The Best Shakespeare Film Adaptations
Ranked By
4.5K votes
695 voters
5 reranks
Voting Rules
Movies based on or adapted from the plays of William Shakespeare using the original text - no modernized versions.
- 1Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Denzel WashingtonIn this Shakespearean farce, Hero (Kate Beckinsale) and her groom-to-be, Claudio (Robert Sean Leonard), team up with Claudio's commanding officer, Don Pedro (Denzel Washington), the week before their wedding to hatch a matchmaking scheme. Their targets are sharp-witted duo Benedick (Kenneth Branagh) and Beatrice (Emma Thompson) -- a tough task indeed, considering their corresponding distaste for love and each other. Meanwhile, meddling Don John (Keanu Reeves) plots to ruin the wedding.More Much Ado About Nothing
- #17 of 80 onThe Best Period Romance Movies
- #155 of 168 onThe Best '90s Comedy Movies, Ranked
- #44 of 102 onThe Best British Comedy Movies
- 2Kenneth Branagh, Julie Christie, Billy CrystalIn the only unabridged film version of the classic play, here updated to the 19th century, Prince Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh) is traumatized by the revelation that his father was murdered by the present king, Claudius (Derek Jacobi), with the aid of Hamlet's mother, Gertrude (Julie Christie). Hamlet considers a plot for revenge and mistakenly kills Polonius (Richard Briers), the father of his love, Ophelia (Kate Winslet), causing a chain reaction that leads to a climactic and tragic ending.More Hamlet
- #344 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- #60 of 117 onThe Best Movies Of 1996
- #75 of 80 on80 Good Long Movies To Watch, Ranked
- 3Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi, Brian BlessedIn this gritty screen adaptation of Shakespeare's play about the heroic and ruthless king, Henry V of England (Kenneth Branagh) determines to lay claim to the kingdom of France. Henry's self-doubt and the diminished morale of his army stand in the way of a victory that would unite the two countries and provide Henry with a queen (Emma Thompson). However, his sheer determination and his impassioned speeches ready his men for the bloodiest of battles -- Agincourt.More Henry V
- #169 of 262 onThe 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
- #177 of 241 onThe 200+ Best Movies Based On A True Story
- #56 of 83 onThe Best Movies Of 1989, Ranked
- 4Leonard Whiting, Olivia Hussey, Milo O'SheaRomeo and Juliet breathes life into William Shakespeare's timeless tragedy of star-crossed lovers. Set against the backdrop of Renaissance Verona, the passionate love story of Romeo (Leonard Whiting) and Juliet (Olivia Hussey) unfolds, as their families, the Montagues and Capulets, are embroiled in a bitter feud. Their clandestine romance leads to tragic consequences, showcasing the profound costs of hatred and the transcendent power of love.More Romeo and Juliet
- #172 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- #94 of 136 onThe 100+ Best Movies For Date Night
- #64 of 133 onThe Most Utterly Depressing Movies Ever Made
- 5Michelle Pfeiffer, Christian Bale, Sophie MarceauA Midsummer Night's Dream is a 1999 romantic comedy fantasy film based on the play A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare. It was directed by Michael Hoffman. The ensemble cast features Kevin Kline as Bottom, Michelle Pfeiffer and Rupert Everett as Titania and Oberon, Stanley Tucci as Puck, and Calista Flockhart, Anna Friel, Christian Bale, and Dominic West as the four lovers.
- #438 of 473 onThe 400+ Best Chick Flicks Ever
- #15 of 85 onMovies That Should Be Made Into Broadway Musicals, Ranked By Fans
- #31 of 66 onThe Best Fantasy Romance Movies
- 6Marlon Brando, James Mason, John GielgudBrutus (James Mason) is convinced by a scheming band of Roman senators, led by Caius Cassius (John Gielgud), that his dear friend Julius Caesar (Louis Calhern) intends to dissolve the republic and install himself as monarch, and he joins a conspiracy to assassinate him. Brutus stirringly defends his actions, but when Mark Antony (Marlon Brando) responds with a speech that plays upon the crowd's love for their fallen leader, a battle between the two factions is assured.More Julius Caesar
- #280 of 308 onThe 300+ Best Epic Movies Of All Time
- #33 of 47 onThe 45+ Best Swords and Sandals Movies
- #6 of 13 onPretty Good Movies About Ancient Rome
- 7Laurence Fishburne, Irène Jacob, Kenneth BranaghHeroic general Othello (Laurence Fishburne), the only African in the Venetian army, is carrying on a courtship with white noblewoman Desdemona (Irène Jacob). Their hasty marriage causes some political upheaval, but the military leader is quickly dispatched to halt an invasion on Cyprus. Once there, Othello's lieutenant, Iago (Kenneth Branagh), who believes Othello has wronged him, conceives a plan to get revenge by convincing the new husband that his wife is unfaithful.
