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Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan in The Trip to Spain.

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Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon’s Trip movies dig deep into the anxieties of travel

Their adventures in angst are a sure cure for wanderlust

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Part of the appeal of travel movies and shows is the way they let the audience travel vicariously. At its best, travel entertainment can be educational, teaching viewers about places they haven’t been and cultures that might be foreign to them. But an undeniable draw is still the chance to admire beautiful scenery and plan to go there someday — or at least feel like you’re there, now that the COVID-19 pandemic has made leaving home such a safety risk. One travel series may actually help curb that sense of wanderlust, though: Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon’s The Trip .

The two actors, playing exaggerated versions of themselves, have now starred in four Trip movies, each edited together from six-episode TV series. 2010’s The Trip took them around the north of England, while 2014’s The Trip to Italy , 2017’s The Trip to Spain , and the new and final installment, The Trip to Greece , all have self-explanatory names. On each trip, Coogan and Brydon take a restaurant tour, passing through beautiful scenery and dining on mouth-watering food. If anything, the series should make travel irresistible.

But Coogan, Brydon, and director Michael Winterbottom actually pull off something more impressive: They make the trips seem fun, but also sad, frustrating, and even lonely. Traveling doesn’t solve the problems Coogan and Brydon are dealing with in their home lives. A vacation may be an attempt to take a break from personal issues, but there’s no way to completely leave them behind. Their troubles may be worlds away from viewers’, as their lives as successful actors are hardly normal, but they become accessible through their open portrayals. The honesty Winterbottom captures about the problems of celebrities — who should theoretically be so well off that they wouldn’t have a care in the world — and their more domestic worries, such as providing for their families or finding work, aren’t that far removed from the average person’s concerns.

The most commonly referenced element of the Trip movies are Coogan and Brydon’s dueling impressions of figures ranging from Michael Caine to the Batman villain Bane. However, Winterbottom also uses these trips to dig deeper, using the two actors’ journeys through historical landmarks as a pretext for them to interrogate their own mortality. Coogan is unmarried and free to become romantically entangled abroad (he’s seen both attempting to and succeeding in currying the favor of women he meets), but he struggles to connect with his children and to combat feelings of impermanence. Brydon is happily married, and can’t go as wild as Coogan does while traveling, but he has an anchor in his family.

The two of them also want to be taken more seriously, not just seen as comedians. As they travel, they deal with that desire in different ways. Coogan constantly refers to his Oscar-nominated script for the 2013 film Philomena to prove his success, but finds that nobody cares much about it. His profile hasn’t risen much at all in the seven years since that movie: His calls to his agent about new work get redirected to an assistant. Brydon, who hasn’t done as much dramatic work, reassures himself with the fact that he’s achieved stability, and that his legacy will be carried on through his children. Under Winterbottom’s direction, the pair’s comic stylings often give way to such introspection, and moments of silence and solitude.

Even though they’re on the most marvelous trips imaginable, it’s clear that scenic vistas and haute cuisine alone aren’t enough to make Coogan and Brydon feel fulfilled. Their problems don’t magically go away because they’re abroad, and though they get along, they sometimes bristle at each other, too, as is almost inevitable when traveling with company. (For a more explicit, condensed version of the lessons they’re expressing, try the recent Saturday Night Live sketch where Adam Sandler plays an exhausted tour-company host: “If you’re sad where you are, and then you get on a plane to Italy, the you in Italy will be the same sad you from before, just in a new place.”)

Watching the movies is a delight, though. Each installment of the series feels like checking in on old friends, if your old friends were two of the sharpest comedians alive. The rapport between Coogan and Brydon is so genuine — they’re already so invested in each other — that the audience becomes a third guest on the trips rather than a voyeur. That feeling of inclusion and closeness makes the usual vicarious experience of a travel series even more potent. During a global pandemic, however, that ability to travel along with the hosts is a blessing for a different reason.

As appealing as being anywhere but home might seem right now, it’s reassuring to remember that traveling has its ups and downs, too. The Trip movies capture that balance through the (new and pre-existing) crises that the fictionalized versions of Coogan and Brydon experience. Winterbottom never goes so far as to make traveling seem abjectly awful — who wouldn’t want to escape to a beach right now, if it could be done safely? — but he makes it clear that no getaway will be completely perfect, either. As the wait for a coronavirus vaccine stretches on, the reminder that something that seems like a perfect reprieve has its flaws, too, comes as a relief.

The Trip to Greece will be available on VOD on May 22.

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The Trip to Greece

2020, Comedy/Drama, 1h 52m

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Critics Consensus

The Trip to Greece sees this series subject to the laws of diminishing returns, but Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan remain reliably enjoying company. Read critic reviews

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Funnymen Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon travel to restaurants, hotels and ancient landmarks in Greece.

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Original Language: English

Director: Michael Winterbottom

Producer: Josh Hyams , Melissa Parmenter

Release Date (Theaters): May 22, 2020 limited

Release Date (Streaming): May 26, 2020

Box Office (Gross USA): $7.7K

Runtime: 1h 52m

Distributor: IFC Films

Production Co: Revolution Films

Cast & Crew

Steve Coogan

Kareem Alkabbani

Marta Barrio

Cordelia Bugeja

Steve's Ex Wife

Richard Clews

Steve's Dad

Justin Edwards

Rebecca Johnson

Michael Winterbottom

Tristan Whalley

Executive Producer

Paul Wiegard

Melissa Parmenter

James Clarke

Cinematographer

Marc Richardson

Film Editing

Carla Monvid

Costume Design

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You’ve already figured out whether or not you enjoy spending time with Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon , I presume. The real-life friends, British comic actors (multi-hyphenates even, what with Coogan’s screenwriting credits at least) of long standing and considerable achievement, are now on their fourth “Trip” film and, sure, it is a gift for any fan of the prior three.

For those not in the know about the series, “Trip” doesn’t refer to psychedelics, although the notion of two British comedians making four films on chemical consciousness alteration sounds pretty ... well, dangerous frankly. So good thing it’s not. 2010’s “ The Trip ” was a deliberately modestly titled picture (cut down from a TV miniseries) in which Brydon and Coogan, on the pretext of having gotten a newspaper assignment (remember those?), did a tour of certain restaurants in the British countryside. As they sampled the best of a cuisine that’s often made sport of, the two blokes made sport of each other, trading acerbic barbs about their careers. But what made the movie viral were the impressions they traded. In particular a multi-valent competition involving Michael Caine as he sounds at various ages.

This was laugh-out-loud, endlessly re-playable stuff that overshadowed the meta aspects of the undertaking—that is, that Coogan and Brydon were fictionalizing themselves, exaggerating certain features of their personalities to make them more bristly for the sake of comedic/dramatic tension.

The success of the first outing led of course to “The Trip To Italy” in 2014 and “The Trip To Spain” in 2017. The impressions continued as the fictionalized back stories grew. Director Michael Winterbottom , as he demonstrated with Coogan in films like “ 24 Hour Party People ” and “Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story,” is a past master at such maneuvers, and of late, impelled to steer his comedies into more serious territory. So “The Trip To Greece,” while mostly very laugh out loud funny, is also more somber than the prior installments and also has, in Julian Barnes ’ phrase, the sense of an ending.

And for an ending why not go back to the beginning. Greece is, to Western culture, the birthplace of poetry, of storytelling, of philosophy, of comedy and drama. The movie opens with Brydon reciting some verse, and recollecting how Lord Byron’s proudest achievement was swimming the Hellespont strait, near where Ancient Troy was. This is a country for old, or at least aging men, and the setting puts the characters in a contemplative mood.

Steve more so than Rob. Back home in England, Steve’s father is gravely ill, which he doesn’t share with Brydon. So Brydon blithely regales his buddy with awful song-puns (“Greece is the word”) and good-naturedly needles him about the Laurel and Hardy biopic (" Stan & Ollie ") for which his performance garnered a BAFTA nomination.

But even Brydon succumbs to a stop-and-really-smell-the-roses feeling, impulsively asking his wife to join him on the last leg of the journey. The self-reflexive show business stuff has a different resonance here than in the prior pictures. When Coogan speaks with an agent and gets the bad news that he’s been turned down for a role in a Damien Chazelle project, the feeling isn’t “well that’s the way the cookie crumbles” so much as a nagging sadness concerning the character’s inability, or disinclination to, really live in the present moment. And while prior pictures have allowed the character to indulge in expensive fine dining without much thought to whatever’s happening outside their picturesque world, here there’s discussion of refugee camps and such.

None of this casts a pall over the proceedings, because the melancholy isn’t forced. When you reach a certain age you make a kind of deal with melancholy as a feature rather than a bug of everyday life. It would be foolhardy for the movie to pretend otherwise, as far as these fellows are concerned. But the fellows manage to seize the days anyway, and the food they eat—largely the riches of the sea—and the banter they exchange are rich and fulfilling. And the duo remains great company.

Glenn Kenny

Glenn Kenny was the chief film critic of Premiere magazine for almost half of its existence. He has written for a host of other publications and resides in Brooklyn. Read his answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

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Film credits.

The Trip to Greece (2020)

Steve Coogan as Steve

Rob Brydon as Rob

Kareem Alkabbani as Kareem

Marta Barrio as Yolanda

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‘The Trip to Greece’: Film Review

Has it really been 10 years? The fourth 'Trip' film — and maybe the last — finds Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon retracing the path of Odysseus as they continue to eat, drink, and be quippy.

By Owen Gleiberman

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In the opening scene of “ The Trip to Greece ,” Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon , seated (of course!) at an idyllic outdoor table at a to-die-for Mediterranean restaurant, take note of the fact that they’ve been going on their culinary road trips together for close to 10 years. Even for those who have followed them through “The Trip,” “The Trip to Italy,” “The Trip to Spain,” and now “The Trip to Greece,” that news may come as a slightly sobering surprise — a sign of how quickly time passes, and of how a delicate and hilarious series of small-scale semi-improvised British comedies, if they stick around long enough, can become…what? An institution? A franchise?

Maybe something better. The “Trip” films, to those of us who wouldn’t dream of missing one (though we know they’re not so much finely cut gems as casual sketches tricked up into movies — that’s part of their frowsy charm), have become old friends, kind of like Richard Linklater’s “Before” films. Each one is a pared-down version of a six-episode BBC television series, and when you settle in to watch a new one, it’s to see which famous-actor impersonations Coogan and Brydon are going to try to top each other with this time (and also to take a vicarious foodie gawk at the succulent three-course lunches they’re eating). But it’s also to check up on the state of these two: to see how their mutual midlife crisis is going, and to see the latest chapter of their quibbling high-flown showbiz buddy romance, in which taking the piss out of each other, and doing it with the witty precision of verbal gladiators, is the only way they let themselves show what they feel.

