25 Can’t-Miss Shakespeare Movies

“All the world’s a stage” and sometimes a film set. Whether you frequent Shakespeare Festivals or just had to read a couple of sonnets once in high school, almost everyone is familiar with William Shakespeare as a playwright and poet. Many films have been made based on his plays. Shakespeare film adaptations range from dutiful restagings to creative retellings. The best Shakespeare movies capture the feeling of the original play and often add something more. While there are many movies based on Shakespeare, his plays can be depceptively hard to make into films. From dense dialgoue to long run times and complex plots, there are many pitfalls to making Shakespeare movies. However, the films list do it well and shine as not only films, but as adaptations.

Top Shakespeare Movie Adaptations

In 2014, the Guniess Book of World Records stated that there were 420 full length films based on Shakepeare plays. Ten years later, there is undoubtably many more. These films range from comedy to drama much like the plays they are based on. While there is some debate over authorship, around 38 plays have been attributed to William Shakespeare and over 15 of them appear on this list. However, some plays are made into films more often such as Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth and Othello.

This list takes a broad approach to defining what a Shakespeare adaptation is and some of these films are very loose retellings. However, the films on this list are also ranked by two factors. The first is how the film functions as an adaptation. This doesn’t mean that it has to take place in past or even use the original text of the play. Rather it is about capturing part of the feel of the play or its intended effect. The second (and arguably more important factor) is how good the film is as a stand alone piece. Films on this list range from teen comedies to those devoted to the original play; however this list omits TV films, BBC productions, miniseries and theater pro-shots to focus on theatrical films.

25. Kiss Me Kate (1953)

Kiss Me Kate maybe shouldn’t appear on this list. It is a non-direct adaptation of a Shakespeare play but rather one inspired by Shakespeare, much like Shakespeare in Love, Hamlet 2 or All is True. Inspired by Taming of the Shrew, Kiss Me Kate follows two divorced Broadway actors who reunite to act in a musical adaptation of the Shakespeare play.

The film doesn’t age perfectly (much like Taming of the Shrew itself); however, the music and performances in this movie are nothing but infectious. The film is based on the stage musical of the same name and features songs by Cole Porter. It stars Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel and Ann Miller. It is currently streaming on Tubi.

24. Scotland, PA (2001)

Scotland, PA is a black comedy adaptation of The Scottish Play set in a 1970s small-town fast food restaurant. While it isn’t the closest adaptation of Macbeth on this list, it is undoubtedly fresh. The film follows local restaurant owners, the McBeths, as they deal with fortune-telling hippies, embezzlement and a staged robbery.

The film stars Maura Tierney, James LeGros and Christopher Walken. Although it wasn’t originally particularly well-reviewed, it has taken on a kind of cult classic status. The film was even reworked into an off-Broadway musical. It is currently streaming fro free on Tubi, Peacock and Pluto TV.

23. O (2001)

Surprisingly, one of two high school Shakespeare adaptations starring Julia Stiles on this list, O is a dramatic, modern take on Othello. The film follows an up-and-coming basketball player convinced by his duplicitous friend that his girlfriend is cheating on him.

Directed by Tim Blake Nelson, the film stars Mekhi Phifer, Josh Hartnett and Stiles. While screenplay writer Brad Kaaya was inspired by a rash of suburban school shootings in the 1980s and his own experiences as a black teenager at a predominantly white public school, the film was initially shelved for two years following the Columbine High School massacre, given its violent final scenes. The film is surprisingly close to the plot of Othello, possibly even too close for its modern-day setting. However, it is a fascinating adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s most intense plays. It is currently streaming with Cinemax.

22. Were the World Mine (2008)

Were the World Mine is another film that isn’t a direct Shakespeare adaptation. However, it is a true hidden gem and must-watch for Shakespeare fans. The film is inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It follows a gay high school student who is cast as Puck in a school production of the play, only to become a modern-day Puck in his conservative town.

