Ten Film Adaptations of Shakespeare You Should Watch
To celebrate, this seems like a perfect time to talk about that most famous of British writers and the many great film versions of his work that are out there. Some are great, some are good, some are…a bit on the strange side, but nevertheless still a fantastic example of the many different ways that Shakespeare’s work can be interpreted hundreds of years after his death, and how his stories and characters still resonate with modern audiences.
Here are ten Shakespearean film adaptations that are worth watching – take a look and tell us what you think got left off the list in the comments.
(These are in no particular order and this is hardly a comprehensive list of great Shakespeare films!)
Hamlet. Sir Kenneth Branagh’s four-hour epic is probably the definitive adaptation of the story of the Prince of Denmark, but it’s not for the faint of heart. (Nothing from the play is cut and, subsequently, the film is so long its theatrical release had an intermission built in.) Packed with an all-star cast that includes Derek Jacobi, Julie Christie, Kate Winslet, Brian Blessed, Robin Williams, and Billy Crystal alongside Branagh himself, it’s terribly lavish Shakespeare that somehow doesn’t feel indulgent at all.
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Much Ado About Nothing. This 1995 film is a very traditional adaptation of one of the Bard’s most beloved comedies, but it’s also one of the most overtly joyous renditions of Shakespeare ever made. It stars Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, Robert Sean Leonard, Keanu Reeves, Kate Beckinsale and more. It’s very adorable. And, let’s be real, weren’t we all just a little too emotionally invested in the Branagh-Thompson relationship back in the 1990s? (You can admit it. It’s okay.)[This video is no longer available.]
Richard III. This 1995 film relocates the events of the Wars of the Roses to a fictionalized version of Britain in the 1930s and draws openly from the visual aesthetic of the Third Reich (basically, they make Richard III a Nazi in all but name). Sir Ian McKellen plays Richard with a villainous and almost charming glee – his Duke of Gloucester is the sort of bad character you almost end up rooting for, just because he’s such fun to watch. Plus, the film’s supporting cast - which features Annette Bening, Robert Downey, Jr., Kristin Scott Thomas, Dame Maggie Smith, Jim Broadbent and more – is top notch.
Romeo + Juliet. Baz Luhrmann’s colorful, over-the-top modernization of the tale of two star-crossed lovers replaced swords with guns and made Shakespeare cool again for a generation. Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes star – and basically made us all want to get a tank of exotically colored fish as soon as possible.
Ten Things I Hate About You. Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles star in this surprisingly smart modernization of The Taming of the Shrew. Don’t let the teenage packaging fool you – this is a tremendously fun and endearing retelling of a play that’s often difficult for modern audiences to swallow.
Coriolanus. This tends to be one of those Shakespeare plays that many people are unfamiliar with – its main character is difficult, its plot isn’t exactly a happy one. Actor Ralph Fiennes directs and stars as the titular general, and the play is set in a modern-day alternate version of Rome. Fiennes performance is brutal and bloody and worth the price of admission alone. Other notable cast members include Vanessa Redgrave, Gerard Butler and Jessica Chastain.
Titus. Titus Andronicus is one of Shakespeare’s less frequently performed works, probably because it’s far and away the bloodiest and hardest to stomach. Director Julie Taymor’s adaptation mixes eras and themes with abandon to create a very, very bizarre film that is nevertheless amazing to look at. Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lang are fantastic.
West Side Story. The beloved musical based on Romeo and Juliet re-imagines the Montagues and the Capulets as two New York City gangs. Plus, there’s singing. Everyone knows this version and almost everyone loves it. Now just try to get Tonight, Tonight out of your head for the rest of the day.
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The Tempest. As you may already have been able to guess from this list, director Julie Taymor makes some bizarre Shakespeare films. But, they’re certainly never boring – and you can imagine (especially if you’ve seen Titus) what such a director is going to do with a story that has actual magic in it. This particular production of The Tempest is notable for its beautiful, lush imagery and for the fact that it genderswaps Prospero (main character, wizard, generally accepted Shakespearean avatar). Dame Helen Mirren stars in the traditionally male role and subsequently the film is a great deal more about gender politics than magic. This may or may not be tough for some Shakespearean purists to get their heads around, but it’s a thoughtful, well-acted and gorgeous production. Felicity Jones, Ben Whishaw, Djimon Hounsou, Russell Brand, David Strathairn and Alfred Molina also star.
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The Taming of the Shrew. While this isn’t the most stringently adapted version of the play, the amazing chemistry between Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor makes up for it (mostly). It’s a classic Battle of the Sexes movie.
Honorable Mention: Japanese film Ran, Branagh’s Henry V, Roman Pulanski’s uber-creepy retelling of Macbeth, and (believe it or not) My Own Private Idaho. It also seems a bit wrong to not include things like David Tennant’s Hamlet or McKellen’s King Lear, both of which were adapted from stage productions and aired on Great Performances on PBS. You can watch both these versions – and more – online. But, in the interest of brevity, this list is strictly theatrical releases only – perhaps we’ll come back and do a TV adaptation version once miniseries The Hollow Crown airs if there’s interest in the topic!
What would you add to this list? (Or remove, if there's one you think isn't worthwhile!)