I felt, for the first time, that the series was running a bit low on gas in “The Trip to Spain.” It was still a droll 90 minutes, but the impersonations were starting to seem like golden oldies (they didn’t have that comic shock), and the whole Coogan-and-Brydon-as-Don-Quixote-and-Sancho-Panza routine promised more than it gave. In that light, “The Trip to Greece” marks a spirited and convivial return to form, even if the film is lofty enough to present Coogan and Brydon’s six-day Grecian journey as a retracing of the path of Odysseus. (Both men are on their voyage through life, yada yada….)

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The two are now in their mid-fifties, and at one point they discuss how Coogan, with his silver-flecked hair, is aging marvelously (Brydon, after playing on Coogan’s conceitedness by comparing him to Richard Gere, declares, “I’m saying it: You look better older. You were unpalatable as a young man”). They then launch into a consideration of Coogan’s performance as Stan Laurel in “Stan & Ollie,” the 2018 Laurel and Hardy biopic, which Brydon manages to compliment and insult at the same time. This leads (of course!) to their impression of Stan Laurel and Tom Hardy, which is more chuckly than uproarious, since they already gave Hardy a full workout in “The Trip to Italy.”

A few scenes later, though, they settle into a dueling impersonation — no, a study — of Dustin Hoffman, mostly in “Marathon Man” and “Tootsie,” and what they do with his voice amounts to such a rip-roaringly funny deconstruction of the actor that it ranks right up there with the duo’s great riffs on Pacino. Coogan, especially, nails the petulant music of Hoffman’s so-nervous-it’s-stroboscopic whine. A sublime impersonation is a comic gift — it needs no justification. Yet the attitude, the drilling-down obsession , that Coogan and Brydon bring to their competitive voice mimicry places it somewhere between poetry and Freud. They’re actor-comedians who can hardly express a personal thought without irony, and who are never more themselves than when they’re channeling somebody else.

They’re also dueling egomaniacs: Coogan, with his rakish grin of self-absorption, a star who is never as revered as he wants to be, and Brydon, who tweaks Coogan’s vanity, and knows it, in a way that only someone who secretly identified with it could do. The fact that Coogan and Brydon are playing heightened versions of themselves is part of the ticklish joy of these films, which capture the playacting inherent in life. (Their personalities are quite literally a performance, and part of the joke is: Whose isn’t?) In “The Trip to Greece,” even as primal anxieties creep in (Brydon, calling home to London, wonders who his wife went to the theater with; Coogan learns that his father has fallen ill), these two never let their theatrical guard down.

The movie keeps serving up treats, and I don’t just mean the food (lamb chops in mint sauce! mussels smothered in pine needles!), as when the two have a go at doing Ray Winstone, in full-on cockney gangster mode, as Henry VIII. Coogan offers an impersonation of Mick Jagger in the hospital after his heart surgery (he’s done Mick before, but it remains a luscious sendup — winsome, pouty, putting on airs about not putting on airs), and this time Brydon accompanies him with a Keith Richards whose speech is gibberish and whose laugh is a death-rattle wheeze. They also, once again, sing pop songs in the car: Brydon does “Grease” (because they’re in Greece) and the Bee Gees’ “Tragedy” (because they’re in Greece — and because he seems fixated on Barry Gibb). And when the two compete to see who can do a better job of imitating Demis Roussos’ falsetto on “Forever and Ever” (“It’s not castrata ,” says Steve), you may bust a gut.

At the heart of each of their impersonations is the film’s real subject: their desire to entertain each other by topping each other — that is, the ping-pong of ego between two frenemies who have chosen different paths, but have more in common than they would ever dare to admit. “What would you say is the thing you’re the most proud of?” asks Brydon. Without missing a beat, Coogan says, “My seven BAFTAs.” Brydon: “For me, it would be my children.” Coogan: “Yeah, well, ’cause you haven’t got any BAFTAs.” Brydon: “Though you have got children, which is interesting.” There’s no winner in this duel, just different forms of the impossibility of having it all.

Coogan and Brydon, along with the series’ director, Michael Winterbottom, have suggested that “The Trip to Greece” may be the last outing for these two. But as much as I don’t think we need to see them pursue the same funny-wistful paces through one more cozy corner of Europe, I still think it’s too early for the series to end. How about “The Trip to Japan”? Or, as a grand finale, “The Trip to Hollywood”? It’s time to shake the “Trip” films out of their comfort zone and give these two a brave new world to imitate.

Reviewed online, May 16, 2020. MPAA Rating: Not rated. Running time: 103 MIN.

Production: An IFC Films release of a Revolution Films Production, Baby Cow Films, Small Man production for SKY. Producers: Josh Hyams, Melissa Parmenter. Executive producers: Arianna Bocco, Paul Wiegard, Tristan Whalley.
Crew: Director: Michael Winterbottom. Camera: James Clarke. Editor: Marc Richardson.
With: Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Claire Keelan, Rebecca Johnson, Marta Barrio, Tim Leach, Cordelia Bugeja, Justin Edwards, Tessa Walker, Richard Clews, Harry Taylor, Kareem Alkabbani, Soraya Mahalia Hatner.

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What a Long, Strange Funny Trip ‘The Trip’ Series Has Been

Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan bring their midlife crisis travelogue back for another hilarious, heartbreaking spin around Europe

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“Imitation comes naturally to human beings and so does the universal pleasure in imitation.” —Aristotle, Poetics

So quotes the British television personality Rob Brydon to his longtime fellow traveler and peer in English entertainment, Steve Coogan, as the two commence the latest installment in a decadelong series of adventures that has taken the gloriously mismatched pair on odysseys through Italy, Spain, the north of England and now, in the fourth edition, Greece. The films themselves—known as The Trip movies—have carved out an unusual niche that alchemizes improv, narrative film, and the sort of elevated televised travelogue perfected by Anthony Bourdain. The result is a compelling hybrid whose foundational elements are the remarkable comic chemistry between Coogan and Brydon and the sumptuous visual flair of director Michael Winterbottom.

The Trip to Greece makes the odyssey metaphor literal: In this edition, our protagonists have resolved, or at least have been persuaded, to retrace the steps of Odysseus’s endless journey home from the Trojan War.

In truth, Brydon doesn’t quote Aristotle exactly. He reads theatrically aloud from a Penguin Classics edition at a high-end Turkish restaurant where he and Steve Coogan are enjoying a typical fine-dining experience while driving one another up a wall. The animating action of 2010’s franchise-launching The Trip explained that Coogan had been hired by a big-ticket publication to travel in style through the British countryside, sampling all of the most extravagant cuisine the region had to offer. The budget for this junket was so generous that he could even afford to bring along a friend. The problem was, he had no friends. So, Coogan invited Brydon. Having always perceived Coogan a pompous ass, Brydon was puzzled by the offer but too curious to turn it down. Countless laugh-out-loud verbal jousting matches later, the world is a better place for it.

Reduced to its simplest terms, the dynamic between Brydon and Coogan is the populist entertainer pit against the high-minded auteur. Ostensibly, Coogan regards Brydon’s comedy as needlessly pandering, while Brydon fatigues easily of Coogan’s sanctimonious homilies on high art and literature. Brydon hectors Coogan as he drives through some remote Athens suburb, singing the Barry Gibb–penned theme from Grease . Coogan lashes out: “Are you singing the theme to Grease simply because we are in Greece? You do realize it’s a homophone.” “How dare you!” an ostensibly offended Brydon replies, with mock indignity. And so it goes—adult men reduced to childish bickering, which in some peculiar way centers them.

On one level, The Trip series is intended to function as a high-gloss, chamber of commerce–approved overview of some of Europe’s most stunning and fascinating sites, and it routinely succeeds spectacularly at this task. In The Trip to Greece, mountain views and Mediterranean vistas are shot with opulent majesty, gourmet meals are carefully prepared and elegantly served, and tours are taken with an appropriate awestruck awareness of their historical consequence. If all you want out of The Trip series is an opportunity to luxuriate by proxy, you will find the movies gratifying. But increasingly, this isn’t what the movies are really about at all.

On another level, there are instances of terrible loneliness in The Trip pictures, specifically the sidebars when we see Brydon and Coogan reach out to their respective spouses, children, and girlfriends over phone or video. Travel allows for the provisional possibility of what it might really mean to be separated from your domestic arrangements, among other things. It is a temporary window into the road not taken.

If The Trip movies have a signature gambit, it is the propensity of Brydon and Coogan to break into dueling celebrity impressions mid-conversation, as though this were a perfectly ordinary mode of interlocution.

The impersonations themselves—of Marlon Brando, Michael Caine, Sean Connery, and other canonical figures of 20th-century entertainment—are funny on their own. Both are gifted mimics. But the true hilarity comes from the manner in which these episodes escalate, each party inevitably regarding the other’s attempts as left wanting, constantly interrupting one another to critique tone and inflection. The effect is suggestive of a tennis match conducted by two highly skilled players, both reluctant to acknowledge the ability of their rival. It is also one of a handful of tactics the two employ to cope with the imposed intimacy of their circumstances without resorting to the unpalatable alternative of expressing true emotion or anxiety.

The sort of situation in which two souls are drawn together only to reveal one another’s essence through their differences is a venerable, if offbeat, microgenre. One antecedent of the Trip movies is the series of pictures Bob Hope and Bing Crosby made together between 1940 and 1962—known collectively as The Road movies—which feature two very different brands of entertainers on loosely scripted and largely improvised sojourns that frequently break the fourth wall. In both instances, a central subtext is the strangeness of traveling with someone under close conditions that you know well but not intimately.

Hope and Crosby are a primordial version of Brydon and Coogan —both pairs are bound together by cosmic happenstance, without particular explanation. Hope is always eager to please and happy to overact if the moment calls for it. Crosby fashions himself subtle and dignified, but his weakness for women and general lack of discipline tends to derail their stated goals, mirroring Coogan’s messy personal life in The Trip movies.

Both series employ a host of tactical misdirects—surrealism, dream sequences, and endless gags—which elide the limitless problems the pair make for one another, and the fundamental ways in which their connection is both mysterious and arbitrary.

Another progenitor, closer to home, is Tom Stoppard’s 1990 head-fuck masterpiece Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead , which reimagines two of Hamlet ’s minor characters as bumbling companions trapped in an endless loop of meta-history, trying to reason out their destiny through an ongoing dialogue in which neither can remember which of their names applies to one or the other. This mirrors the gradual sense in The Trip movies that Brydon and Coogan—over their most strident objections—are beginning to blur together in middle age.