The film is a musical and gained a cult following in the LGBTQ community. It was written and directed by Tom Gustafson. Were the World Mine stars Tanner Cohen, Wendy Robie, Judy McLane, Zelda Williams and Jill Larson. While it isn’t a direct adaptation, it captures the spirit of A Midsummer Night’s Dream phenomially. It is curerrntly streaming on Tubi and The Roku Channel.

21. Shakespeare in Love (1998)

There are a lot of pretty good films that are a loose take on “Romeo and Juliet” plus something. Valley Girl is Romeo and Juliet plus Southern California Campiness, Warm Bodies adds Zombies, Rosaline adds a contextual b-plot (in a very Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead way). However, the best is Shakspeare in Love which is Romeo and Juliet plus imagined Shakespeare autobiography.

The film follows an imagined version of the Bard as a romance with a noblewoman leads him to have the idea for Romeo and Juliet.The movie is beautiful and swoon worthy. The only reason it isn’t higher on this list, is it is barely an “adpatation,” and more of a film inspired by Shakespeare. However, it captures plot devices and themes from several Shakespeare plays. The film’s star studed cast is lead by Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes. The film was nominated for 13 Oscars, winning seven. It is streaming on Max.

20. Angoor (1982)

Angoor is a Hindi-language comedy based on Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors. It is one of several classic Indian films based on the play. Many are actually based on Bhranti Bilas (an 1869 Bengali-language play by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, also based on The Comedy of Errors). Angoor is a remake of the 1963 film Bhranti Bilas, which also inspired 1968’s Do Dooni Chaar. While all of these films are enjoyable, Angoor is arguably the best.

Angoor itself has been remake twice as 2014’s Double Di Trouble and 2022’s Cirkus. Every adaptation follows the chaos that ensues after identical twins meet as adults. Directed by Gulzar, Angoor stars Sanjeev Kumar, Moushumi Chatterjee, Deepti Naval and Deven Verma. Unfortunately it is currently not available on streaming in the US.

19. Titus (1999)

Titus isn’t a perfect film, but it is a must-watch for fans of Shakespeare. Titus suffers from difficult source material. Many are unfamiliar with Shakespeare’s revenge drama Titus Andronicus, and the play isn’t usually considered one of his best. However, Titus is a good adaptation and balances style with substance.

The film closely follows the play (including its almost three-hour run time) and tells the story of a Roman general as he plans to sacrifice a prince of the Goths. The film stars Anthony Hopkins, Jessica Lange and Alan Cumming, who deliver very different but impeccable performances. Unfortunately it is currently not available on streaming.

18. Hamlet (1964)

Arguably the best non-modernized (and non-lion) version of Hamlet, 1964’s Hamlet is a Russian adaptation based on a translation of the play by Boris Pasternak. While the film is shorter than the Shakespeare play, it is a dedicated adaptation that keeps most of the original plot.

Directed by Grigori Kozintsev and Iosif Shapiro, the film retains far more of the politics of the original Shakespeare play, unlike other versions, such as the 1948 Olivier version. The film stars Innokenty Smoktunovsky, Mikhail Nazvanov, Elza Radziņa and Anastasiya Vertinskaya. While it was released during the Cold War, the film was well received in Europe and America. It was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Film and a Golden Globe for Best Foreign-Language Foreign Film. While it is easy to find online, it is currently not on streaming services.

17. Forbidden Planet (1956)

Forbidden Planet is a classic of the Cult and Sci-Fi genres, but it is also a loose retelling of Shakespeare’s The Tempest in space. The film follows astronauts who travel to the planet of Altair IV in hopes of discovering what happened to a group of scientists sent there on a previous mission.

The film is a camp masterpiece that is a foundational work in Sci-Fi filmmaking. It stars Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis, Leslie Nielsen and Warren Stevens. The film also “stars” Robby the Robot, a Robot character who made his film debut in Forbidden Planet. In 2013, the film was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” It is currently streaming for free on Tubi.

