Widely considered one of history’s greatest and most important playwrights and poets, William Shakespeare’s influence remains as strong as ever.
At least that’s what the worldwide success of the romantic comedy “Everybody But You” indicates. The film, starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell, is an adaptation of “Much Ado About Nothing” and has become the largest live-action adaptation of a Shakespeare play.
Given this success, how about we remember other great films that adapted Shakespeare’s work? Below we list the 10 best films based on the masterpieces of this great genius.
The best films that adapt William Shakespeare
This epic directed by the famous Akira Kurosawa is a loose adaptation of the play “King Lear” set in 16th century feudal Japan. The film is acclaimed for its battle scenes and stunning visuals.
In the plot, a powerful warlord announces that he intends to divide his assets among his three sons. However, this decision triggers a strong controversy between them.
One of the most acclaimed films in the filmography of the genius Orson Welles is his masterful and tumultuous adaptation of “Othello”.
In the plot, the Moorish general Othello (Welles) secretly marries Desdemona (Suzanne Cloutier), the daughter of an aristocrat. However, one of the girl’s former suitors, Roderigo (Robert Coote), joins forces with Othello’s enemy Iago (Micheál Mac Liammóir) to overthrow him.
Together, they hatch a conspiracy that makes Othello believe that his beloved is cheating on him with his lieutenant, Michael Cassio (Michael Laurence).
British actor and director Kenneth Branagh is known for his adaptations of Shakespeare’s works. One of the most acclaimed and successful songs with the public is “Much Ado About Nothing”.
In addition to Branagh, who stars in and directs the production, the cast includes big names: Emma Thompson, Robert Sean Leonard, Denzel Washington, Michael Keaton, Keanu Reeves and Kate Beckinsale. The story revolves around love games, intrigues, arguments and betrayals between two couples.
An adaptation of the famous play of the same name, “Hamlet” was the first British feature film to win the Oscar for best film. The film is directed by and stars Laurence Olivier, considered one of the greatest actors in history.
In the story, Danish prince Hamlet (Olivier) receives a ghostly apparition from his late father, who informs him that his uncle (Basil Sydney) is responsible for his death.
This uncle took the throne and married Hamlet’s widowed mother (Eileen Herlie), who also played a role in the betrayal. From that moment on the prince is tormented by uncertainty, moral dilemmas and madness.
Another adaptation of Hamlet, “The Inheritance” is a Brazilian film directed by Ozualdo Candeias, a great filmmaker of our cinema and one of the main names of the movement Marginal cinema. However, this adaptation is different.
The film is experimental and features no dialogue, with sporadic subtitles. Furthermore, the plot is transported to a very Brazilian setting: the story takes place in the hinterland, in a context of large estates and struggles for land.
Roman Polanski directed this adaptation of Macbeth, known for its brutal violence, intensity, nudity and perversity. The heavy atmosphere of the film is explained by an event external to the film: the murder of the actress Sharon Tate, Polanski’s wife, by the Manson Family.
In the film, after the prophecy of the three witches, Macbeth (Jon Finch) is convinced by his wife (Francesca Annis) to kill the king and take his throne. However, his reign is dark and tragic.
This adaptation of “Ricardo III” takes the show to a different setting. In a modern vision, the film is set in 1930s Britain, alluding to Nazi-fascism advancing in Europe.
In the film, the evil and usurper of the throne Richard III is portrayed as a fascist dictator and is played by actor Ian McKellen. The cast also includes Annette Bening, Jim Broadbent, Robert Downey Jr., Kristin Scott Thomas, Adrian Dunbar, Maggie Smith and Tim McInnerny.
This popular and cult romantic comedy is a contemporary adaptation of the play “The Taming of the Shrew.” The plot takes place in the setting of a high school, where a newcomer to school (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) falls in love with a classmate (Larisa Oleynik).
However, the girl’s father forbids her from dating before her antisocial older sister (Julia Stiles) finds a boyfriend. Thus, the young man bribes a rebellious teenager (Heath Ledger) to go out with her sister.
One of Shakespeare’s most famous works has received this stylized and pop adaptation by Baz Luhrmann.
The film is a modern reinterpretation of the tragedy and stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo and Claire Danes as Juliet.
The adaptation of the work of the same name, one of Shakespeare’s most famous comedies, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, features an exceptional cast:
Rupert Everett, Calista Flockhart, Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, Stanley Tucci, Christian Bale, Sophie Marceau, David Strathairn, Anna Friel, Dominic West, Roger Rees, Max Wright, Gregory Jbara, Bill Irwin, Sam Rockwell, among others.
Transported to the late 19th century, the story follows several intertwining plots involving humans and magical beings, with plenty of confusion and romance.
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Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