- 8Claire Danes, Leonardo DiCaprio, Harold PerrineauBaz Luhrmann helped adapt this classic Shakespearean romantic tragedy for the screen, updating the setting to a post-modern city named Verona Beach. In this version, the Capulets and the Montagues are two rival gangs. Juliet (Claire Danes) is attending a costume ball thrown by her parents. Her father Fulgencio Capulet (Paul Sorvino) has arranged her marriage to the boorish Paris (Paul Rudd) as part of a strategic investment plan. Romeo attends the masked ball and he and Juliet fall in love.More Romeo + Juliet
- #528 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #163 of 379 onThe Best Movies Of The 1990s
- #44 of 136 onThe 100+ Best Movies For Date Night
- 9Ian McKellen, Annette Bening, Jim BroadbentA murderous lust for the British throne sees Richard III (Ian McKellen) descend into madness. Though the setting is transposed to the 1930s, England is torn by civil war, split between the rivaling houses of York and Lancaster. Richard aspires to a fascist dictatorship, but must first remove the obstacles to his ascension -- among them his brother, his nephews and his brother's wife (Annette Bening). When the Duke of Buckingham (Jim Broadbent) deserts him, Richard's plans are compromised.
- 10Anthony Hopkins, Jessica Lange, Alan CummingReturning from 40 years at war with the Goths, the Roman general Titus Andronicus (Anthony Hopkins) executes the eldest son of Tamora, Queen of the Goths (Jessica Lange), setting off a long chain of revenge, cruelty, and murder, aggravated when Tamora marries the new Emperor, Saturninus (Alan Cumming).
- 11Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Basil SydneyWinner of four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor, Sir Laurence Olivier's "Hamlet" continues to be the most compelling version of Shakespeare's beloved tragedy. Olivier is at his most inspired - both as director and as the melancholy Dane himself - as he breathes new life into the words of one of the world's greatest dramatists.More Hamlet
- #75 of 96 onThe Very Best Oscar-Winning Movies For Best Picture
- #75 of 84 onThe Best Movies Directed by the Star
- #46 of 70 onThe Best Oscar-Nominated Movies of the 1940s
- 12Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Cyril CusackIn this film adaptation of the classic Shakespeare play, Grumio (Cyril Cusack) and Hortensio (Victor Spinetti) both long to wed the same beautiful young woman. Unfortunately, her wealthy father (Michael Hordern) will not let his daughter marry unless her hot-tempered sister, Katherina (Elizabeth Taylor), also has a suitor. Luckily, the slovenly Petruchio (Richard Burton) is looking for an affluent woman to marry, so Grumio and Hortensio pay him to try to woo the extremely volatile Katherina.
- 13Laurence Olivier, Robert Newton, Renée AshersonOlivier's masterful, sweeping rendition of Shakespeare, filmed in rich color and ingeniously including a typical performance at the Globe Theatre as it might have been seen 400 years ago. The film earned Olivier a special Oscar for outstanding achievement as actor, producer and director.More Henry V
- #211 of 262 onThe 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
- #62 of 76 onThe Best Movies About Historical Battles
- #54 of 70 onThe Best Oscar-Nominated Movies of the 1940s
- 14Laurence Olivier, Claire Bloom, Cedric HardwickeHaving helped his brother King Edward IV (Cedric Hardwicke) take the throne of England, the jealous hunchback Richard, Duke of York (Laurence Olivier), plots to seize power for himself. Masterfully deceiving and plotting against nearly everyone in the royal court, including his eventual wife, Lady Anne (Claire Bloom), and his brother George, Duke of Clarence (John Gielgud), Richard orchestrates a bloody rise to power before finding all his gains jeopardized by those he betrayed.
