Are you looking for the best drama films on BBC iPlayer?
Then look no further because this article will update you with the latest heart-pumping drama films on BBC iPlayer. However, the platform is geo-blocked so you need a reliable VPN like ExpressVPN to access BBC iPlayer in Canada.
BBC iPlayer has a large selection of excellent dramas that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The platform offers a wide variety of content, from historical epics to psychological thrillers. This year, BBC iPlayer has updated its content with entertaining drama films that take you to a different world.
Sadly, the platform is unavailable outside the UK. Therefore, if you are traveling or living in Canada, you must subscribe to the best BBC iPlayer VPN, such as ExpressVPN, to access the platform while in Canada.
Watch BBC iPlayer in Canada, pour yourself some popcorn, and enjoy the best drama films on BBC iPlayer.
What are the Best Drama Films on BBC iPlayer to Stream Right Now?
Below are the best drama films on BBC iPlayer that are a must-watch for drama fans. These movies take you on an unforgettable journey with some of the most talented actors and stunning cinematography.
BBC iPlayer is packed with entertaining dramas that won’t disappoint, whether you’re in the mood for an intense mystery or a heartbreaking and compelling story.
You are guaranteed to find what you are looking for. Here are some of the best drama films on BBC iPlayer that you can watch with the best BBC iPlayer VPN on multiple devices including PS5.
1. Beautiful Boy (2018)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Director: Felix van Groeningen
Writers: Luke Davies, Felix van Groeningen, David Sheff
Cast: Steve Carell, Maura Tierney, Jack Dylan Grazer
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Runtime: 2 hours
Release date: September 7, 2018
A father and his son are the central characters in the 2018 American biographical drama “Beautiful Boy.” The film follows the struggles of the father as he tries to help his son Nic Sheff, who is addicted to methamphetamine. The film shares the heartbreaking and inspiring experience of survival.
Beautiful Boy is one of those films that will make you empathize with both characters as they struggle to understand the complexities of addiction.
2. Sorry We Missed You (2019)
Genre: Drama
Director: Ken Loach
Writer: Paul Laverty
Cast: Kris Hitchen, Rhys Mcgowan, Debbie Honeywood
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Runtime: 1 hour 41 minutes
Release date: March 6, 2020
The film follows a working-class family struggling to make ends meet in the gig economy. Ricky and his family have been fighting a losing battle against debt.
In an effort to better their financial situation, the family’s father, Ricky Turner, starts working as a freelance delivery driver. However, he quickly discovers that the job is much more demanding than he anticipated.
This film addresses the real problem that many working-class families are currently dealing with in a powerful and thought-provoking manner.
3. Green Book (2018)
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Director: Peter Farrelly
Writer: Nick Vallelonga, Brian Hayes Currie, Peter Farrelly
Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Linda Cardellini, Mahershala Ali
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Runtime: 2 hours 10 minutes
Release date: November 16, 2018
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
The 2018 biographical comedy-drama “Green Book” is about the friendship between Dr. Don Shirley, an African-American classical pianist, and Tony Lip, a working-class Italian-American bouncer.
The narrative follows the two men as they set out on a concert tour through the Deep South in the 1960s, at the height of the American civil rights movement. The movie looks at issues like racism and discrimination and the unlikely friendship between the two men as they deal with these problems.
This touching tale serves as a poignant reminder of the value of acceptance and friendship. It is also frequently humorous.
4. Blue Story (2020)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Musical
Director: Rapman
Writer: Rapman
Cast: Micheal Ward, Jo Martin, Eric Kofi-Abrefa
IMDb Rating: 6.2/10
Runtime: 1 hour 31 minutes
Release date: May 5, 2020
British crime drama Blue Story follows Timmy and Marco, two childhood friends who grew up in different parts of London but went to the same high school. As they try to deal with the problems of being teenagers, they join rival street gangs and get caught up in a dangerous cycle of violence.
The movie examines issues like loyalty, friendship, and the effect of gang culture on young people’s lives. It shows how hard it is to grow up in cities where poverty, lack of opportunities, and systemic injustices exist.
