falls on Johnny English to save the day. Armed with the latest high-tech weaponry and gadgets that would make even James Bond jealous, the once-disgraced agent uncovers evidence of a massive conspiracy involving some of the world's most powerful organisations, and vows to redeem his tarnished reputation by stopping the killers before they can strike.
Ratings
Curator score: 0.8/10
IMDb: 6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 40%
Metacritic: 46
TMDB: 6.2/10
Director
Oliver Parker
Production
Working Title Films, Working Title Films
Cast
Rowan Atkinson, Gillian Anderson, Dominic West, Rosamund Pike, Daniel Kaluuya, Tim McInnerny, Richard Schiff, Burn Gorman, Roger Barclay, Eric Carte, Togo Igawa, Eleanor Wyld, Mandi Sidhu, Margaret Clunie, Mariella Frostrup, Miles Jupp, Pik-Sen Lim, Williams Belle, Paul Che Biu-Law, Courtney Wu
Curator Review
Verdict
A broad, goofy spy spoof that works best when you want low-stakes silliness and Rowan Atkinson’s precise physical comedy. The plot is thin and the jokes are very hit-or-miss, but the movie has enough charm, pacing, and gadget-parody energy to be an easy watch for the right mood.
Best for
fans of broad slapstick and deadpan physical comedy
viewers who enjoy spy-movie parody and gadget gags
people looking for an undemanding, lighthearted watch
Skip if
you want sharp satire or consistently clever writing
you dislike exaggerated cringe humor and pratfalls
you prefer action-comedy with real stakes or emotional depth
Overview
Johnny English Reborn is exactly the kind of sequel that knows its job: keep the jokes moving, keep the espionage nonsense glossy, and let Rowan Atkinson turn incompetence into a craft. The film leans hard on physical timing, facial reactions, and escalating absurdity, and when it clicks, it’s genuinely funny in a very old-school, almost silent-comedy way.
Worth noting
It’s also uneven. The story is mostly an excuse for set pieces, and some of the humor lands with a thud rather than a wink. But the movie has a cheerful confidence that makes the rough patches easier to forgive, especially if you’re already in the mood for a spy spoof that never pretends to be anything more serious.
Bottom line
What keeps it watchable is the balance between polished production and total idiocy. It’s a movie built for easy laughs, not elegance, and for the right audience that’s enough.
Top Letterboxd reviews
clownhead (5★) · 546 likes
ah johnny english reborn ... it is, truly, the Johnny English Reborn of movies,
phoebeee (3★) · 522 likes
It’s actually SHU SHAN
Ruairí O'Neill (4.5★) · 485 likes
There was a 7-8 year gap between every Johnny English movie because that's how long it takes to write these masterpieces.
Paul Blake (3.5★) · 349 likes
English shouting “get out” at Daniel Kaluuya was legendary foreshadowing.
PotatoCraft (5★) · 309 likes
Secret Agent Ranking:
#5: James Bond#4: Ethan Hunt#3: Perry the Platypus#2: Finn McMissile#1: Johnny English