- 15Helena Bonham Carter, Ben Kingsley, Kyra SedgwickTwelfth Night or What You Will is a 1996 British film adaptation of William Shakespeare's play, directed by Trevor Nunn and featuring an all-star cast. The adaptation is given a northern Central European feel, set in the late 19th century, with Orsino and his followers shown wearing Czapka headgear, often associated with Prussian or Polish army officers of the time. It was filmed on location in Cornwall including scenes shot at Padstow and Lanhydrock House, Bodmin.
- 16Jon Finch, Francesca Annis, Martin ShawProud Macbeth (Jon Finch) and his power-mad wife (Francesca Annis) plot to murder King Duncan (Nicholas Selby) and usurp the throne of Scotland, despite the increasing suspicions of Macbeth's rival, Macduff (Terence Baylor), and his once-loyal friend Banquo (Martin Shaw). Roman Polanski directed this violent and sexualized revision of William Shakespeare's tragedy of madness and political intrigue, financed by executive producer Hugh Hefner, publisher of Playboy magazine.More Macbeth
- #402 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- #11 of 13 onThe 13 Best Movies About Scottish Clans
- #77 of 119 onThe 100+ Best Medieval Movies
- 17Derek Godfrey, Barbara Jefford, Diana RiggWhile preparations are underway for the marriage of Athenian duke Theseus (Derek Godfrey) and Amazon queen Hippolyta (Barbara Jefford), fairy king Oberon (Ian Richardson) and his tricky jester, Puck (Ian Holm), make mischief with the indiscriminate use of a powerful love potion. Lysander (David Warner) and Demetrius (Michael Jayston) both fall for Helena (Diana Rigg), raising the jealousy of Hermia (Helen Mirren), whose father is pressuring her to marry Demetrius despite Lysander's love for her.
- 18Timothée Chalamet, Ben Mendelsohn, Joel EdgertonYoung Henry V encounters deceit, war and treachery after becoming king of England in the 15th century.More The King
- #11 of 14 on14 Underrated Epics That Prove The Best Action Scenes Are In History Books
- #54 of 78 onThe 70 Best Costume Drama Movies
- #90 of 335 onThe Best Netflix Original Movies Ever
- 19Orson Welles, Jeanette Nolan, Dan O'HerlihyIn director Welles' retelling of Shakespeare's classic tragedy, Macbeth (Orson Welles), a medieval Scottish general, is told by three witches he will rise to be king. After learning the prophecy, he's pressured by his ambitious wife, Lady Macbeth (Jeanette Nolan), to murder King Duncan (Erskine Sanford) and seize the throne. Macbeth succeeds, but with his new power he becomes increasingly paranoid and bloodthirsty, which ultimately leads to his tragic demise.
- 20Helen Mirren, Felicity Jones, Djimon HounsouA shipwreck casts members of a royal court ashore on a mysterious island. Their fateful arrival is no accident, for it was engineered by Prospera (Helen Mirren), a sorceress whom these men banished, and who now plans to take vengeance on them. With the help of Caliban and Ariel, her sometimes-unwilling aides, Prospera brings her powers to bear on her former tormentors. Then love casts a spell on her daughter and the king's son, and Prospera is powerless to intervene.
- 21Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Brian CoxCaius Martius, aka Coriolanus (Ralph Fiennes), is an arrogant and fearsome general who has built a career on protecting Rome from its enemies. Pushed by his ambitious mother (Vanessa Redgrave) to seek the position of consul, Coriolanus is at odds with the masses and unpopular with certain colleagues (James Nesbitt, Paul Jesson). When a riot results in his expulsion from Rome, Coriolanus seeks out his sworn enemy, Tullus Aufidius (Gerard Butler). Together, the pair vow to destroy the great city.
- 22Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Nathan FillionAfter a successful campaign against his rebellious brother, Don John (Sean Maher), Don Pedro (Reed Diamond) visits the governor of Messina. With him are Benedick (Alexis Denisof) and Claudio (Fran Kranz). While there, Claudio falls for the governor's daughter, Hero (Jillian Morgese), while Benedick engages in a war of words with Beatrice (Amy Acker), the governor's niece. While Don Pedro tries to trick Benedick and Beatrice into falling in love, Don John tries to tear Claudio and Hero apart.
- 23Charlton Heston, John Gielgud, Jason RobardsJulius Caesar (John Gielgud) is bestowed with laurels after his rousing victory over Pompey, which ended a civil war -- but danger still lurks among his closest comrades. Fearful that Caesar will destroy the republic, Brutus (Jason Robards) and Cassius (Richard Johnson) scheme to rein in his power. Meanwhile, Caesar's friend Marc Antony (Charlton Heston) remains singularly faithful. Ill omens abound, but they don't sway Caesar from his fateful meeting with the senate on the Ides of March.