Watch more exciting crime movies on BBC iPlayer.
5. Ben Is Back (2018)
Genre: Drama
Director: Peter Hedges
Writer: Peter Hedges
Cast: Julia Roberts, Lucas Hedges, Courtney B. Vance
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
Runtime: 1 hour 43 minutes
Release date: December 7, 2018
On Christmas Eve, 19-year-old Ben Burns unexpectedly returns home after spending some time in a drug rehabilitation facility. Holly, Ben’s mother, is happy and welcoming but concerned about her son’s drug abuse.
While Holly does everything in her power to keep Ben clean, new truths about Ben are exposed.
Holly, who Ben’s addiction has severely impacted, struggles between loving her son and being afraid that he might relapse and hurt himself or others.
With some drama you can also watch many action movies on BBC iPlayer this year.
6. Persian Lessons (2020)
Genre: Drama, War
Director: Vadim Perelman
Writer: Ilja Zofin, Wolfgang Kohlhaase
Cast: Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, Jonas Nay, Lars Eidinger
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
Runtime: 2 hours 7 minutes
Release date: September 24, 2020
The movie, which takes place in 1942 as part of World War II, tells the tale of Belgian Jew Gilles, who is detained by the SS and sent to a concentration camp. He meets a German officer searching for a Persian speaker to translate radio messages while he is at the camp.
In a desperate attempt to stay alive, Gilles claims to be Persian and offers to teach the language to the needy officer. As he begins to teach the language to the officer, Gilles wrestles with his inner self and the shame of having lied about his nationality.
Into war movies? If yes then you should definitely watch war movies on BBC iPlayer.
7. The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2018)
Genre: Comedy, drama
Director: Desiree Akhavan
Writers: Desiree Akhavan, Cecilia Frugiuele, Emily M. Danforth
Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Quinn Shephard, Steven Hauck
IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
Runtime: 1 hour 31 minutes
Release date: September 7, 2018
Teenage Cameron is sent away to a treatment facility called God’s Promise in a remote area in 1993 after being caught in a sexual encounter with the prom queen. While there, she makes friends with other young people who are having trouble figuring out their sexual orientations.
They decide to pretend to go along with the process in order to be set free.
8. Mary Queen of Scots (2018)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Director: Josie Rourke
Writers: Beau Willimon, John Guy
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Margot Robbie, Jack Lowden
IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
Runtime: 2 hours 4 minutes
Release date: December 21, 2018
The film takes place in the 16th century and centers on Mary Stuart’s journey from France to Scotland after the passing of her husband, The King of France.
She tries to take back her rightful throne as queen of Scotland, but her claim is disputed by the strong Protestant lords of Scotland and her sister Elizabeth I.
The two queens must deal with many difficulties, such as political intrigue and betrayal, as they try to maintain their power and influence.
9. I, Tonya (2018)
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Director: Craig Gillespie
Writer: Steven Rogers
Cast: Margot Robbie, Allison Janney, Sebastian Stan
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Runtime: 1 hour 59 minutes
Release date: January 19, 2018
Meet Tonya Harding, a gifted figure skater who performed the first triple axle in competition as an American woman in 1991. However, her ex-husband managed to harm her fellow Olympic hopeful, Nancy Kerrigan, in a poorly planned attack in 1994.
The young woman’s entire world crashed as she was forced to withdraw from the national championship.
10. King of Thieves (2018)
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
Director: James Marsh
Writer: Joe Penhall
Cast: Michael Caine, Olivia Le Andersen, Francesca Annis
IMDb Rating: 5.5/10
Runtime: 1 hour 48 minutes
Release date: January 25, 2019
In London’s jewelry district, is where a group of retired criminals is planning to pull off the highest heist ever recorded in British history. However, what initially seems to be the group’s nostalgic last hurrah soon turns into a brutal nightmare as greed takes hold of them.
King of Thieves is one of the best drama films on BBC iPlayer worth watching.
