Summary

• Anyone But You was a surprise hit with viewers, grossing $219 million, and was praised for its soundtrack, casting, and story.
• The 1993 movie Much Ado About Nothing is a must-see for fans of Anyone But You, offering an accurate depiction of Shakespeare's original play.
• Anyone But You offers a lighthearted modern twist to Shakespeare's work, focusing on the enemies-to-lovers made famous in Much Ado About Nothing.

The 2023 romantic comedy Anyone But You proved a hit with audiences and offered a modern spin on one of Shakespeare's most successful plays. Starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell, Anyone But You is a romantic comedy that follows Bea and Ben who share a mutual connection, but misunderstandings lead to their romance ending as quickly as it started. After coincidentally meeting again for their friends' wedding, they agree to pretend to be in a relationship to keep the peace, but nothing goes as planned.

Anyone But You was a success with viewers, grossing over $219 million at the box office. It is a loose adaptation of Shakespeare's famous play, Much Ado About Nothing, and received praise for its soundtrack, casting, and chemistry between the lead actors. A movie adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing was released in 1993 starring Kenneth Branagh and Denzel Washington; it is a must-see for those interested in the Shakespeare play that inspired Anyone But You.

1993's Much Ado About Nothing Is Perfect To Watch After Anyone But You

It Offers An Accurate Depiction of Shakespeare's Original Play

Much Ado About Nothing is considered one of Kenneth Branagh's best films as a director; critics say that this movie proved Branagh’s skills as a director and as an actor.

Much Ado About Nothing, was a comedy written by Shakespeare in 1598 or 1599 and depicts the relationship between soldier Benedick and noblewoman Beatrice, that takes place during the wedding plans of Beatrice's cousin Hero, and Benedick's friend Claudio. During the wedding preparations, Benedick and Beatrice are tricked into realizing their love for each other but are too stubborn to admit their true feelings until the end. A movie adaptation was released in 1993 directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh and featured Denzel Washington (Don Pedro), Emma Thompson (Beatrice), and Kate Beckinsale (Hero) among the cast.

The 1993 Much Ado About Nothing is considered one of the best Shakespeare film adaptations. It was praised as an entertaining comedy adaptation and received acclaim for its casting, soundtrack, set design, and faithfulness to the original play. Much Ado About Nothing is considered one of Kenneth Branagh's best films as a director; critics say that this movie proved Branagh’s skills as a director and as an actor. Considering the 2023 movie's subtle and clever references to the original play, viewers should consider Much Ado About Nothing as a perfect watch after Anyone But You.

How Anyone But You Compares To Much Ado About Nothing

It Offers A Lighthearted Modern Version Of The Play

The 2023 movie Anyone But You offers a modern twist to the original Shakespearean play. While set in modern-day Australia, rather than 16th-century Italy, the movie makes clever references to the play, from the naming of Ben and Bea to the quotes made by the characters. While not a precise adaptation, it still offers a humorous twist to Shakespeare's work and remains faithful to the themes of romance, miscommunication, and trickery used in the play.

2024's Anyone But You proved to be a fun, lighthearted version of Shakespeare's comedy

Anyone But You offers a simpler version of the play by maintaining focus on only Beatrice and Benedick's story and omitting the conflicts between Hero and Claudio. It also doesn't use Shakespearean dialogue but retains the enemies-to-lovers theme that was made famous in the play. 2023's Anyone But You proved to be a fun, lighthearted version of Shakespeare's comedy and if viewers are interested in viewing an adaptation of the original, they should take a chance to watch Much Ado About Nothing, released 31 years before this movie.

Anyone But You is available for streaming on Netflix.

Anyone But You Was More Successful Than Much Ado About Nothing At The Box Office

How Did Critics Feel About The Two Movies?

Although Denzel Washington's version of Much Ado About Nothing was very well-received, its financial impact is far outweighed by Anyone But You. The Powell and Sweeney vehicle made an impressive $219.2 million globally against a $25 million budget –a strong performance for any rom-com. By contrast, the Kenneth Brannagh-directed Much Ado About Nothing made $43 million – albeit from a significantly smaller budget of around $5. Even adjusted for inflation, it's clear the 2023 movie dramatically outperformed the earlier film.

However, despite Anyone But You's impressive financial performance, it's also clear that critics generally preferred the more traditional Shakespeare film. Much Ado About Nothing holds a "certified fresh" score of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 49 reviews. Reaction to Anyone But You, meanwhile, was much more mixed, with the movie scoring a comparatively mediocre 55% positive from 109 reviews. Although the two films' audience scores are almost identical (86% and 87% respectively), the difference in critical reaction highlights a clear divide.

The Tragedy Of Macbeth Is An Even Better Shakespeare Movie Role For Denzel Washington

Washington Starred In Joel Coen's Macbeth Adaptation In 2021

Although Much Ado About Nothing highlights Denzel Washington's credentials as a Shakespearean performer, it is not the best example of the actor's skill. In Much Ado About Nothing, Washington plays the comparatively peripheral role of Don Pedro, who despite being an important part of the plot, plays second fiddle to Benedick and Beatrice – played by Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson respectively. By contrast, Joel Coen's The Tragedy of Macbeth sees Washington take on a leading role as the legendary Scottish king.

Like Anyone But You, The Tragedy of Macbeth highlights Shakespeare's versatility as a writer

Not only does The Tragedy of Macbeth give Washington a starring role in a Shakespeare adaptation, but it is arguably an even more impressive achievement than Kenneth Branagh's acclaimed Much Ado About Nothing. Joel Coen's Macbeth has a 92% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, compared to Much Ado's 90%, and received several Academy Award nominations – including a Best Actor nod for Washington himself. Like Anyone But You, The Tragedy of Macbeth highlights Shakespeare's versatility as a writer – despite being a much less light-hearted story