16. William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar (1953)

Usually just called Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar feels both very accessible and slightly dated for a modern audience. The film is the type of lavish period epic that helped define Hollywood’s Golden Age. The star-studded cast includes Marlon Brando, James Mason, Louis Calhern, John Gielgud, Greer Garson and Deborah Kerr.

The film follows the play closely with no significant omissions except for the Battle of Philippi, which is shown instead of spoken of by a messenger. The film was nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture (however, it lost to From Here to Eternity.) Brando and Gielgud also won Brando BAFTA Awards for their performances (Brando for Best Foreign Actor and Gielgud for Best British Actor.) It is currently streaming for free on Tubi.

15. A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1935)

Although A Midsummer Night’s Dream has been adapted into films countless times, Max Rienhardt’s 1935 film is one of, if not the best version. The film is adapted from Reinhardt’s 1934 Hollywood Bowl production of the play.

The film stars James Cagney, Mickey Rooney, Anita Louise, Victor Jory, Jean Muir, Dick Powell and Olivia de Havilland in her first film. While it was a box office bomb and originally received mixed reviews, it has become a classic of the Shakespeare film genre. The film was banned in Germany by Nazi censor Joseph Goebbels for being “degenerate art.” It has a German Expressionist style, features music by 1800s German-Jewish composer Felix Mendelsohn, and Reinhardt had fled Austria himself due to anti-Semitism, which likely contributed to the ban. A Midsummer Night’s Dream was the first and last film to be directed by Reinhardt. It is currently available to rent on Amazon Prime.

14. My Own Private Idaho (1991)

My Own Private Idaho is a very loose adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2, and Henry V. Directed by Gus Van Sant, the film follows a narcoleptic sex worker and his best friend as they search for his mother in Oregon, Idaho, and Rome.

The film stars River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves. My Own Private Idaho is a landmark in New Queer Cinema and has taken on a cult status. Both Phoenix and Reeves deliver powerful performances against stylized set pieces that deliver quiet tragedy. It is available to rent on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play and Apple TV.

13. Henry V (1989)

Henry V is based on the Shakespeare play of the same name. It is one of two films directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh on this list and was his feature directorial debut. The film also stars Paul Scofield, Derek Jacobi, Ian Holm, Emma Thompson, Alec McCowen, Judi Dench and Christian Bale.

Henry V strays slightly from the original play with heavily edited dialogue and parts of Henry IV, Part 1, and Part 2 added. However, these changes, coupled with the gritty visual style, make it more accessible than other versions of Henry V, such as Olivier’s 1944 version. The film was nominated for three Oscars, winning Best Costume Design. It is streaming for free on Tubi and Pluto TV.

12. Romeo + Juliet (1996)

Romeo + Juliet, also called William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet, is a hard sell. While the film is set in the present day, it uses Shakespearean English. However, the film works better than it should. Directed by Baz Luhrmann, the film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, Brian Dennehy, John Leguizamo, Pete Postlethwaite and Paul Sorvino.

The film is a surprisingly dedicated adaptation. Even though much of the dialogue is used, there are several differences between the play and the movie. Most of the differences come from modernizations, such as swords being replaced with guns. The film includes iconic maximalist visuals and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Art Direction. It is available to rent on YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV and Amazon Prime.

11. Maqbool (2003)

Maqbool is the first film in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Shakespeare trilogy. It is a Modern-day Hindi crime movie retelling of Macbeth. Bhardwaj went on to make 2006’s Omkara (Othello) and 2014’s Haider (Hamlet). While all three films are great Shakespeare adaptations, Maqbool is arguably the best.

The film follows Maqbool as he takes out a Mumbai crime lord after falling in love with the Lord’s mistress. However, he is soon haunted by the ghosts of his betrayal. Maqbool stars Irrfan Khan, Tabu, Pankaj Kapur, Naseeruddin Shah, and Om Puri. It is available to rent on YouTube, Google Play and Amazon Prime.