In their endless babble and occasional acts of tenderness, the title characters played by Tim Roth and Gary Oldman in Stoppard’s picture ultimately come to recognize that their plight is shared, their differences immaterial, and in the end it always turns out the same for all of us. Their game of rhetorical tennis is a comic reflection on the nagging horror that lies just beyond the last clever remark. A poet once said, ”You may be pretty good with words, but words won’t save your life.”

Some of the strange and compelling energy that characterizes The Trip movies is attributable to the program’s initial beginnings as episodic television on BBC. Each of the four seasons was first aired as a series of 40-minute specials before being edited into feature-length films. As a result, narrative beats occur at unorthodox intervals while resolutions hang uncomfortably for what can seem a long time. Early on in The Trip to Greece , we learn that Coogan is experiencing a family crisis. We see him briefly forlorn before he saunters around Greece. In the last act of the picture, the full threat of potential tragedy has been realized. These tonal shifts might feel more organic when broken up into weekly bites, but in the feature version, the emotional whiplash is powerful. Winterbottom, the brilliant director of Welcome to Sarajevo and 24 Hour Party People , makes a virtue of this potential complication.

There is some precedent for this. Large swaths of David Lynch’s 2001 classic Mulholland Drive were originally scheduled to be aired as a weekly network show, before ABC got squirrelly and cut bait. That gave Lynch the opportunity to re-edit the would-be series into one of the great cinematic achievements of recent times. As streaming services and studios increasingly blur the line between traditional features and television, a new vernacular will undoubtedly emerge that intuitively interpolates the best and worst practices of each medium. The Trip movies have been a sort of canary in the coal mine for this process, to great effect.

Ultimately, The Trip ’s two principals are one but they’re not the same. Brydon and Coogan as portrayed in the series are the human equivalent of major and minor chords: wonderful in relation to one another, but permanently separated by their modal constitution.

In this way, they are the McCartney and Lennon of road pictures, each finding the other nourishing and exhausting in equal measure, each startled by the prospect that they might be characterized as the irritating one.

During the surreal climax of The Trip to Spain , the entry prior to The Trip to Greece , Coogan’s tortured romantic exertions leave him sideways and stranded with a broken car somewhere in the North African desert. His rescuers arrive, but they do so on a tank, and it soon transpires that they are revolutionary militants. It’s a moment that could have occurred in Hope and Crosby’s Road pictures, or amidst the sundry insanities of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead . Meanwhile Brydon and his wife blissfully reconnect in their London home, wondering why Coogan has disappeared for days.

This is characteristic of The Trip pictures, which tend to end well for Brydon and badly for Coogan, though not always with such an outsized flourish. In The Trip to Greece, the film’s culminating moments are rendered terribly moving by a scene in which the two finally say nothing at all. Bad news has befallen them, and for once the intercession of outside events has muted Brydon and Coogan’s otherworldly capacity to bullshit around every last thing the universe has to offer. Then, in a moment of cinematic embrace as surprising and unexpected as any since Walter and the Dude’s at Donny’s funeral, Coogan and Brydon wordlessly hug. They promise to see one another again. But there’s no telling what the future holds, and there is an awful poignance in their parting. As Cole Porter once put it: “How strange the change from major to minor, every time we say goodbye.”

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Geek Culture | Movies, TV, Comic Books & Video Games

Movie Review – The Trip to Greece (2020)

May 18, 2020 by Robert Kojder

The Trip to Greece , 2020.

Directed by Michael Winterbottom. Starring Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Kareem Alkabbani, Marta Barrio, Cordelia Bugeja, Richard Clews, Justin Edwards, Rebecca Johnson, Claire Keelan, Timothy Leach, Harry Tayler, and Tessa Walker.

Actors Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan travel from Troy to Ithaca following in the footsteps of Odysseus.

There’s not a better time for another entry in this half fiction/half documentary travelogue series starring comedians Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon portraying fabricated variations of themselves, this time chronicling Odysseus’s journey from Troy to Ithica in The Trip to Greece . Not because the movie is dropping on multiple on-demand services as summer approaches, but because touring with these two lovable goofballs might be the closest anyone gets to vacation during the current health crisis. Fortunately, it’s also time well spent.

Although the sightseeing and delicious cuisines (once again with documentary-style cutaways to the kitchen as the food is prepared) are packaged with conversations musing on their individual lives, there’s never a sensation that one can’t jump right into the series. I did so with The Trip to Spain a few years ago, had an enjoyable time, but never would have guessed the following installment would be exactly kind of cinematic comfort food a world on lockdown could and should get lost in right now.

It’s also appreciated that the dialogues feel deeper this time around, namely juxtaposing the revered status of Greek legends that have a history of reprehensible crimes, with the current nasty leadership from world leaders such as Donald Trump and Boris Johnson. It certainly calls into question what is being idolized and for what. Some serious segments are laced with humor, such as a bit involving comedy and tragedy masks that analyzes the trajectory of Steve Coogan’s career into more dramatic work. As a result, there is much talk about his recent work portraying Stan Laurel in Stan & Ollie , including a cheeky response to a review from a large publication.

Of course, The Trip to Greece is also a lighthearted affair that continues to stick with what works; passionate discussions of cinema, amusing impressions of iconic actors, beautiful vistas and backdrops (especially during restaurant dinner time talks), taking in major landmarks, badly singing songs, and generally just joking around with one another as any two good friends would trekking together. Numerous locations (ranging from Temple of Apollo at Delphi, the Ancient Agora of Athens, the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, the unique island of Hydra, the Caves of Diros, Nestor’s Palace, Niokastro Fortress in Pylos, and Ancient Stagira) are given ample time to make an impression just as much as whatever the buddies happen to be rambling about the background. Specifically, the Caves of Diros is a more quiet segment allowing viewers to really take in the beauty of the experience.

There are also a few melodramatic touches, involving the occasional phone call from Steve Coogan’s fictional son about a sickness in the family that progressively gets worse as the week-long vacation goes on. Without spoiling much, it leads to a conclusion that is both predictable and surprising but most importantly, genuinely emotional (with beautiful usage of Max Richter’s On the Nature of Daylight). A great deal of these movies focus on a wide variety of philosophical discussions, so if The Trip to Greece really is the final outing for the series, it’s a fitting ending searching for the ever-elusive meaning of life. Personally, I hope Steve Coogan one day wins an Oscar and director Michael Winterbottom (who coincidentally has already worked with the actor on one partly Roman-themed film this year already, Greed ) decides to do another one of these so instead of gloating about winning 7 BAFTAs, he can talk about his Academy Award.

Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews, friend me on Facebook, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd , check out my personal non-Flickering Myth affiliated Patreon , or email me at [email protected]

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Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon take final Trip to Greece in hilarious trailer

The four-part movie series comes to an end on Grecian beaches.

The only way to make the sands of Grecian beaches even more enticing? Watching silver British zaddies Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon embark on an island-hopping getaway to the faraway isles in the hilarious trailer for the final installment in their beloved Trip movie series .

Dropping nearly 10 years after the Michael Winterbottom -directed cinema experiment premiered its first of four total installments back in 2010, The Trip to Greece caps the series as it follows the actors playing fictional versions of themselves while sampling local cuisines, drinking wine, and riffing on each other's respective careers.

Greece follows the pair as they retrace Odysseus ' fabled footsteps over a six-day stretch that sees them arguing about tragedy, comedy, astronomy, biology, history, democracy, and the meaning of life against the backdrop of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, the Ancient Agora of Athens, the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, the island of Hydra, the Caves of Diros, Nestor's Palace, Niokastro Fortress in Pylos, and Ancient Stagira. There's also, as Brydon says in the trailer, the mysterious "Hotel Lesbian," which may or may not serve as a titillating pit stop for the duo.

Among their various jabs and biting observations made along the way, a particularly hilarious exchange closes out the new trailer, which sees Brydon asking his friend about his proudest moment.

"Uh, my seven BAFTAs ," Coogan responds, while Brydon tells him he's most proud of his children. "Yeah, well, because you haven't got any BAFTAs."

Previously, Coogan and Brydon teamed up for the first Trip across England back in 2010, which debuted as a TV series but was also edited into a feature film of the same name. Since then, they've fronted Trips to Italy in 2014 and Spain in 2016, with Greece marking the last stop on their global tour.

The Trip to Greece premieres May 22 on digital platforms. Watch the trailer above.

The Trip Must End

In the final installment of their fictional travel series, steve coogan and rob brydon let us live vicariously one last time..

Though I’ve long been a fan of the Trip films, I was not prepared to get emotional over the announcement of a new one. Learning of the impending May release of The Trip to Greece — the fourth and final entry in the series that follows British comedians Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, playing fictional versions of themselves, as they travel lovely roads, eat lovely meals, and do lovely impressions, all the while hilariously sniping at each other over personal and professional matters — led to some complicated feelings. Here was a movie about all the things we can’t do right now, not that most of us could ever really do them: Go for a long car ride in another country with a friend-colleague-rival (at least, that’s how Coogan and Brydon present themselves in these efforts), stay in a hotel, eat in a nice restaurant, and then move on to the next location.

The films, directed and conceived by Michael Winterbottom and partly improvised by Coogan and Brydon, aren’t indulgent wallows in food and privilege, however: Through the heightened, fictionalized portraits of Coogan and Brydon’s petty professional jealousies, they also interrogate the cocoon of celebrity culture. We always get the sense that reality is slowly catching up to these gents. Never has this been truer than in 2020’s The Trip to Greece , which alongside the impressions and the bickering and the delicious meals, finds Coogan and Brydon confronting the agony of the refugee crisis, as well as personal loss in their own lives. (The films all start off airing in longer series form in Britain, and Greece premiered on TV in the U.K. in February.) But for all the darkness, it still manages to be quite charming.

Coogan and Brydon have always been upfront about the fact that the two men presented onscreen are not really their true selves. (They’ve been outfitted with different families, for starters.) But when I get them together for a Zoom one dreary March morning, they slip right into (gently, collegially, lovingly) taking the piss out of each other. Brydon is at home in London. Coogan is at home in Essex, behind him a monitor displaying footage from a series of security cameras, a fact that Brydon does not leave unmentioned. Brydon is late to our chat; Coogan has noticed …

Hi, Rob. Rob Brydon: Hi, so sorry. I totally forgot.

Steve Coogan: Well, that doesn’t entirely surprise me.

RB: It’s very hard to remember things, I find, at the moment.

SC: Because you’re rushed off your feet, are you? [ Laughs. ]

RB: There’s an interesting thing here. I’ve got an 11-year-old and an 8-year-old, and I think the experience at the moment of people who have young children is very different from the experience of the people who don’t. The people who don’t are watching films, reading books, it’s rather lovely.

SC: I don’t envy you. I’m being facetious. But can you go out?

RB: We go out once a day. One day we do a walk, the other day we do a bike ride. But we don’t come into contact with anyone. We’ve got a big garden, so we can be in that.

