The Boxtrolls

The Boxtrolls is currently streaming in the UK on ITVX Premium, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. With 1,819 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Ben Kingsley sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Available now on ITVX Premium — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The Boxtrolls is worth clearing space for. The jokes in The Boxtrolls land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. An orphaned boy raised by underground creatures called Boxtrolls comes up from the sewers and out of his box to save his family and the town from the evil exterminator, Archibald Snatcher. Ben Kingsley and Isaac Hempstead Wright lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2014. The timing in The Boxtrolls is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

The Boxtrolls is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Ben Kingsley sets the tone, but the supporting cast is where a lot of the best moments come from. A reliable pick for any night you want quality comedy without the homework.