If you loved
Bean
Mel Smith · Film · 1997
What hooked you in Bean was the way a fish-out-of-water outsider causes absolute chaos through sheer, well-intentioned incompetence.
Start with the source
The source
Mr. Bean
Richard Curtis · Series · 1990
Books on the same thread
Artemis Fowl
Eoin Colfer · Book · 2001
If you enjoyed the way Bean navigated high-stakes environments with child-like detachment, you will appreciate how Artemis Fowl balances a brilliant, unconventional mind against the rigid structures of his world.
Paddington Bear
Michael Bond · Book · 1958
Just as Bean finds himself hilariously out of his depth in a new culture, Paddington Bear charms through his earnest, bumbling attempts to adapt to the complexities of London life.
Captain Underpants
Dav Pilkey · Book · 1997
Fans of Bean will recognize the same spirit of disruptive, slapstick-driven rebellion in Captain Underpants, where authority figures are consistently undermined by the unpredictable actions of two mischievous young boys.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Douglas Adams · Book · 1979
If you loved the frustration Bean causes in his bureaucratic surroundings, you will enjoy watching Arthur Dent struggle to maintain his sanity while navigating the absurd, indifferent bureaucracy of the universe.
Series on the same thread
Ted Lasso
Jason Sudeikis · Series · 2020
Much like Bean, Ted Lasso thrives on being a total cultural outlier who manages to impact his environment, though he trades the accidental destruction for a more optimistic, heartfelt approach.
Lethal Weapon
Matthew Miller · Series · 2016
If the mismatched, chaotic energy of Bean appealed to you, the dynamic in Lethal Weapon offers a similar brand of friction as a volatile newcomer disrupts a stable professional environment.
Chowder
C.H. Greenblatt · Series · 2007
Chowder shares the same penchant for scatterbrained accidents as Bean, ensuring that every simple task turns into a surreal, slapstick disaster that tests the patience of everyone around him.
Slow Horses
Series · 2022
While Bean deals with museum boards, the team in Slow Horses battles bureaucratic incompetence with a similarly dysfunctional energy that celebrates the blunders of the underdog in a high-stakes setting.
Podcasts on the same thread
Stugotz and Company
iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
If you find joy in the absurdity of Bean, the unfiltered, unpredictable commentary found in Stugotz and Company provides a similar sense of chaotic, barrier-breaking humor that defies conventional social norms.
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
Conan O’Brien captures the same self-deprecating, awkward charm that defined Bean, using his own inability to fit into standard professional molds to create hilarious and memorable social interactions.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is the 1997 movie Bean based on the Mr. Bean television series?
Yes, the 1997 film Bean is a feature-length adaptation based on the character from the original Mr. Bean television series that premiered in 1990. The film follows the same childlike Englishman as he travels to Los Angeles to act as an ambassador for the Royal National Gallery.
Does the movie Bean follow the same plot as the Mr. Bean television episodes?
No, the movie Bean features a unique plot where the character serves as a watchman at the Royal National Gallery and is sent to Los Angeles. This specific narrative involving the unveiling of a historic painting is distinct from the episodic format of the original Mr. Bean television series.
What is the premise of the 1997 movie Bean?
In the movie Bean, the protagonist is an incompetent watchman at the Royal National Gallery. The board of directors sends him to Los Angeles to act as an ambassador for the unveiling of a historic painting, hoping to humiliate him and facilitate his eventual firing from the museum.
Should I watch the Mr. Bean television series before the 1997 movie?
Watching the 1990 Mr. Bean television series provides context for the character's personality and behavior, but it is not required to understand the plot of the 1997 movie Bean. The film functions as a standalone story centered on the character's trip to Los Angeles.