SC: You can’t cycle around your garden, can you?

RB: No, no, we cycle the streets. You can cycle the streets as long as you don’t come into contact.

SC: Isn’t that a bit hazardous?

RB: No, because the roads are so quiet.

How are you guys holding up? What the hell is life like for you? RB: Are you alright, Steve? Are you okay?

SC: I am okay. I’m here with my daughter and her boyfriend. Just the three of us. They’re obviously quite happy with each other, and I just kind of hang out with them saying, “What are you guys doing?,” which is slightly awkward. I think they’d be fine without me here, but I’m not sure I’d be fine without them here. So, I’ve been doing that and, you know, going for runs, and Skype writing because that’s what I was doing anyway. I’m carrying on with that, and trying to imagine somehow that the things I write might still somehow be relevant in a post-corona world. I think anyone who’s pitching anything or making anything after this will claim that it’s somehow relevant to coronavirus, whatever it is. But I’m very fortunate. I did some shopping for some people, locally, and the woman asked, “Do you want some money?” And I said, “No, that’s fine. Just make some contribution to some charity.” And my writing partner said, “What you really said was, ‘Just make sure you tell people about it.’” [ Laughs. ] Which I’m doing now.

RB: You know what I would love now is if that as we’re doing this we see behind you, Steve, people breaking into your house and stealing your stuff on the screen, while you’re talking, unaware of what’s going on.

SC: [ Glances behind him. ] Security cameras! And I’m claiming that I care about the local community.

RB: [ Laughs. ] Like a little old woman … [ inaudible ].

You broke up a little bit there, Rob. RB: It doesn’t bear repeating.

SC: Oh, come on, I like it when you’re forced to repeat a punchline after the moment’s gone.

I know a lot of people thought they’d have more time to read, and do other things, but what they’re discovering is they can’t focus on anything, due to the anxiety and stress. SC: I think people are still in a state of shock. Because it all happened rather quickly. But when people adjust to the new reality that’s going to be here for at least a few months …

RB: I’ve actually been reading Alan Bennett’s diaries again. I find those incredibly calming and relaxing, this really lovely ordered world.

SC: I watched Brief Encounter the other day, which was really, really wonderful.

RB: I bet it moves nice and slowly. We showed the boys The Great Escape and really enjoyed it.

SC: It’s great when you can enjoy things vicariously a second time around through your children. Having said that, I just got through the second season of El Chapo and I’m looking forward to the third.

Before watching Trip to Greece this weekend, I rewatched all three previous Trip movies. I started with The Trip to Spain , and there’s that moment early on, where you’re at a restaurant, sitting outside, and it starts to rain and everybody crowds inside. It’s the kind of annoying little thing that everyone has probably experienced at some point in their lives. And yet, I started tearing up watching it, because here was this incredibly common human moment that I can’t have right now. And who knows when I’ll ever get to have it. I was surprised at how it struck me. SC: Wow. When people come out of prison they often talk about the visceral pleasure of feeling rain.

RB: I’ve been seeing lots of things like that at the moment. I see something on television or a film, and I see people meeting somewhere, and think, Wow, that’ll be nice to be able to do that again.

I found The Trip to Greece to be quite poignant. It does seem like the saddest entry in the series. We get this sense that reality is catching up to you guys. SC: What Michael [Winterbottom] does with Rob and I is that whatever peccadillos or idiosyncrasies we have, we just sort of build on them. Because he’s middle-aged like we’re middle-aged, so he just addresses those things. What’s the word? It takes the curse off these things. When we talk about these things, or laugh at these things, they suddenly become diminished. These big questions — the anxiety of life — become somehow just put in a box. And if you make art out of it … What’s that Nora Ephron line? “Everything is copy.”

RB: Oh, you’re speaking of Nora Ephron. You know in The Trip to Greece where I say, “I did a Skype audition,” that was for Nancy Meyers.

SC: Oh, yes, Nancy. I auditioned for her.

RB: Yeah, me too. I didn’t get it.

SC: I didn’t get it either. I auditioned for The Holiday , and she said I wasn’t sexy enough.

RB: I didn’t audition for that. No, this was a little thing. But it was very funny because she was very flattering, and of course I’m very good with flattery. I respond very well to it. And then I did my bit, and of course didn’t get it.

SC: So, basically, you peaked at the small talk.

RB: Yeah! I think I’m good at that. I very rarely get a part that I audition for.

SC: I’m the same. I remember once this director said, “Can you stop saying the name of the character when you talk about it and just say ‘I’?” Right? So when I’m writing Alan Partridge, I say, “Alan does this, and Alan does that.” I don’t say “ I do this,” you know. I just say, “Alan.” And I was talking about a part with this director, saying “he,” referring to the character. “ He does this and then I think he does this,” and [the director] says, “Can you stop saying ‘he’ and say ‘I’, I think it will help you.” And I found myself saying, “Fuck off.” That’s why auditioning doesn’t go well for Rob or, I’d say, me.

Do you ever hear from chefs who felt they or their food were portrayed unfairly on the show? SC: I was at L’Enclume only two months ago. L’Enclume is in the first Trip , in the Lake District, not far from me. I went there for dinner, and the chef, Simon Rogan, who’s very much a respected Michelin star chef, came up and went, “Hey, how are you?” And it was all very friendly, but he still mentioned Ray Winstone’s snot. I don’t know if that’s in the film version [or only in the BBC series version], but there’s this one particular dish that had a green liquid in it that looked a bit like — and I don’t know how we arrived at this, I can’t remember — but I do remember that I compared it to Ray Winstone as a gangster forcing someone to eat his mucus. And for Simon Rogan, the chef … I mean this was ten years ago and whenever I see him he still brings it up in conversation. You know, we were very, very nice, and very complimentary, but it’s funny that that’s the thing that sticks in his mind about the show.

RB: We just praise the food because it’s always very nice, although I’m often not paying that much attention to it. People often say to me, “Which is the best food?” I’m just thinking, What am I going to say next? I’m trying to be inventive and creative. What I do remember are the meals we would eat in the evenings when we weren’t filming.

SC: Yeah. Do you remember, Rob, I think one of the most pleasurable meals we had was in King’s Landing. I think it was the Angel Pub in Yorkshire, and it was fried breakfast, after we had been to Bolton Abbey …

RB: It was simple ingredients.

SC: Yeah, but not the normal simple ingredients. There weren’t fresh, clean ingredients. It was a fried breakfast. It was egg, bacon, sausage, tomato, beans.

RB: But done beautifully.

SC: I remember sitting outside that pub by the road and thinking that was lovely, just … yeah. I’d go back there, you know. I’d go back there.

RB: Well, I went back to Holbeck Ghyll, which is in the Lake District, with my wife and my two younger children …

SC: Did they sit you by the window?

RB: I think, yes, we sat in the same seat, and I felt like the returning hero, and I thought, Surely we’re not going to be charged for this meal . But we were.

SC: You know what, Rob, you say that, but I have to say I have been back there several times, and my brother-in-law and my sister who both are very normal people who work in the public sector helping people with special needs, I told the proprietor and they stayed there for three nights, having Michelin-star dinners every night, and the whole thing was free.

RB: And yet one-half of the original team who made that thing has to pay. Where’s the fairness? [ Laughs. ]

SC: I think that it’s basically socialism in action. Those who can afford it pay. Those who can’t are subsidized. That’s fair. That’s my political worldview in action. So, it was right that you were charged.

RB: I’m struggling with it. A discount would have been something.

How often do you hear back from the subjects of your impressions? RB: We did a thing with Michael Caine at the Albert Hall, and he was very nice. You can see it . Anthony Hopkins I met in Los Angeles and he said, [ does an Anthony Hopkins voice ] “I loved The Trip. Loved The Trip .” This was after we’d done the first one and the Italian one hadn’t come out. And I said, “Well, in this new one, the Italian one, we’re on a yacht and we do you in The Bounty .” And he started doing it! He started going, “Turn your back away, Mr. Fryer!” And then I was doing it back to him. We were in a car and I got rather giddy. Hopkins! Hopkins occupies a sort of Brando-like position in the business. I think he is the equal of any actor, if you look at what he has put onscreen and onstage. And there he was, and he was doing it, you know, right next to me. And I’m doing it back at him! It was all I could do not to cry. It was quite overwhelming.

SC: Gosh, yeah … I’m quite envious of that.

Has anybody you’ve done impressions of reacted negatively? RB: I don’t think so. I think most people are flattered by it.

SC: Oh, me! That’s me. When you do me. I react slightly negatively.

RB: I do Steve Coogan and he’s a prickly customer. He doesn’t like it.

SC: [ Laughs. ] Probably the most negative reaction is me when he does me. That’s the truth, yeah. I do find it a little bit uncomfortable when he does it. You know how some people don’t like it when you take photographs of them, because they think you’re taking their soul? I feel like somehow it’s distilling some DNA, like a little bit of witchcraft. There’s something discombobulating about it. I don’t think it’s quite me, but there’s a certain familiarity about it. It’s reductive, that’s what it is. Because I think what I do is quite interesting, and if you do it, it’s almost like you can sort of bottle it and sell it in Boots, and that worries me, you know.

RB: And he’s telling the truth when he says that.

SC: Yes, yes. Yes. [ Laughs. ]

Rob, I hear that you declined to meet Al Pacino once. RB: Yeah, that is true. I was doing The Huntsman: Winter’s War . A big hit. It exploded at the box office. It bombed. And I played a dwarf. Great fun. And Jessica Chastain was on it, and one weekend she said, “Al is in town. We’re going to meet up for drinks. Do you want to come?” Now, I had a school event on, so I had to go to some parents’ thing. I could have got out of it, but I chose not to because I thought, Well, what’s going to happen? I’ve ended up meeting a lot of my acting and musical heroes, but there are some then who I think … Well, I’ve already got a great relationship with Al Pacino in my head, you know? So let’s just leave it at that.

Both of you have done work over the years that blurs the line between reality and fiction, but with the first Trip , was there any kind of adjustment, in that you really were playing these versions of yourselves? Was there a question of how much reality to put in? SC: I remember having a chat with Rob and saying, “Let’s risk offending each other and not take it personally, to try and find funny things.” I don’t know that we actually shook hands. And that pretty much worked, I think, 95 percent of the time. I got tetchy sometimes, but by and large that held, that sort of gentleman’s ribbing.