10. Richard III (1955)

Richard III is Laurence Olivier’s technicolor tragedy based on the Shakespeare play of the same name. Olivier has become synonymous with prestige Shakespeare adaptations. While his performances in 1965’s Othello (he infamously wore blackface) and, to a far lesser extent, 1973’s The Merchant of Venice, have not aged well, Richard III ages beautifully.

Olivier directed and starred in two other Shakespeare adaptations, 1944’s Henry V and 1948’s Hamlet; however, he arguably gives his best performance in Richard III. While Richard III was the only of the three films not to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar, the BFI said of the film, “Richard III is comfortably the most entertaining of the three great Olivier Shakespeare films, and may have done more to popularise Shakespeare than any other single work.” The film also stars Ralph Richardson, Claire Bloom, Cedric Hardwicke and John Gielgud. It is currently streaming on Max.

9. Chimes at Midnight (1966)

Chimes at Midnight isn’t a direct adaptation of a single Shakespeare play. Instead, the script has text from five Shakespeare plays. While most of it is taken from Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry IV, Part 2, it also includes parts Richard II, Henry V and The Merry Wives of Windsor. While it isn’t a direct adaptation, it is a phenomenal film that is a must-watch for fans of the Bard.

The film follows a usurping king who faces a rebellion from the North and deals with his mischievous heir, who must choose between his friends and his father. The film was written and directed by Orson Welles. Welles made Chimes at Midnight years after producing a Broadway stage adaptation based on Shakespeare’s Henriad in 1939 called Five Kings. The film stars ​​Welles, Jeanne Moreau, Margaret Rutherford and John Gielgud. It is currently streaming on Max.

8. The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)

Joel Coen’s hyper-stylized take on Macbeth is one of the most interesting and arresting theatrical takes on a traditional Shakespeare tragedy. The Tragedy of Macbeth blends the play’s original text with stark, almost silent film-like sets. The film almost seems like a bold stage play instead of a movie, which is exciting for a recent Shakespeare adaptation.

The Tragedy of Macbeth stars Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, Bertie Carvel, Alex Hassell, Corey Hawkins, Harry Melling and Brendan Gleeson. The film was nominated for three Oscars, and Washington’s performance as the titular King of Scotland was especially praised. It is currently streaming on Apple TV.

7. The Lion King (1994)

The Disney animated classic, The Lion King, follows much of the plot of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. While it isn’t the most direct adaptation, it is many children’s first taste of a Shakespearian narrative. The film was a mega success and led to two direct-to-video sequels. Interestingly, the sequels also pull from Shakespeare, with The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride being a loose retelling of Romeo and Juliet and The Lion King 1½ being inspired by Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (a play that follows two side characters from Hamlet.)

The Lion King won two Academy Awards and was the highest-grossing animated film before 2003’s Finding Nemo (the 2019 CGI remake of The Lion King controversially currently holds the title.) The original movie stars Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons and Moira Kelly. While the film isn’t a perfect Hamlet adaptation, it doesn’t need to be. It is a gorgeously animated classic with some of the best songs of any Disney musical. The Lion King is streamin on Disney+.

6. Ran (1985)

Ran is a true samurai epic by legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. While many think of it first as a samurai film, it is also a retelling of William Shakespeare’s King Lear mixed with legends of the daimyō Mōri Motonari.

Kurosawa struggled to get it made partially due to its impressive scale. While he announced the idea for Ran in 1975, he couldn’t secure funding until the 1980s. He even went so far as to make another film, Kagemusha, as a sort of proof of concept for Ran. Kurosawa made two other films (one featured later on this list) based on Shakespeare’s plays before making Ran. His 1960 version of Hamlet, The Bad Sleep Well, is also well worth a watch, especially for noir cinema fans. Ran was nominated for four Academy Awards, winning for Best Costume Design. It is currently streaming on BFI Player Classics.

