10 OF THE BEST

MUGS ON SCREEN Corking cuppas

THE USUAL SUSPECTS

As Special Agent Kujan (Chazz Palminteri) sips his coffee and basks in the glow of a job well done, he slowly realises the identity of mythical mob boss Keyser Söze in the climatic moments of Bryan Singer’s thriller, his Kobayashi mug slipping from his hand.

FRIENDS

Set around Central Perk, the titular chums have more mugs of coffee than most. But when Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) breaks up with a psychiatrist beau, he offers his Freudian analysis about their ‘stupid big cups which, I’m sorry, might as well have nipples on them’.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

When the Beast’s castle comes under a curse, all his servants are transformed, too, in Disney’s classic fairy tale, including Mrs Potts (Angela Lansbury) and her son Chip (Bradley Pierce), the latter becoming a living mug that gives heroine Belle literal service with a smile.

TWIN PEAKS

Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) is investigating the murder of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee), though he still has time to head to the diner for breakfast in David Lynch’s mind-bending mystery. Sure, the mug might be plain, but it’s still ‘a damn fine cup of coffee’.

THE OFFICE (AMERICAN)

Regional manager of Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch, Michael Scott (Steve Carell) knows what it takes to be the ‘world’s best boss’: at least that’s what his mug says. ‘I think that pretty much sums it up,’ he says in the show’s pilot: ‘I found it at Spencer Gifts.’

STRANGER THINGS

He might be a chain-smoking bundle of trauma, but Chief Jim Hopper (David Harbour) still knows the importance of starting the day off right. ‘Flo, we’ve discussed this,’ he says, clutching his favourite mug. ‘Mornings are for coffee and contemplation.’

KNIVES OUT

Following the murder of patriarch Harlan (Christopher Plummer) – and subsequent police investigation –the Thrombey family look up at nurse Marta (Ana de Armas) on their balcony, sipping from amug emblazoned with the prophetic words, ‘My house, my rules.’

THOR

The God of Thunder may be more used to swigging beer, but when he’s banished to Earth by father Odin (Anthony Hopkins), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) gets his first taste of coffee. ‘This drink, I like it!’ he shouts, smashing the mug in approval. ‘Another!’

PULP FICTION

After accidentally shooting Marvin, hitmen Vince (John Travolta) and Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) head to Jimmie’s (Quentin Tarantino) house. And though they’re covered in brains, there’s still time to drink some ‘serious gourmet shit’ out of Jimmie’s brightly coloured mugs. 10

JAWS

Not amug per se, but few moments sum up the difference between Quint (Robert Shaw) and Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) as the way they finish their drinks: the captain chugging a beer before crushing his can, while the city boy copies with his own plastic cup. TIM COLEMAN