10 Underrated Hugh Laurie Movies You Must See

Hugh Laurie is known around the world for scene stealing television work, yet his film roles cover a wide range of genres and eras. This list gathers feature films where he adds memorable texture to comedies, dramas, thrillers, and animation, often in parts that casual viewers miss when thinking about his career. Each entry highlights who made the film, what it is about, and exactly where Laurie fits in.

You will find ensemble pieces from the early 1990s alongside lead performances and distinctive voice roles from more recent years. The details below focus on directors, key cast, and story setup, as well as production notes that help place each title in context. Use it as a quick guide to explore deeper into his filmography.

‘Mr. Pip’ (2012)

Andrew Adamson directs this adaptation of the novel set on Bougainville during a period of civil conflict in the early 1990s. Hugh Laurie plays Mr Watts, a teacher who introduces a village classroom to a classic Dickens story while tensions around them escalate. The film pairs Laurie’s character with a young student whose imagination becomes central to the narrative, and it balances classroom scenes with the realities outside the school.

Production took place in Oceania with location work that grounds the story in island landscapes. The film presents English literature lessons as a plot engine and uses them to connect personal memory with community upheaval. Laurie’s role places him at the center of that connection through scenes that link reading assignments to events in the village.

‘Maybe Baby’ (2000)

Ben Elton directs and co writes this London set comedy adapted from his book about a couple navigating fertility challenges. Hugh Laurie stars as Sam Bell, a television producer whose work life collides with his private life when he turns their experience into material for the screen. Joely Richardson plays Lucy Bell, and the supporting cast includes familiar British comedy faces from radio and television.

Filming took place around London with scenes in broadcasting offices and a mix of urban interiors and neighborhood streets. The production leans on Laurie’s background in sketch and sitcom timing for several workplace sequences while keeping the central story focused on a marriage under pressure. The soundtrack and cameo appearances tie the film to a specific moment in British pop culture.

‘Peter’s Friends’ (1992)

Kenneth Branagh directs this ensemble about university friends who reunite at a country house over New Year. The cast includes Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson, Imelda Staunton, Rita Rudner, Tony Slattery, and Hugh Laurie as Roger, whose personal and professional life becomes part of the weekend’s revelations. The story unfolds through group meals, old in jokes, and late night conversations that fill in a decade of backstory.

The script by Rita Rudner and Martin Bergman blends comedy with reflective scenes that track how careers and relationships have shifted since graduation. Location work centers on a stately home that functions as a single contained setting for most of the film. Laurie’s part anchors several key musical and dinner table moments that move subplots forward.

‘The Borrowers’ (1997)

Peter Hewitt directs this family adventure based on Mary Norton’s books about tiny people living secretly in a human house. Hugh Laurie appears as a harried police officer who gets swept into the feud between the human villain and the Clock family of borrowers. John Goodman leads the cast as a developer whose scheme threatens the borrowers’ home, and Jim Broadbent and Celia Imrie play the human family that unknowingly shares the space.

The film uses a mix of practical sets and visual effects to create oversized environments from a tiny perspective. Production design turns everyday objects into towering obstacles, and action sequences play with scale during chases through ducts and kitchens. Laurie’s character crosses paths with both sides during searches and stakeouts that add comic complications to the plot.

‘101 Dalmatians’ (1996)

Stephen Herek directs this live action version of the classic dog caper with Glenn Close as Cruella de Vil. Hugh Laurie plays Jasper, one half of the duo hired to snatch the puppies, with Mark Williams as Horace. Jeff Daniels and Joely Richardson portray the dog owners, and the film builds its set pieces around escapes, disguises, and slapstick near misses.

The production features extensive animal training, large scale kennel sets, and snowy countryside locations. Practical effects and physical comedy drive many scenes, and costuming gives Cruella a strong visual presence that frames the villains’ antics. Laurie’s Jasper partners in several break in attempts and chase scenes that connect the city setup to the rural hideout storyline.

‘The Oranges’ (2011)

Julian Farino directs this suburban dramedy set in New Jersey about two neighboring families whose lives change after an unexpected relationship begins. Hugh Laurie plays David Walling opposite Catherine Keener, with Leighton Meester, Oliver Platt, Allison Janney, Adam Brody, and Alia Shawkat in the ensemble. Holiday gatherings, neighborhood rituals, and workplace events provide the backdrop for the shifting loyalties in both households.

The film was shot on location with tree lined streets and seasonal decorations used to mark time across the story. Dialogue heavy scenes lean on overlapping family dynamics, and the editing moves between living rooms, offices, and local spots that feel rooted in a single community. Laurie’s character appears in key conversations that map out the consequences for each person involved.

‘Street Kings’ (2008)

David Ayer directs this Los Angeles crime thriller from a story associated with James Ellroy. Hugh Laurie appears as Captain James Biggs in Internal Affairs alongside Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, and Chris Evans. The plot follows a veteran officer pulled into a web of corruption investigations and double crosses that stretch across divisions.

Location shooting uses convenience stores, warehouses, and city streets to frame shootouts and interrogations. Handheld camerawork and tight interiors create a tense feel in interview rooms where Laurie’s character conducts inquiries and applies pressure on other officers. The film connects Biggs to the larger departmental power struggle through scenes that set up turns in the final act.

‘Chica de Río’ (2001)

Christopher Monger directs this comedy about a London bank clerk who heads to Rio de Janeiro after a personal and financial setback. Hugh Laurie stars as Raymond, whose plan to confront a flashy businessman leads him into samba clubs, beachfront hideouts, and an improvised alliance with new friends. The story follows his attempts to recover money while navigating a city he barely understands.

Filming uses well known Rio locations to contrast Raymond’s routine London life with a bright and hectic environment. Music and dance sequences place Laurie’s character in spaces far outside his comfort zone, and the production balances travel comedy with a light crime plot. Supporting roles from Brazilian performers anchor the Rio setting through club owners, dancers, and small time operators.

‘The Personal History of David Copperfield’ (2019)

Armando Iannucci directs this fresh take on the Dickens novel with Dev Patel as David Copperfield. Hugh Laurie plays Mr Dick, a gentle figure whose friendship with David shapes several turning points in the story. The ensemble includes Tilda Swinton, Ben Whishaw, Rosalind Eleazar, and Peter Capaldi, with scenes that move through boardinghouses, legal offices, and coastal towns.

Production design and costume work create a lively nineteenth century world while the script uses quick transitions and voiceover to cover the novel’s many episodes. Laurie’s Mr Dick appears in domestic and street scenes that show his creativity and his bond with David. The film was shot across English locations that stand in for London and seaside settings.

‘Arthur Christmas’ (2011)

Sarah Smith directs this animated feature from Aardman and Sony Pictures Animation with co direction by Barry Cook. Hugh Laurie voices Steve, the ultra organized heir apparent in a North Pole operation that runs like a logistics company. James McAvoy voices Arthur, Jim Broadbent voices Santa, and Bill Nighy voices Grandsanta, with Imelda Staunton rounding out the family.

The film blends motion capture influences with bright production design and a fleet of gadgets that explain how presents move around the world in one night. Laurie’s voice performance defines Steve through clipped delivery and precise phrasing in mission control scenes. The story balances high tech set pieces with a last mile delivery that sends characters into suburban streets and rural roads.

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