11. The Keeper (2018)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance
Director: Marcus H. Rosenmüller
Writers: Marcus H. Rosenmüller, Robert Marciniak, Nicholas J. Schofield
Cast: David Kross, John Henshaw, Freya Mavor
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Runtime: 2 hours
Release date: October 2, 2020
The film revolves around Bert Trautmann, a former German soldier who decides to become a goalkeeper for the English football club Manchester City. The movie traces Trautmann’s development from an English POW to one of the most revered footballers in the nation.
Trautmann encountered prejudice and hostility because of his German heritage along the way. The film shows how he managed to cope with the traumatic events he went through during the war.
The movie looks at the ties that sport can forge between people as well as themes of forgiveness and redemption.
12. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)
Genre: Drama, Romantic, War
Director: Mike Newell
Writers: Don Roos, Kevin Hood, Thomas Bezucha
Cast: Jessica Brown Findlay, Michiel Huisman, Tom Courtenay
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Runtime: 2 hours 4 minutes
Release date: August 10, 2018
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a romantic drama that follows a writer named Juliet Ashton. A member of the titular literary society on the island of Guernsey, which was occupied by the Germans during World War II, wrote her a letter.
Hit with the idea of writing a book, Juliet decided to visit the island to learn more about society. She grows interested in their tales of bravery, resistance, and loss during the war as she stays longer on the island. While there, she starts to have a close relationship with a member of society.
13. Equals (2016)
Genre: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
Director: Drake Doremus
Writers: Nathan Parker, Drake Doremus
Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Kristen Stewart, Vernetta Lopez
IMDb Rating: 6.0/10
Runtime: 1 hour 41 minutes
Release date: May 26, 2016
Equals is a science fiction and romance movie on BBC iPlayer where emotions are seen as a disease in a future society. The plot centers on Silas (Nicholas Hoult) and Nia (Kristen Stewart), two employees of a company looking for treatment for this emotional ailment.
Nia and Silas start to fall in love with one another, which is against the rules of their society. While they try to find a cure for the disease, they have to keep their emotions under wraps, but as their relationship grows, it gets harder to do so.
14. Effie Gray (2014)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance
Director: Richard Laxton
Writer: Emma Thompson
Cast: Dakota Fanning, Tom Sturridge, Greg Wise
IMDb Rating: 6.0/10
Runtime: 1 hour 44 minutes
Release date: October 10, 2014
The film revolves around Effie Gray. At 19, she married the famous art historian and critic John Ruskin. However, Ruskin refused to have sexual relations with her.
Effie, who is lonely and dissatisfied, is drawn to John Everett Millais, a pre-Raphaelite painter, and meets Lady Elizabeth Eastlake, who becomes her friend and supporter. After being trapped in a loveless marriage for five years, Effie is ready to break free.
15. A Bigger Splash (2015)
Genre: Drama, Music, Thriller
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Writer: David Kajganich, Jacques Deray, Alain Page
Cast: Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes, Matthias Schoenaerts
IMDb Rating: 6.4/10
Runtime: 2 hours 5 minutes
Release date: May 13, 2016
The film revolves around a famous rock star Marianne Lane, and filmmaker Paul De Smedt. They are on vacation and getting well on the beautiful island of Pantelleria. Unfortunately, their vacation is interrupted when they get a surprise visit from an old friend.
Stream BBC iPlayer on Firestick and enjoy this amazing movie on the big screen.
Wrap Up
BBC iPlayer is the home of entertainment, consisting of the best drama films in 2024. If you’re wondering how to watch BBC iPlayer on Smart TV and want to watch the best drama films on BBC iPlayer on a big screen, you’ll be glad to know that the platform is compatible with Smart TVs.
BBC player free trial doesn’t exist because it’s a free streaming platform. However, some films are available on BBC iPlayer for free for a short duration of time. Therefore, you can access those films before they are unavailable.
If you are outside the UK, you must use a quality VPN such as ExpressVPN because BBC iPlayer is unavailable outside the UK. To access BBC iPlayer, you must have a BBC iPlayer account.
There’s also one thing that you can delete BBC iPlayer account anytime if you want to, but we do not suggest doing that.
Happy Streaming!