RB: The difference with the first one, from my perspective, was that it was very new, and we were going into it thinking, Well, what is this? You know, because Michael [Winterbottom]’s pitch was as a series initially, although he was saying he was going to make a film. It was six half-hours. And I remember thinking, How on Earth can we improvise enough good stuff for six half-hours? I was convinced we wouldn’t. The thing that surprised me about the first one when I watched it was the melancholy. We were traveling home every weekend, because it was done in Britain, and I’d come home and say to my wife, “Oh yeah, Steve was very funny, we did some very funny stuff.” But of course I wasn’t aware of the way Michael was shooting it, and the music he was going to put on it, and the long, slow shots. And that’s part of its success: You’ve got us two who, broadly speaking, follow traditional comic instincts and timings, and then you’ve got Michael who is a very un-manipulative filmmaker. He just wants to tell the story. Just, blomp , there it is, there’s the story. There are often times where I think, “Well, why didn’t you cut here, or cut a bit sooner on the joke?” But it was better that he didn’t, because it made it very individual.

SC: I agree with Rob there. And in fact I think Rob and I were sort of trying to get involved with Michael in the process in the first Trip , and then after that we just didn’t bother anymore.

RB: Futile, futile.

SC: Pointless! Pointless! And a waste of energy because Michael’s very good at what he does. These films are Michael Winterbottom films, and we’re just in them doing stuff.

Rob, I remember a story you told about how in The Trip to Italy , after you had the affair with the deckhand, your wife was hearing from people the next day saying, “Oh my God, I’m so sorry this happened.” RB: Yeah, she was taking the boys to school, and a teacher came up, put a hand on her shoulder, and said, “This must be a very difficult time for you.”

SC: That is very worrying that your kids were going to a school where a teacher can’t make that distinction.

RB: A state school. It’s more of a commune, really.

SC: What’s funny is if you say things that are self-critical or portray yourself in that negative light, as we do in The Trip , it sort of it nixes those who ought to say things like “In reality,” because you think, what can they say? Not only have I criticized myself, I’ve turned it into something creative and helped pay the rent with it.

RB: I always find it very funny that some people watch it and take it simply as a reality show, as if literally he’s just following us around and these things are really happening.

SC: I mean, while we’re having dinner, you think that might be real. But when I sleep with the receptionist at the hotel, how they think I allowed a film crew into the bedroom to —

RB: How she allowed you into the bedroom, I think would be the …

SC: Well, that’s more believable.

I think part of it is that reality TV has trained people to accept these things as real. Because that sort of thing would happen on, you know, The Real World . SC: That’s very true. This is such a weird hybrid.

RB: I can’t speak for Steve here, but I don’t really watch those programs because I’m a bit of a snob.

SC: Yeah. But I do.

It’s a bit of a reality series, but it’s also something of a movie franchise. For people like me, you know, The Trip is almost our version of a superhero franchise. There’s something familiar about it, there’s the template, but then the variations are what make it fun. And you guys are ending it right around the time The Avengers and Star Wars are sort of ending as well. RB: It’s our Endgame , yeah.

SC: We’re superheroes for middle-aged, middle-class, white professionals.

Part Two of this interview will run next month. The Trip to Greece will be available in the U.S. on May 22, 2020. The previous Trip films are currently streaming on IFC Films Unlimited.

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Steve Coogan Reaches the End of ‘The Trip’

He plays a version of himself in the movie series, which is ending with “The Trip to Greece.” In reality “I’m not quite as precious as I come across. But there’s certainly a lot of truth in it.”

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By Kathryn Shattuck

As fans of “The Trip” movies know well by now, Steve Coogan has a shelf full of Baftas, the British equivalent of the Oscars. It’s a feat turned running gag throughout the films as he flaunts it at virtually every opportunity.

So when Rob Brydon, his traveling companion and comic foil, asks Coogan what he’s proudest of in “The Trip to Greece,” the answer is perhaps not surprising.

“My seven Baftas,” Coogan says.

“For me, it would be my children,” Brydon says.

“Well, because you haven’t got any Baftas,” Coogan replies.

“You have got children,” Brydon retorts.

In “ The Trip to Greece ,” opening Friday on video on demand and some theaters , the preening Coogan and laissez-faire Brydon, playing slightly exaggerated versions of themselves, come to the end of their decade-long series of gastronomic excursions. The structure is familiar: They drive through breathtaking scenery on their way to multi-star restaurants and hotels, peppering their conversations with bon mots, celebrity impersonations and insults.

Only this time, the director Michael Winterbottom has given the men six days to retrace Odysseus’ 10-year journey from Troy to Ithaca, while finding their own ways back home.

In a Zoom session from his house in Sussex, England, a mustachioed Coogan, 54 — who in real-life received two Oscar nominations for “Philomena” (2013) along with those seven Baftas — spoke about staying relevant in middle age, imagining where his character winds up, and quarantining with his 23-year-old daughter, Clare, and her boyfriend.

“I’m just this kind of slightly annoying dad that comes in and goes, ‘What are you guys doing?’” he said, with a flash of goofy laughter. There wasn’t a Bafta in sight.

These are edited excerpts from our conversation.

How have you been coping during quarantine?

I’m lucky that I’m in lockdown with my daughter, who’s just a fantastic cook. Each night I go, “Oh my God, this is the best thing I’ve ever tasted in my life.” And I’ve been writing a lot, because that’s one thing that we are still able to do. We already isolated ourselves.

What have you been churning out?

I’m a bigamist writer; I’ve got various partners. I’m writing a post-woke comedy-drama — a sort of romance, really — with a female writer in L.A. We’re navigating the rocks of the new sexual political landscape, shall we say. I’ve also written a drama about a hippie commune in Wales in 1969. And Jeff Pope and I wrote about the woman who found the body of Richard III in a car park. This is the third screenplay we’ve written since “Philomena,” and it’s quite odd that two middle-age men write stories about female empowerment. [Laughs] We’re desperately trying to hang on by writing things that are proper, modern.

I’ll write another Alan Partridge , too [a reference to his vain talk-show host character]. It’s nice to do stuff that’s pure comedy because then when you write it, you laugh a lot. And when you laugh, it releases endorphins — or is it serotonin? Pleasure chemicals, I get them confused. [It’s endorphins.] But anyway, it makes you feel good.

With “The Trip” movies, you’ve eaten and written your way through northern England, Italy and Spain. How did you, Rob and Michael decide that Greece would be your last adventure?

Four felt right. And Greece, it was a classic. The Greek philosophy and mythology lent themselves to this huge, contemplative quality, and having me returning home and mimicking Homer’s “Odyssey” to this sort of conclusiveness. We also felt on a level, “Let’s quit while they’re still good.” That’s not saying we’d never do another one, but it feels like we should wait. Right now our thing is middle-age angst, but pretty soon it will just be old-man angst.

These movies are a showcase for Steve’s attempts at erudition. Do you actually have all that knowledge rattling around in your head?

I do prep work, but I’m naturally curious. I had a quite good education, I would say. I went to a Catholic school, which in this country was a bit like a free private education. The curse is, if you’re from very humble origins and you haven’t had a good education, you don’t know what you don’t know. Then if you’re half well-educated, the curse is that you’re aware of the knowledge you don’t have. That’s what I felt I was. In answer to that, I love to learn.

So yes, I do my homework. Rob doesn’t do his homework, but that’s almost deliberate, because he can trivialize my quest for the truth, as it were.

This time around, Steve’s father is seriously ill. You lost your own father two years ago. What was it like tapping into such personal memories?

Funnily enough, I did a version where I was very emotional. I wept as I would when I re-emulated some of those scenes. Then Michael wanted me to do it again and just hold it all back. I think it’s probably better for that, because audiences don’t like completely candid displays of emotion, whether happiness or sadness. Audiences like to look for stuff. And painful stuff is where you find good art, I suppose. Otherwise you end up with some vanilla-flavored mediocrity.

What misconception might viewers of “The Trip” have about you?

I’m not quite as precious as I come across. But there’s certainly a lot of truth in it as well.

Onscreen, Steve grapples with relevancy in middle age. And offscreen?

Right now I’m probably the happiest I’ve been — with the proviso that there’s no such thing as a state of big happiness. I’d like to work a bit less, to be honest. But I’m grateful that I’m able to make creative choices based purely on whether I believe in the thing I’m doing. Also, weirdly, this lockdown meant that I discovered a parallel universe in my daughter that I hadn’t really been aware of before, because I’ve not spent this long with her since she was a child. That’s a kind of strange blessing.

What life do you imagine for Steve now that his journey has ended?

When I shot that scene of going home, it felt strangely poignant — almost as if, I said to Rob afterward, I got dementia in my old age, I might imagine that that was my life. It felt real. And in my head I suppose it plays out that he does come home, he does return to the stability of those people that love him. Craving the stability more than the excitement of being rootless, of being nomadic. Yeah, it’s a funny little thing, playing a version of yourself.

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Steve Coogan

Birth Name: Stephen John Coogan

Birth Place: Middleton, Manchester, England

Profession Actor, comedian, producer, voice-overs, writer

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Fans are freaking out after spotting Steve Coogan in the Joker 2 trailer

Steve coogan is in the trailer for joker 2 and we don't know how to feel about it.

Michael Slavin

Steve Coogan is in the trailer for Joker 2 and honestly, I don’t know how to feel about it.

That is a feeling shared with fans who have spotted the British star in a quick few frames of the newly released trailer , where he appears to be interview Phoenix’s Joker.

The Alan Partridge star has swapped British TV for the stars of Hollywood – as he is now confirmed to be appearing in Joker: Folie à Deux (or just Joker 2 as we’re all probably going to call it anyways).

But we’re all asking the same question, who will he be playing?

The trailer shows Joker continue his infamy from the first film alongside Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, and according to fans online – it looks like Coogan is set to play a character akin to De Niro’s role in the first.

Posting on Reddit , one commenter responded to someone asking if that was Coogan, saying: “Yes. It seems like he’ll be in a similar role to what Robert De Niro had in the first movie.”

Fans were shocked to see Steve Coogan in the trailer for Joker: Folie a Deux. (Warner Brothers)

It seems likely, with Coogan's character questioning Joker, just as De Niro’s did in 2019's Joker .

What most people seem to be saying about the situation though: ‘Wait is he seriously in this?’

One post on X said: “I actually laughed out loud when Steve Coogan appeared in the joker trailer."

Another agreed, saying: “The HOWL I emitted when STEVE COOGAN appeared.”

Some however, theorised this meant an unlikely connection between the crown prince of madness and… honestly a very similar character.

Lady Gaga stars as Harley Quinn alongside Joaquin Phoenix. (Warner Brothers)

They posted: “Steve Coogan is in this, so this is now part of the Alan Partridge Extended Universe.”

One poster on the subreddit r/movies said: “I saw Steve Coogan and now I want a full film of Alan Partridge trying to get an interview with the Joker, or better yet just making a documentary on Gotham City”

If this is the case (it definitely isn’t) we can only imagine the chaos that will occur.

Steve Coogan is not the only aspect of the trailer causing fans to lose it however, with everyone agreeing it looks f**king awesome.