- 24Bryce Dallas Howard, Kevin Kline, Alfred MolinaAs You Like It is a 2006 film adapted for the screen and directed by Kenneth Branagh, based on the play of the same name by William Shakespeare. It stars Bryce Dallas Howard as Rosalind, David Oyelowo as Orlando De Boys, Romola Garai as Celia, Adrian Lester as Oliver De Boys, Alfred Molina as Touchstone, Kevin Kline as Jaques, Janet McTeer as Audrey, and Brian Blessed as Duke Frederick and his brother Duke Senior. The play's setting is relocated from medieval France to a European colony in late 19th century Japan after the Meiji Restoration. It was shot at Shepperton Film Studios and on location at the never-before-filmed gardens of Wakehurst Place. The film is a production of The Shakespeare Film Company, financed by HBO Films. It is Kenneth Branagh's first Shakespearean film shot in a Super 35 format.
- 25Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, Bertie CarvelJoel Coen's bold and fierce adaptation of "Macbeth," a tale of murder, madness, ambition, and wrathful cunning.More The Tragedy of Macbeth
- #117 of 120 onThe Best Movies Based On Plays
- #1 of 28 onThe Best Apple TV+ Movies
- #114 of 119 onThe 100+ Best Medieval Movies
- 26
O
Mekhi Phifer, Josh Hartnett, Julia StilesMoving the classic tale of "Othello" onto the basketball courts of a high school, the story focuses on a young black man named Odin (Mekhi Phifer) who is convinced by a conniving best friend, Hugo (Josh Hartnett) that his girlfriend (Julia Stiles) is cheating on him. Of course, what Odin doesn't know is that Hugo is in fact motivated by his own jealousy of Odin's good fortune. It's a sticky situation in classic Shakespearean tradition.More O- #49 of 120 onThe Best Movies Based On Plays
- #48 of 68 onThe Best High School Sports Movies
- #12 of 29 onThe Best Modern Versions of Shakespeare Plays
- 27Orson Welles, Micheál MacLiammóir, Suzanne CloutierWhen a secret marriage is planned between Othello (Orson Welles), a Moorish general, and Desdemona (Suzanne Cloutier), the daughter of Senator Brabantio (Hilton Edwards), her old suitor Roderigo (Robert Coote) takes it hard. He allies himself with Iago (Micheál MacLiammóir), who has his own grudge against Othello, and the two conspire to bring Othello down. When their first plan, to have him accused of witchcraft, fails, they plant evidence intended to make him believe Desdemona is unfaithful.
- 28Daisy Ridley, Naomi Watts, Clive OwenOphelia is a 2018 British-American historical romantic drama film directed by Claire McCarthy, based on the Shakespearean character of the same name and the novel by Lisa Klein. As a rebellious and motherless child, Ophelia (Daisy Ridley) is taken into Elsinore Castle by Queen Gertrude (Naomi Watts) as one of her most trusted ladies-in-waiting, where she falls in love with Prince Hamlet (George MacKay) and eventually must choose between her true love and her own life.More Ophelia
- #64 of 85 onThe 80+ Best Father-Daughter Movies
- #22 of 78 onThe 75+ Best Recent Romantic Movies, Ranked
- #6 of 54 onThe Best Period Films Of 2019
- 29Richard Burton, Hume Cronyn, Eileen HerlieIn this filmed Broadway version of Shakespeare's play, in which the actors perform without period sets or costumes, young Hamlet (Richard Burton) is distraught after the death of his father, the king of Denmark. Hamlet is suspicious that the new king, his uncle, orchestrated his father's death in order to claim the throne and the queen's hand. Hamlet embarks on a quest for vengeance, and only tragic consequences follow -- including the death of his mother, Gertrude (Eileen Herlie).
- 30Alessandro Nivola, Alicia Silverstone, Natascha McElhoneKenneth Branagh continues to make sterling adaptations of classic William Shakespeare plays with this romantic musical-comedy. "Love's Labour's Lost" takes place in 1939, when the King of Navarre and his three best friends make a pact to remain celibate for three years. When the Princess of France arrives with her three beautiful companions, their will, and honor, is put to the test immediately.
