Few storytellers have had as profound an impact on storytelling and performance art, as much asWilliam Shakespeare, the 16th-century Elizabethan playwright and director. Though his works are full-length plays, sonnets, and poems intended for the stage, his transient stories have inspired manyShakespeare film adaptations in Hollywoodover the years. Several of these Shakespeare-inspired films pay homage to their original source material, while also introducing a creative twist and perspective that makes the 16th-century story feel fresh.
For example, Joel Coen’s latest award-winning adaptation ofMacbeth,The Tragedy of Macbethis entirely true to the classical text, yet uses bold choices in cinematography, costuming, and soundtrack, to help the film stand out. Similarly, the famous animated hit,The Lion Kingtells the storyof the young prince through the lens of a community of lions. From these historically accurate period pieces to contemporary adaptations, Shakespeare’s stories are exciting to watch when they come alive onscreen.
The Tragedy of Macbeth
Cast
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a cinematic adaptation of William Shakespeare’s classic play, following Macbeth, the Thane of Glamis, who is driven by prophecy and ambition. Influenced by his wife, he murders King Duncan to seize the throne of Scotland, setting off a chain of power struggles and guilt.
Joel Coen’s critically-acclaimed reimagining ofMacbeth,TheTragedy of Macbeth, stays true to the original source material, but has a definite aesthetic that puts it apart from other renditions.In this version, Denzel Washington portrays the Scottish lord who becomes possessed by power, killing his way to the throne.
Denzel Washington Quietly Broke A Major Shakespeare Movie Record 3 Years Ago
Joel Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth made Denzel Washington the first actor in 31 years to be nominated for a Shakespearean role at the Academy Awards.
ThoughThe Tragedy of Macbethuses the original Elizabethan script, and sticks to the structure of Shakespeare’sMacbeth, there are several stylistic choices that Coen weaves throughout, immersing the audiences in his film’s unique medieval world. For example,the most apparent difference is his choice to keep coloring in black and white tones, with harsh lighting and shadowused to create a sense of mystery and honor the themes of the play. Additionally, the setting of the world, although in its original time period, is deconstructed and surrealist at times, under a moody modern underscore.
Romeo + Juliet
In Verona Beach, Romeo and Juliet, two teenagers from completely different families, fall madly in love.
This Baz Luhrmann classic is one of the most famous film adaptations of Shakespeare’s classic,Romeo + Juliet.For fans of Luhrmann’s work, this rendition of the play uses his characteristic style to freshen up the story of the star-crossed lovers, fated to end in tragedy,played by Leonardo DiCaprio (Romeo), in one of his best roles, and Claire Danes (Juliet).
Similarly,Romeo + Julietsticks to the original Elizabethan text, and all major events of the play are used in this version structurally. Despite this, Luhrmann’sRomeo + Julietfeels altogether different from the original play, since it is set in contemporary Los Angeles, in the suburb of Verona. The Capulets and Montagues exist as gangs in this altogether grittier version, swapping their swords for guns and knives. Coupled with the fast-paced, maximalist look of Luhrmann’s films, the film isn’t afraid to make bold choices, with zany moments, like a drug-induced dance number, included.
One of the most famous Shakespeare adaptations is, without a doubt, the Disney animated feature,The Lion King.The Lion Kingis loosely based off ofHamlet, but many viewers are unaware of the connection between the fated Prince of Denmark and the eventual King of Pride Rock. Surprisingly, the bones ofHamletare retained in the story, with Simba (Matthew Broderick,) enduring the same challenges and obstacles as the original Shakespeare character he is based on.
For example, Simba loses his father when his uncle,Scar (Jeremy Irons) kills his brother Mufasa, and Simba is similarly faced with defending his old kingdom of Pride Rock, just as Hamlet does his Danish kingdom.What differs are the eventual choices the lead’s hero makes, since the feature is intended for a family audience.This more hopeful take shows Simba honoring his love for Nala (Moira Kelly), Ophelia’s stand-in, and Simba survives his final battle with Scar, escaping his fateful end inHamlet.
George Sydney’s 1953 film adaptation of the stage musical,Kiss Me Kate, is another creative re-imagining of a Shakespeare story,Taming of the Shrew,that is sure to get laughs out of its viewers. In this film, a pair of divorced actors struggle to get through their production ofTaming of the Shrew, without conflict.
Bill Calhoun
Lucentio
Little is true to the original story ofTaming of the Shrew, in this musical movie spectacular, other than the players putting on a production of the play itself.However, the conflicting dynamic of its leads, Kate/Lilli Vanessi (Kathryn Grayson) and Petruchio/ Fred Graham (Howard Keel), resembles that of the tempestuous nature of Shakespeare’s original leads. This famous movie musical is hard not to love, with its exciting dance numbers, cheeky set of characters, and hilarious twists and turns as the actors navigate a series of set challenges.
West Side Story
West Side Story is a classic American musical film directed by Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise. The film is an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, set in New York City’s Upper West Side. The story revolves around the rivalry between two gangs, the Jets and the Sharks, and the tragic romance between Tony, a former Jet, and Maria, the sister of the Sharks' leader.
Another popular movie musical inspired by Shakespeare’s works is the 1961 hit,West Side Story.This film sets Shakespeare’sRomeo and Julietin the world of 1960s New York, with racial conflict between the Puerto Rican “Sharks” and the New York “Jets.” This version of Shakespeare’s most famous play is perhaps its most well-known and highly regarded.
In 2021, Steven Spielberg made his own version ofWest Side Story, with minor changes to the original film. The film stars Rachel Zegler as “Maria” and Ansel Elgort as “Tony.”