Joaquin Phoenix in Joker 2. (Warner Brothers)

Another commenter on r/movies said: “Actually a good teaser. I had doubts for this film but now I really want to see it.”

Further, one Joker fan posted on X saying: “This just looks absolutely f**king phenomenal. Will definitely be one of the biggest movie phenomenon of the year.”

Well, after seeing that trailer, we couldn’t agree more!

Joker: Folie à Deux will release in cinemas on October 4.

Topics: DC Comics , Film , Joaquin Phoenix , Joker , Lady Gaga , TV and Film

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'Joker 2' is a musical starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga — here's everything we know

A "Joker" sequel titled "Joker: Folie à Deux" is set for release on October 4.
The movie stars Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck and Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn.
The film is a musical and will reportedly include at least 15 new versions of well-known songs.

Joaquin Phoenix is brushing off his dancing shoes and reapplying clown makeup to reprise his role as Arthur Fleck in Todd Phillips' upcoming "Joker" sequel.

"Joker: Folie à Deux" stars Phoenix as the titular DC Comics villain and Lady Gaga as the iconic character Harley Quinn.

Since Warner Bros. debuted the first trailer at CinemaCon in Las Vegas on Tuesday, the internet has been buzzing with anticipation for "Joker 2." It's no surprise considering the response to Phillips' 2019 film "Joker," which was the first R-rated movie to cross $1 billion globally at the box office and won two Oscars for best actor (Phoenix) and best original score (Hildur Guðnadóttir).

With a reported $200 million budget for "Folie à Deux," the stakes couldn't be higher.

Here's everything we know about the "Joker" sequel.

The 'Joker 2' cast includes Phoenix and Gaga, plus some new faces

Deadline reported in 2022 that Zazie Beetz would reprise her role as Sophie Dumond in the sequel. In the first film, her character, a single mom who lives in the same apartment as Arthur, seems like Arthur's love interest until a major plot twist reveals that their budding romance is a figment of Arthur's imagination.

Deadline later reported several more actors who landed roles in "Joker 2": Brendan Gleeson ("The Banshees of Inisherin"), Catherine Keener ("Being John Malkovich"), and Harry Lawtey ("Industry").

The sequel is a musical and will reportedly include at least 15 covers of popular songs

The first trailer showed Arthur and Harley dancing on rooftops, stages, and the streets of Gotham City. According to Variety , the movie will be "mostly a jukebox musical," and contain at least 15 new versions of "very well-known" tracks.

"Joker 2" being a musical isn't too far out of left-field considering the first film contained musically driven moments like Phoenix's villain memorably dancing on a set of stairs in the Bronx.

"I think people will be surprised. I don't think it's going to be what they expect, around it being musical," Beetz told Variety in June. "We all sort of express musically and dancing in our lives day-to-day. I think it's going to work really well."

Director Phillips shared similar comments at CinemaCon when asked if the movie is a musical.

"We never really talked about it like that, but I like to say it's a film where music is an essential element. To me, that doesn't veer too far from the first film," he said. "Arthur's weird and aloof and all these things"

"That informed a lot of the dancing in the first film... it didn't feel like that big of a step here," he added. "It's different, but I think it'll make sense when you see it."

The 'Joker 2' plot will focus on the Joker's romance with Harley Quinn

"Joker" centered on Arthur's descent into villainy after becoming disillusioned by his life as a struggling comedian in Gotham City. At the end of the film, he is locked up in Arkham Asylum and is seen speaking with a social worker.

Plot details surrounding "Joker 2" remain tightly under wraps, but the first trailer shows Arthur and Harley's first meeting at Arkham Asylum. Unlike the comics, though, this version of Harley is a fellow inmate, not Arthur's psychiatrist, at the asylum. After presumably breaking out of the asylum together, the pair are seen dancing and causing mayhem in town.

The 'Joker: Folie à Deux' release date is Friday, October 4

The film arrives in theaters this fall.

Imax CEO Richard Gelfond told Business Insider's Jason Guerrasio at CinemaCon that "Joker 2" will also be available to watch in Imax 70mm — a format typically reserved for large-scale movies directed by filmmakers like Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

People stunned as huge UK TV icon makes shock appearance in Joker: Folie à Deux trailer

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Fans have finally had their first glimpse at Lady Gaga’s Har l ey Quinn opposite Joaquin Phoenix in the trailer for Joker: Folie à Deux and she has not disappointed.

What’s more, they were more than a little surprised with another appearance in the trailer, confirming the involvement of a massive British TV star in this Hollywood film.

Set against the music What The World Needs Now by Jackie DeShannon, Phoenix is seen taking to the stage to perform at a nightclub in the trailer, before Gaga joins him to run through the streets and dance against a moonlit sky.

It then ends with Quinn visiting the Joker in prison, with their intense relationship taking centre stage in the teaser.

Just over halfway through the trailer, however, we are privvy to a conversation between the Joker, aka Arthur Fleck, and what appears to be some sort of official or psychologist, perhaps related to his prison – played by none other than Steve Coogan .

Sporting an American accent, the Alan Partridge star is heard saying: ‘Tell us, what’s changed Arthur?’

Lady Gaga's Harley Quinn meets Joaquin Phoenix's Joker in first trailer for Joker

He then appears onscreen in a shirt and loosened tie, talking to Arthur.

‘That’s a Steve Coogan from out of nowhere,’ posted BordersRanger01 on Reddit, while AlexSniff7 commented: ‘Steve Coogan is a nice surprise to see.’

‘Alan Partridge jumpscare,’ added Nathan_McHallam, while many others couldn’t resist quoting various lines from the iconic character created by Coogan

‘Back of the net!’ quipped caninehere.

‘I can’t believe we live in a world where Steve Coogan and Lady Gaga are in a film together,’ shared @st_ua_rt on X, while Joseph Sutton admitted: ‘Completely taken out by the sudden appearance of Steve Coogan in the #JokerFolieADeux trailer.’

Fans were also reminded of the star’s Sir Michael Caine impression. leading to hopeful casting theories.

Completely taken out by the sudden appearance of Steve Coogan in the #JokerFolieADeux trailer pic.twitter.com/tBUNqiLhdy — Joseph Sutton (@BadmanBegins) April 10, 2024

Steve Cooganâs role in #JokerFolieADeux revealed pic.twitter.com/sq1GRkik4q — Simon Bland (@sitweetstoo) April 10, 2024

Steve Coogan being in the Joker 2 trailer for 2 seconds is the strongest case for the film Iâve seen. Imagine what would happen if Alan Partridge met The Jokerâ¦. pic.twitter.com/pDAYWpstGW — mr. âjust joined a new forumâ (@Papapishu) April 10, 2024

I canât believe we live in a world where Steve Coogan and Lady Gaga are in a film together. https://t.co/E94GgHYiMf pic.twitter.com/tEU5Lbpexn — Stuart (@st_ua_rt) April 10, 2024

Steve Coogan popping up in the Joker 2 trailer gives me hope that heâs finally playing Alfred. pic.twitter.com/PTXjTJdfS8 — Nick de Semlyen (@NickdeSemlyen) April 10, 2024

‘He’s going to be playing Alfred with his Michael Caine impression,’ suggested Haha91haha, a dream that was repeated elsewhere online after Coogan had a memorable ‘Caine off’ impression battle with Rob Brydon on their BBC Two series, The Trip .

‘Steve Coogan popping up in the Joker 2 trailer gives me hope that he’s finally playing Alfred,’ wrote Empire magazine editor Nick de Semlyen.

‘If this scene in the Joker 2 isn’t just Steve Coogan & The Joker seeing who does the better Michael Caine impression then what the f**k are we even doing here,’ added user Heath.

Of course, this is not Coogan’s first Hollywood role, having appeared in the Despicable Me and Night at the Museum franchises, as well as British films including Philomena, Greed, Stan & Ollie and The Lost King .

Another moment in the trailer that had fans going wild over the musical sequel, came in the final shot of the trailer in the prison scene.

It sees the Just Dance hitmaker asking Joaquin’s the Joker for the ‘real’ him behind a glass screen.

He then looks up and smiles that smile, while perfectly aligning it with a handy red mark on the glass, forming that iconic sinister grin with its red joker lipstick for the camera. Shudder.

Joaquin Phoenix as Joker in Joker: Folie à Deux trailer

‘This shot from the joker trailer is one of the coolest things ever. Real cinema is back baby,’ wrote fan @kirawontmiss on X, while YouTube commenter @Sforce1975 said: ‘Who ever came up with the idea of the glass lipstick smile deserves a pay raise… It was just perfect.’

‘That final shot with the lipstick was INCREDIBLE,’ agreed @EthanHarket, while @ilknurKenan said: ‘That glass lipstick smile was crazy in an already goosebump [sic] trailer.’

Others were simply buzzing at the whole trailer, which sees Gaga and Joaquin in a sinister La La Land underworld of ‘joint madness’ (the meaning of Folie à Deux).

‘JOKER 2 JUST BECAME AN INSTANT MOVIE OF THE YEAR,’ shouted @babyloniaan, while @kamkenobi raved: ‘Todd Phillips just casually dropped the best live-action Joker look of all time.’

Many were impressed with Joaquin’s reprised performance, while some loved the musical element to the film – and the inclusion of pop megastar Lady Gaga is also causing chatter.

‘Joker 2 audiences being divided into hardcore comic fans and Lady Gaga fans,’ joked @notgwendalupe.

Joaquin Phoenix's as Arthur Fleck in the Joker: Folie à Deux trailer

Oscar nominee Gaga is making her debut in the role of Harley opposite Phoenix in the movie, which fans knew would be a musical sequel to 2019’s Oscar-winning Joker.

Harley was previously played in movies Suicide Squad, 2021’s The Suicide Squad and Birds of Prey by Barbie star Margot Robbie, opposite Jared Leto’s controversial iteration of Joker in the first one.

Folie à Deux is set to hit cinemas in October, after the first film generated more than $1billion (£789million) at the box office, becoming the most profitable R-rated film ever made.

Much had been kept under wraps regarding the plot though, ahead of the movie’s first trailer, although it was teased on Tuesday by Warner Bros on X.

Trailer Tonight. 6:30pm PT. #JokerMovie pic.twitter.com/kKbceDG0Qb — Warner Bros. Pictures (@wbpictures) April 9, 2024

The studio published a clip of Phoenix’s Fleck crying and laughing in the pouring rain, as they announced the exact time of the film’s trailer.

‘Trailer Tonight. 6:30pm PT. #JokerMovie,’ the post revealed, confirming the expectation that the trailer would drop after it was exclusively shown to attendees at Warner Bros’ CinemaCon panel.

