Who directed the 1997 feature film Bean, starring Rowan Atkinson?

Mel Smith directed the 1997 feature film Bean, starring Rowan Atkinson as the title character.

Smith was a major British comedy performer and director who had worked with Atkinson before the film. Their professional connection included the television comedy Not the Nine O’Clock News and other British comedy projects, making Smith a natural choice to guide the character’s move to the big screen.

The film places Mr. Bean in the United States, where he becomes involved with the transfer and public presentation of Whistler’s Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1. The movie expands the character’s silent physical style into a feature-length story with an international setting.

Mel Smith directed Bean, while Mr. Bean’s Holiday, released in 2007, was directed by Steve Bendelack. That difference is a frequent source of confusion when the two theatrical films are discussed together.