West Side Storyhas made a name for itself on its own, with most of the film having fresh material, other than the basic structure and premise of the star-crossed lovers being retained. Themovie musical uses a set of colorful costume designsand sets that capture 1960s New York, as well as a beautiful soundtrack created by Stephen Sondheim and Richard Bernstein. In the end, tragedy ends the lover’s tale, but Maria/ Juliet (Natalie Wood) manages to survive.
Shakespeare in Love
Shakespeare in Love is a romantic comedy directed by John Madden and starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes. Released in 1998, the film follows playwright Shakespeare as he attempts to seduce the owner of a rival theater.
Inspiration from Shakespeare’s life itself is used for the 1998 award-winning film,Shakespeare in Love. The film tells the story of young William Shakespeare’s (portrayed byJoseph Fiennes in one of his best roles) life as a playwright, when he falls in love with a wealthy heiress who inspires his works, Viola (Gwyneth Paltrow). The film is loosely inspired byRomeo and Juliet, since William is producing and directing his production of this work, in the story.
As fate would have it, along the way, he casts Viola (who is posing as a male actor) as his Romeo, and the two soon begin a torrid love affair that affects his development of the star-crossed lovers' tale. In fact, the two perform the role of the lovers at the end, when Shakespeare himself must fill in for one of his actors. Though this is a work of historical fiction,the film prides itself on staying true to accurate Elizabethan customs, costumes, and the lookof its setting in the 1600s England.
4Coriolanus (2011)
Directed by Ralph Fiennes
In one of Ralph Fiennes' best movies, he stars and directs his version of Shakespeare’s infamously brutalCoriolanus.The story stays true to the original play, focusing on General Coriolanus, a Roman war hero who, when he is suddenly banished because of an uncontrolled riot, decides to return to the city for revenge with the help of his former enemy.
This rendition ofCoriolanussticks to Shakespeare’s original Elizabethan script, and the major events and plot points that occur throughout the story. However,Fiennes blends traditional texts with a modern spin: though events take place in Rome and all characters retain their original names, his film exists in a contemporary setting. For example, Coriolanus and his comrades are clad in modern army uniforms, armed with rifles instead of swords and shields. This unique spin on the classic demonstrates a successful blending of contemporary and classic, to put a fresh spin on an older story.
Another war film based on a Shakespeare work is Akira Kurosawa’s famous 1957 film,Throne of Blood.In this re-imagining ofMacbeth, Kurosawa sets his story in feudal Japan, with a power-hungry General, Taketoshi Washizu (Toshirō Mifune), who schemes his way to the top to become Lord of Spider’s Web Castle, after pressure from his wife and a prophecy from spirits that he will rule.
Kurosawa’s adaptation is close in plot-line and character development, to the original Shakespeare story. Beloved characters like Lady Macbeth, portrayed by Isuzu Yamada (Lady Asaji Washizu), are still included as major parts of the plot. However, his decision to set the film in feudal Japan changes several details: medieval soldiers become samurais, characters have traditional Japanese names, and the Witches become forest spirits. In the end, Kurosawa’s haunting take on the story is just as effective, and it is fascinating to see its translation into a different culture around the same time period.
2Ophelia (2018)
Directed by Claire McCarthy
In one of thebest movies based onHamlet,Claire McCarthy tells Shakespeare’s story through the lens of Hamlet’s jilted lover, Ophelia (Daisy Ridley). The film maps out Ophelia’s journey navigating the dangerous world of politics and love, as she forms a relationship with Hamlet that begins to break down when his father, the King, is suddenly killed.
Though the main structure ofHamletis retained in this film,Ophelia’schanged perspective adds more context. For example, Hamlet’s descent into madness is better explained, revealing he is manipulated by his mother and trusted advisors, which is why he turns on his lover. McCarthy’s decision toreimagine Ophelia as the heroineis fascinating, considering she is one of the most tragic characters in Shakespeare’s works.Opheliaturns this on its head, and Ridley portrays Hamlet’s lover as smart, independent, with a rebellious streak.In the end, it is these qualities that allow her to survive in this version.
Rosaline
Adapted from the book When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle, Rosaline is a comedy/romance film that tells the untold tale of Rosaline - the ex of Romeo. Kaitlyn Dever stars as Rosaline, an intelligent and witty young woman who happens upon Romeo moving on from her ais and now captivated by Juliet; Rosaline, now scorned, finds herself jealous and concocts a plan to sever their newfound relationship and win Romeo back for herself. However, enlisting the help of those around her, Rosaline’s comedic journey to sever their relationship will find her attempts thwarted until she begins to do some introspection and change course to help the lovers.
Another Shakespeare heroine gets her moment in Karen Maine’s 2022 Hulu comedy,Rosaline. This film is based off of the former lover of Romeo (Kyle Allen) inRomeo and Juliet,and features the untold story of an angry and rejected Rosaline (Katherine Denver), after Romeo quickly moves on to her cousin, Juliet. To get him back, she hatches a plan to break up the star-crossed lovers.
This re-imagining of Rosaline, who was previously a minor character that is briefly mentioned, is a hilarious and witty take that provides more context to the larger story ofRomeo and Juliet.After Rosaline’s initial courtship and falling out with Romeo, the Shakespeare play begins, and Juliet (Isabela Merced) quickly steals the attention of a philandering Romeo. Rosaline’s point of view as the spurned ex-girlfriend adds an entertaining contemporary touch to the love triangle. In the end, Maine’s film departs fromWilliam Shakespeare’s play, and the lovers secretly escape with the help of Rosaline.
