Actor Stephen Graham has named his six all-time favourite films and there’s a classic British drama on the list. The BAFTA-nominated star, who featured in Guy Ritchie’s beloved blockbuster Snatch, has been making headlines for his role in Netflix’s Adolescence. Released in March, the series sees Graham as the father of a teenage boy accused of murdering his schoolmate.
While promoting the drama, the actor identified six films he considers his all-time favourites. Speaking to Letterboxd, he chose The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, Serpico, and The Jungle Book. Graham’s first choice, which he described as a “great British film,” was Kes, directed by Ken Loach.
The coming-of-age film was originally released in 1979 and zeroes in on a working class boy named Billy Casper (David Bradley). Looking for an escape from his bleak home and school life, the young man takes an interest in training a pet kestrel. Similar to Loach’s other flicks, the drama delves into hefty socio-political themes. Since its debut, Kes has been widely considered a timeless film, with pundits on Rotten Tomatoes rating it a perfect 100 percent score.
Their consensus reads: “A harrowing coming-of-age tale told simply and truly, Kes is a spare and richly humane tribute to the small pockets of beauty to be found in an oppressive world.”
The 55-year-old actor also named True Romance, co-written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Tony Scott. The 1993 release boasts an all-star cast including late actor Val Kilmer, alongside Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette and Brad Pitt. Its off-beat story follows a pop-culture enthusiast who marries a prostitute, kills her pimp and accidentally steals a suitcase filled with cocaine on his way out.
When they discover the contents of the bag, the duo decide to start selling the drugs, but soon find themselves being hunted down by the mob. True Romance is also praised by critics and viewers alike, earning a near-perfect 93 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Graham’s fans were quick to praise his selection in the comments of the Instagram video, which has amassed over three million views in just two days. Others teased the actor for sharing six films, when he was asked to only name four of his favourites. One fan commented: “My favourite four films? Sure, can I have five? Okay great, here are my six favourite films.”
Another joked: “That’s the biggest four I’ve ever seen.”
Stephen Graham stars in Netflix’s Adolescence, streaming now.