However, it had previously been reported that it was more of a jukebox musical affair, with at least 15 cover songs, according to Variety , including That’s Entertainment from 1953 musical The Band Wagon, which Judy Garland was also known for singing.

New Joker poster with Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix for Joker: Folie à Deux

The other tunes are said to be ‘very well-known songs’.

Zazie Beatz is returning as Sophie, Arthur’s neighbour, for the sequel, and other actors reported to be in the film include Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Ken Leung and Industry star Harry Lawtey.

It has also been reported that Gaga – real name Stefani Germanotta – went to extreme lengths to stay in character on set.

The film’s cinematographer has revealed the Born This Way hitmaker insisted on being called ‘Lee’ while on set to be in the right mindset.

Sher, who didn’t know Gaga prior, said it ‘felt like I never even met her, even during the makeup/hair tests‘ as he recalled a week of feeling like they were ‘disconnecting‘ and ‘on opposites‘.

Joaquin Phoenix in clown make-up stretching his smile in a scene from Joker

‘And I would say to my crew, “Jesus, I can’t crack it. She either hates me or we hate each other. There’s something weird going on here.”‘

Sher, who also worked as a cinematographer on the first Joker film, then revealed he solved the riddle to striking up a friendship with the actor.

‘I barely said anything, except I would say, “Stefani, this is where your second team was,” minor little things, and then the AD at one point said, “Oh you know, Stef would like if you just called her Lee on set,’” Sher told The Trenches Talk podcast .

‘And I was like, “100%.” The next thing I said was something “Lee,” and it was like everything changed. From that point on, it was like she was… Our whole connection changed. I was like, alright, cool.’

Joker: Folie à Deux is scheduled for release in cinemas on October 4, 2024.

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Steve Coogan pops up in ‘Joker 2’ trailer – and fans are very surprised

Fans have been speculating about what part Coogan could be playing in the film

The official trailer for Joker 2 arrived this week (April 9) and fans were left surprised after comedian and actor Steve Coogan appeared in the first teaser of the film.

READ MORE: ‘Joker’ review: a melancholic psychodrama punctuated by splashes of shocking violence

Yesterday, Warner Bros. released the first look at Joker: Folie à Deux , which will premiere in UK cinemas from 4 October.

Joaquin Phoenix will resume his unique and complex portrayal of the iconic DC villain, a performance which earned him the Oscar for Best Actor in the movie. In the second movie however, the character of Arthur Fleck/Joker is no longer alone, teaming up with his comic book sidekick and lover, Harley Quinn, who is played by Lady Gaga .

Fans also spotted Coogan in the trailer who appears briefly in the 30-second teaser clip.

It’s unclear who Coogan is playing, but footage shows the character questioning the joker implying that he could be a psychologist at the facility where the Joker is, or prison staff. You can see the moment here:

Fans on social media have been reacting to the news, with one writing “I can’t believe we live in a world where Steve Coogan and Lady Gaga are in a film together,” while another added: “Steve Coogan being in the Joker 2 trailer for 2 seconds is the strongest case for the film I’ve seen. Imagine what would happen if Alan Partridge met The Joker…”

In terms of Lady Gaga’s character, the trailer suggests that director and co-writer Todd Phillips have veered slightly off the DC origin story of Harley Quinn, in which she is a psychologist at Gotham City’s Arkham Asylum, where we leave Joker at the end of the first movie. In Folie à Deux , it appears that Harley Quinn is herself a patient at the psychiatric facility, where she becomes close with Phoenix’s character.

The trailer teases a quick glance at Gaga in the iconic Harley Quinn outfit, complete with a jester-inspired costume and dark circus makeup. Gaga can be heard in the trailer saying the lines: “I’m nobody. I haven’t done anything with my life like you have.”

It has been rumoured since the announcement of the sequel’s development, that the film would be a musical . The trailer teases scenes involving dancing, stage performances, and a dramatic scene in which Arthur/Joker is leaning over a microphone under a spotlight.

However, when the trailer dropped after Warner Bros.’ presentation at CinemaCon in Las Vegas yesterday (Tuesday 10), Phillips clarified that it is not a full musical, but music will be an “essential element” to the movie (via IGN ).

Also joining the cast for the second movie will be Irish actor Brendan Gleeson, Get Out ’s Catherine Keener and Ken Leung, known for his roles in Lost , Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Sopranos .

Related Topics
Steve Coogan

New 'Joker 2' movie trailer shows Joaquin Phoenix's return, Lady Gaga's debut in sequel

LAS VEGAS – Joaquin Phoenix danced down stairs and showcased a little soft-shoe when he wasn't murdering people in the first " Joker ." Now, he and his new co-star Lady Gaga have just gotta sing in the sequel.

Director Todd Phillips showcased a first look at his new musical psychological thriller "Joker: Folie à Deux," which again stars Phoenix as unhinged comedian-turned-criminal Arthur Fleck, aka Joker, and introduces Gaga as his love interest, Harleen Quinzel (better known as Harley Quinn), who appears to be a fellow inmate. After teasing fans earlier Tuesday with a brief clip of Fleck laughing hysterically in a downpour , Phillips premiered the first trailer during a Warner Bros. panel at CinemaCon , the annual convention for theater owners and studios.

The Joker's wild evolution in photos: From Jack Nicholson to Joaquin Phoenix

The trailer finds Arthur in Gotham City’s Arkham Asylum, imprisoned for his crimes. He meets Harley, who’s already a fan: “I’m nobody. I haven’t done anything with my life like you have,” she tells him. She wants them to break out, and the rest of the footage shows them on the loose but also dancing and singing in fantastical musical numbers. (Like the first movie, there looks to be a blending of the real and the imaginary.)

But during his CinemaCon presentation, Phillips pushed back against the new “Joker” being considered a conventional “musical.” “We’ve never talked about it like that. It’s a movie where music is an essential element,” he said. The director and Phoenix talked about the fact that in the original "Joker," “Arthur is weird and aloof, but he has music in him. He has grace in him. It didn’t seem like that big a step to what we do here.”

The first "Joker" was a chilling origin story that polarized critics but hit big at the box office: It became the first R-rated movie to gross more than $1 billion and was the sixth highest-grossing film worldwide in 2019. Phillips' next chapter changes things up by embracing musical elements as it retells the DC Comics "love story" – or, to quote a Gaga tune, one seriously bad romance – between Joker and Harley.

Phoenix won a best actor Oscar in 2020 for his portrayal of the iconic supervillain in the first "Joker," which was also nominated for best picture. Gaga is the second actress to portray a live-action Harley Quinn on the big screen, following Margot Robbie.

"Joker: Folie à Deux" is expected to arrive in theaters on Oct. 4. The cast features a returning Zazie Beetz as well as Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener and Steve Coogan.

Sort by Year - Latest Movies and TV Shows With Steve Coogan

Movies or TV
IMDb Rating
In Theaters
Release Year

1. The Ballad of Wallis Island

Comedy | Post-production

Charles, a strange lottery winner who lives alone on a secluded island, tries to make his fantasies come true by getting his favorite singer, Herb McGwyer, to perform at a special, private event.

Director: James Griffiths | Stars: Carey Mulligan , Sian Clifford , Tim Key , Tom Basden

2. The Adventures of Drunky

Animation, Comedy | Post-production

Drunky is a barfly who finds himself in the middle of a cosmic bet between God and the Devil over the fate of the Earth. With his life destroyed, Drunky must travel through Heaven and Hell to rescue the girl he loves and save the world.

Director: Aaron Augenblick | Stars: Sam Rockwell , Jeffrey Tambor , Steve Coogan , Nina Arianda

3. The Penguin Lessons

Drama | Post-production

Follows the story of an Englishman who was disappointed after going to work in a school in Argentina, but his life changes after he finds a small penguin who becomes his friend and teacher of life's most important lessons.

Director: Peter Cattaneo | Stars: Steve Coogan , Björn Gustafsson , David Herrero , Jonathan Pryce

4. Boswell for the Defence

Drama | Announced

A look at the life and work of 18th century Scottish lawyer, James Boswell.

Stars: Steve Coogan , Georgie-May Tearle , Kevin Fyfe

5. On the Trail of Stan & Ollie

Documentary | Filming

Laurel and Hardy's comedy legacy explored through interviews with authors, historians and entertainers explaining the duo's enduring influence on art and pop culture via analysis of their classic scenes and personal anecdotes.

Director: Matt Holt | Stars: Stan Laurel , Oliver Hardy , Steve Coogan , John C. Reilly

6. To Catch a King

Based on Princess Diana's brother Charles Spencer's book To Catch a King.

7. Swing Time (TV Movie)

Comedy, Drama | Announced

A pair of girls dream of becoming dancers.

8. Cruise of the Gods

The former stars of a TV sci-fi series are reunited for a cruise with members of their fan club.

Directors: David Guion , Michael Handelman

9. Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)

R | Crime, Drama, Musical | Completed

Sequel to the film "Joker" from 2019.

Director: Todd Phillips | Stars: Zazie Beetz , Joaquin Phoenix , Lady Gaga , Catherine Keener

10. Despicable Me 4 (2024)

PG | Animation, Adventure, Comedy | Completed

Gru, Lucy, Margo, Edith, and Agnes welcome a new member to the family, Gru Jr., who is intent on tormenting his dad. Gru faces a new nemesis in Maxime Le Mal and his girlfriend Valentina, and the family is forced to go on the run.

Directors: Chris Renaud , Patrick Delage | Stars: Steve Carell , Kristen Wiig , Joey King , Will Ferrell

11. Comic Relief: Funny for Money (2024 TV Movie)

179 min | Comedy

Join your hosts Joel Dommett, Maya Jama, Davina McCall, Paddy McGuinness, Rosie Ramsey, Romesh Ranganathan, David Tennant and, for one last time, Sir Lenny Henry for the funniest fundraising night of the year

Stars: Lenny Henry , Davina McCall , David Tennant , Joel Dommett

12. The Reckoning (2023)

59 min | Biography, Crime, Drama

The story of Jimmy Savile's life from his working-class roots, to his rise to TV stardom as a BBC presenter, and his later years when he managed to keep his reign of sexual abuse concealed until after his death in 2011.

Stars: Steve Coogan , Mark Stanley , Mark Lewis Jones , Darien

Votes: 3,675

13. AKA Mr. Chow (2023)

TV-PG | 90 min | Documentary

Explores the life and career of Michael Chow.

