Shakespeare on Film

A selection of Shakespeare's works adapted for the big screen. Some adaptations are true to the bard's text while other take a more playful approach.
Updated October 2, 2022
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Romeo + Juliet
Martinelli, Gabriella.
DVD
Coriolanus
Fiennes, Ralph.
DVD
Hamlet
Olivier, Laurence
DVD
Shakespeare's melancholy Dane is tasked with avenging his father's death by killing his uncle, but finds himself delayed in carrying it out by quirks of circumstance and his own complex, brooding nature.
Much ado about nothing
Branagh, Kenneth.
DVD
Tale of love and jealousy set in Italy.
Hamlet
Barron, David.
DVD
Murder and violence, revenge and intrigue, sex and desire, paranoia and madness. The heady brew of passion and emotion that makes up Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet has intoxicated audiences of all ages. The story of the Prince of Denmark, who seeks revenge for his father's murder at the hands of his...
Romeo and Juliet
Zeffirelli, Franco.
DVD
A young couple shares love despite prohibitive conflict between their families in this adaptation of Shakespeare's classic play.
10 things I hate about you
Lazar, Andrew
Paper Book
A modern interpretation of Taming of the Shrew set in an American high school.
Othello
Parker, Oliver.
DVD
Shakespeare's tale of the wicked Iago and his attempts to enact revenge on his master by convincing him of his wife's infidelity.
Titus
Taymor, Julie
DVD
An adaptation of the revenge tragedy Titus Andronicus.
West Side story
Lehman, Ernest
DVD
Gang rivals and ethnic tension arise in the midst of love on New York's West side. Best Picture, Best Director-Robert Wise, Best Supporting Actor-George Chakiris, and Best Supporting Actress-Rita Moreno.
Inspired by Romero & Juliet
The lion king
Allers, Roger.
DVD
Contains new musical number not in the original version and remastered animation.
Inspired by Shakespeare's Hamlet.
Shakespeare in love
Madden, John
DVD
A comedy about the greatest love story almost never told.
A creative imagining of a love affair of Shakespeare's that inspired his play Romero & Juliet.
She's the man
Bynes, Amanda
DVD
Viola, disguised as her twin brother Sebastian, joins the high school boys' soccer team and helps win the big game while unexpectedly falling for Duke. High school politics and twisted love triangles become a major challenge.
Loosely based on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and set in a modern day boarding school.
Richard III
Ebook
A historical play by William Shakespeare describing the life and death of Richard III. The play begins with Richard describing the accession to the throne of his brother, King Edward IV of England, eldest son of the late Richard, Duke of York. Richard plots to have his brother Clarence, who stands...

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