5. Much Ado About Nothing (1993)

Kenneth Branagh has made a lot of Shakespeare plays into films. While many are good adaptions, including 1996’s Hamlet and 1998’s Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing is his best. Similarly, while there are other fun versions of Much Ado About Nothing (including Anyone But You and the Joss Whedon-led 2012 version), the 1993 version is also the best theatrical version of the romantic comedy.

Much Ado About Nothing stars Emma Thompson, Robert Sean Leonard, Denzel Washington, Michael Keaton, Keanu Reeves and Kate Beckinsale. Branagh’s love of Shakespeare really shines in this adaptation, and the film is surprisingly accessible even for non-the-Bard fans. While some casting decisions are slightly odd (especially Reeves as the villainous Don John), Thompson is especially spellbinding as Beatrice. It is currently streaming on Tubi, Pluto TV and The Roku Channel.

4. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

There are several romcoms set in high schools based on Shakespeare plays, including She’s the Man (Twelfth Night), Just One of the Guys (Twelfth Night) and Get Over It (A Midsummer Night’s Dream). However, 10 Things I Hate About You is easily the best. A retelling of The Taming of The Shrew set in a modern-day Seattle high school, 10 Things I Hate About You stars Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and David Krumholtz.

Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew is a notoriously hard play to stage, given feminist critiques of the plot of “taming an independent woman for marriage.” However, 10 Things I Hate About You does it exceptionally well by centering its young female protagonist. The film is also one of the funniest on this list, with a surprisingly witty script that pays homage to the comedic tone of the play. Stiles and Ledger particularly shine and will have you saying, “But mostly, I hate the way I don’t hate you. Not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all.” It is currently streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

3. Romeo and Juliet (1968)

There are many, many adaptations of Romeo and Juliet. From faithful adaptations to ones with Elton John singing gnomes, it almost feels overdone. However, the 1968 version is arguably the best traditional film version of the play. The film stars Olivia Hussey, Leonard Whiting, Milo O’Shea and Michael York. It also features narration by Lawrence Olivier.

Directed by Franco Zeffirelli, the film closely follows the plot of the play and features lush and arresting visuals. It is clear that Zefferelli had a palpable love and reverence for the source material. Roger Ebert said, “I believe Franco Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet is the most exciting film of Shakespeare ever made.” The film was nominated for four Oscars and won for Best Costume Design and Cinematography. It is currently streaming on Youtube TV.

2. West Side Story (1961 and 2021)

Both West Side Story films are based on the Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim stage musical of the same name and are modern retellings of Romeo and Juliet between 1950s New York street gangs. While the original West Side Story is a classic, it has a big brownface problem. In it, several white actors, including the lead actress Natalie Wood, play Puerto Rican characters. The 2021 remake omits the offensive practice starring Rachel Zegler. Both versions also feature the iconic Rita Moreno.

The original film won 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The 2021 remake received 7 Oscar nominations. Notably, Moreno and later Ariana DeBose both won Best Supporting Actress for their portrayal of Anita (the stand-in character for Juliet’s Nurse) in their respective films (making them the only two Latinas to have won in the category). The 1960s version is available on Max, similarly the 2021 remake is also available on Max.

1. Throne of Blood (1957)

Throne of Blood is another Shakespeare retelling from Akira Kurosawa. The film is Shakespeare’s Macbeth in feudal Japan with elements of Noh theater. It is one of several Kurusawa films to star Toshiro Mifune and with special effects by Godzilla’s Eiji Tsuburaya.

At the time of its release, Throne of Blood was one of the most expensive Japanese films made, and its quality is still notable 60 years later. Throne of Blood is widely considered one of the best film adaptations of a Shakespeare play; literary critic Harold Bloom once called it “the most successful film version of Macbeth.” It was even adapted for the stage at the 2010 Oregon Shakespeare Festival. It is currently available to stream for free on Plex or Max with a subscription.

Bottom Line

While some may say, ‘There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so,’ these films are truly good whether you are hoping for a great Shakespeare film or just a great movie in general.