Director: Nick Hooker | Stars: China Chow , Maximillian Chow , Michael Chow , Steve Coogan

14. Scandalous: Phone Hacking on Trial (2023 TV Movie)

90 min | Documentary

Candid and exclusive testimony from Sienna Miller, Hugh Grant, Steve Coogan, Heather Mills and others on claims of unlawful information gathering at some of UK's biggest papers. The ... See full summary »

Director: James Newton | Stars: Steve Coogan , Hugh Grant , Shobna Gulati , Sienna Miller

15. Caroline Aherne: Queen of Comedy (2023 TV Movie)

70 min | Documentary

A celebration of the unique life and talent of Caroline Aherne, featuring unseen photographs and contributions from a cast of her lifelong friends, including Steve Coogan, Jon Thompson, ... See full summary »

Director: Claire Whalley | Stars: Caroline Aherne , Craig Cash , Steve Coogan , Sue Johnston

16. The Reckoning (2023) Episode: Episode #1.1 (2023)

In the early 60s, Jimmy Savile became famous as a DJ in the dance halls of Leeds and Manchester. He ran sell-out dances for young people

Directors: David Blair , Sandra Goldbacher | Stars: Steve Coogan , Mark Stanley , Jade Croot , Isabella Pappas

17. The Reckoning (2023) Episode: Episode #1.2 (2023)

57 min | Biography, Crime, Drama

Now at the height of his fame, Savile engineers more opportunities for charity work to further conceal his abusive behaviour

Directors: David Blair , Sandra Goldbacher | Stars: Steve Coogan , Faye McKeever , Tia Dutt , Anita Breheny

18. The Reckoning (2023) Episode: Episode #1.3 (2023)

Savile is asked to host Jim'll Fix It. Now at the peak of his fame and influence, Savile's status allowed him to hide in plain sight and silence the victims of his crimes.

Directors: David Blair , Sandra Goldbacher | Stars: Steve Coogan , Mark Stanley , Siobhan Finneran , Mark Lewis Jones

19. The Reckoning (2023) Episode: Episode #1.4 (2023)

58 min | Biography, Crime, Drama

In the 2000s, as his career and influence began to wane, Savile made increasingly desperate attempts to conceal the truth. Yet his crimes didn't come to light during his lifetime.

Directors: David Blair , Sandra Goldbacher | Stars: Steve Coogan , Madeleine Edmondson , Delroy Brown , Eloise Thomas

20. Brydon & (2020– ) Episode: Steve Coogan (2023)

Short, Comedy, Talk-Show

Stars: Rob Brydon , Steve Coogan

21. Días de cine (1991– ) Episode: Episode dated 5 May 2023 (2023)

Directors: Fernando López Puig , Gerardo Sánchez | Stars: Raúl Alda , Elena Anaya , Steve Coogan , Brian Cox

22. Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)

PG | 87 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy

The untold story of one twelve-year-old's dream to become the world's greatest supervillain.

Directors: Kyle Balda , Brad Ableson , Jonathan del Val | Stars: Steve Carell , Pierre Coffin , Alan Arkin , Taraji P. Henson

Votes: 85,123 | Gross: $369.70M

23. The Lost King (2022)

PG-13 | 108 min | Comedy, Drama

An amateur historian defies the stodgy academic establishment in her efforts to find King Richard III's remains, which were lost for over 500 years.

Director: Stephen Frears | Stars: Sally Hawkins , Shonagh Price , Helen Katamba , Lewis Macleod

Votes: 8,158

24. Chivalry (2022)

Comedy, Drama

A successful producer and a woke writer/director are brought closer by a creeping attraction and a feeling that they are just pawns in the studio's agenda for a Saudi Arabian buyout.

Stars: Sarah Solemani , Steve Coogan , Wanda Sykes , Adjani Salmon

25. The Witchfinder (2022)

30 min | Comedy

A failing witchfinder transports a suspected witch to a trial that could change his fortunes, but first he must deal with the worst possible travel companion and road-free trip across the country gripped by civil war, famine, and plague.

Stars: Tim Key , Daisy May Cooper , Jessica Hynes , Daniel Rigby

Votes: 2,018

26. The Sound of 007 (2022)

88 min | Documentary, Music

Follows the remarkable history of six decades of James Bond music, going behind the lens into one of the greatest movie franchise and the iconic 007 theme song.

Director: Mat Whitecross | Stars: Rami Malek , Daniel Craig , Michael Caine , Hans Zimmer

Votes: 2,174

27. Alan Partridge Live: Stratagem (2022 TV Special)

84 min | Comedy

Devised, written, choreographed, performed and funded by Alan Partridge, Stratagem sees Alan not just treading the boards but pounding them, atop stages graced by such luminaries as Michael... See full summary »

Directors: Neil Gibbons , Rob Gibbons | Stars: Steve Coogan , Hannah Bodenham , Rebekah Bryant , Lizzi Brown

28. Chivalry (2022) Episode: Episode #1.1 (2022)

Indie-darling director Bobby takes over the reshoots of a major film. Can she and producer Cameron get a key player on board? Meanwhile, Bobby learns information that makes her doubt her decision.

Director: Marta Cunningham | Stars: Sarah Solemani , Steve Coogan , Lucy Sheftall , Djilali Rez-Kallah

29. Chivalry (2022) Episode: Episode #1.6 (2022)

Bobby and Cameron are forced to confront their values, their feelings, and each other.

Director: Marta Cunningham | Stars: Sarah Solemani , Steve Coogan , Annabel Leventon , Lolly Adefope

30. The Witchfinder (2022) Episode: Episode #1.1 (2022)

28 min | Comedy

A failing witchfinder arrives in an East Anglian village in search of work. Desperate for the wealth and fame a big trial could bring, all he finds is an uncouth local woman accused of ... See full summary »

Directors: Neil Gibbons , Rob Gibbons | Stars: Tim Key , Daisy May Cooper , Michael Culkin , Matt Green

31. The Witchfinder (2022) Episode: Episode #1.2 (2022)

Bannister must travel to Chelmsford with Thomasine to put on a show trial for the Witchfinder General. But his captive is the worst possible travel companion and threatens to make a straightforward journey a life-changing ordeal.

Directors: Neil Gibbons , Rob Gibbons | Stars: Tim Key , Daisy May Cooper , Jessica Hynes , Daniel Rigby

32. The Witchfinder (2022) Episode: Episode #1.3 (2022)

29 min | Comedy

Thomasine's interventions have taken them wildly off course, and Bannister has to plot a route through Dedham Vale on foot.

Directors: Neil Gibbons , Rob Gibbons | Stars: Tim Key , Daisy May Cooper , Sharlene Whyte , Sammy Kamara

33. The Witchfinder (2022) Episode: Episode #1.4 (2022)

Bannister fears Thomasine might not make it to Chelmsford alive, and she's no good to him dead.

Directors: Neil Gibbons , Rob Gibbons | Stars: Tim Key , Daisy May Cooper , Dan Mersh , Rosie Cavaliero

34. The Witchfinder (2022) Episode: Episode #1.6 (2022)

Thomasine and Bannister arrive in Chelmsford but no longer as travel companions.

35. Chivalry (2022) Episode: Episode #1.2 (2022)

Cameron questions his past actions, and Jean confirms his worst suspicions. There are emotional acrobatics on the day of the reshoot, and Bobby's best efforts to reclaim the controversial sex scene are thwarted by well-meaning actors.

Director: Marta Cunningham | Stars: Steve Coogan , Wanda Sykes , Toby Regbo , Sienna Miller

36. Chivalry (2022) Episode: Episode #1.3 (2022)

Aston and Bobby aim to reconnect. Bobby, Cameron and Rick work on the edit, and Bobby and Cameron realise they may have more in common than they thought. Jean convinces Bobby and Cameron ... See full summary »

Director: Marta Cunningham | Stars: Adjani Salmon , Sarah Solemani , Kaylen Luke , Steve Coogan

37. Chivalry (2022) Episode: Episode #1.4 (2022)

Bobby and Cameron support Jean's charitable efforts. Noah gets into a sticky situation at school. Bobby throws a party for Aston, and some surprise visitors are in attendance.

Director: Marta Cunningham | Stars: Adjani Salmon , Sarah Solemani , Camilla Beeput , Steve Coogan

38. Chivalry (2022) Episode: Episode #1.5 (2022)

Bobby gets an exciting opportunity. And Cameron and Bobby attempt to take a break from work, but find themselves in the middle of a crisis when a damning video goes viral.

Director: Marta Cunningham | Stars: Sarah Solemani , Steve Coogan , Eloy Perez , Amy Landecker

39. Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway (2002–2024) Episode: Episode #18.6 (2022)

TV-PG | Comedy, Game-Show

Stars: Anthony McPartlin , Declan Donnelly , Stephen Mulhern , Fleur East

40. Breakfast (2000– ) Episode: Episode dated 28 April 2022 (2022)

News, Talk-Show

Stars: Steve Coogan , Aneeshwar Kunchala

41. Brydon & (2020– ) Episode: Steve Coogan (2022)

42. lorraine (2001– ) episode: episode dated 11 may 2022 (2022).

Stars: Malandra Burrows , Steve Coogan , Lorraine Kelly , Judi Love

43. Sunday Brunch (2012– ) Episode: Episode #11.6 (2022)

Stars: Aurora , Steve Coogan , Anthony Kiedis , Patrick Kielty

44. Newscast (2019– ) Episode: Episode #7.14 (2022)

29 min | News, Talk-Show

Adam Fleming, Chris Mason and Jo Coburn discuss the market turmoil that followed the government's mini-budget with David Dimbleby, Steve Coogan and Conservative MP Bim Afolami.

Stars: Adam Fleming , Chris Mason , Jo Coburn , Bim Afolami

45. The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X (2015– ) Episode dated 28 September 2022 (2022 Podcast Episode)

Comedy, Talk-Show

Stars: Dominic Byrne , Steve Coogan , Chris Moyles , James Robinson

46. From the Oasthouse: The Alan Partridge Podcast (2020– ) Perfect Day (2022 Podcast Episode)

Alan decides to focus on what matters an afternoon teaching his grandchildren about the wonders of the solar system.

Star: Steve Coogan

47. From the Oasthouse: The Alan Partridge Podcast (2020– ) Rekindlings (2022 Podcast Episode)

A chance encounter with a local radio exec offers Alan hope of a professional revival.

48. From the Oasthouse: The Alan Partridge Podcast (2020– ) Novel (2022 Podcast Episode)

Keen to open up new revenue streams and inspired by a friendly proctologist, Alan has decided to write a novel.

49. From the Oasthouse: The Alan Partridge Podcast (2020– ) Stake Out (2022 Podcast Episode)

Alan lies in wait hoping to catch fly tippers who have been dumping building materials on a patch of grass behind the cul-de-sac.

50. From the Oasthouse: The Alan Partridge Podcast (2020– ) Potholing (2022 Podcast Episode)

Alan and his friend Ronald go potholing but Ronald stays in the car because he's in a mood but that's Ronald for you.

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Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon’s Trip movies dig deep into the anxieties of travel

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