10 Best Romeo & Juliet Adaptations, Ranked By Rotten Tomatoes

The star-crossed lovers plotline is one that can stretch across decades and genres. Here are some of the best adaptations of the Bard’s famous play.

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William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has been the foundation for many romantic films over the years. Its star-crossed lovers plotline and over-arching romantic tone make it an interesting and dramatic work that translates well to the screen.

While some filmmakers chose to stay true to Shakespeare’s text, others have taken its basic premise and transformed it to fit modern times. The story has been used to talk about racial tensions in America and as a frame for more unconventional love stories. Below are some of the best takes on the Bard’s famous play, as ranked by the critics of Rotten Tomatoes.

10 Bollywood Queen (2002) – 71%

In this movie starring British actress Preeya Kalidas and Scottish actor James McAvoy, a young Indian woman named Geena falls in love with a white man named Jay whose family runs a rival clothing company.

Unlike Shakespeare’s original text, Bollywood Queen is not a tragedy, for it does not end with death. Instead, the film ends on a happy note, with Geena and Jay running away together. Additionally, in true Bollywood fashion, the film features elaborate song and dance numbers that give it a more upbeat tone.

9 William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet (1996) – 73%

Baz Luhrmann’s ambitious adaptation combines the original Shakespearean dialogue with a post-modern setting. Romeo and Juliet’s families are rival gangs who fight with guns rather than swords. Within the film, fashion serves as an important distinction between the two gangs. While the Capulets look tougher, with leather pants and gun holsters, the Montagues’ style, with their billowing button-downs and spiked hair, is more laid back.

William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet features great performances from the all-star cast including Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes as Romeo and Juliet and John Leguizamo as Tybalt.

8 Romeo and Juliet in Yiddish (2010) – 75%

Romeo and Juliet in Yiddish is a comedic film that follows the romance between two Ultra-Orthodox Jews from rival sects. The two fall in love while translating Shakespeare’s play into Yiddish.

Critics enjoyed the film’s charm and believed that the director, Eve Annenberg, was able to capture the themes of Shakespeare’s play. Others said that although the film may not be for everyone, viewers interested in the Jewish culture and who like the sound of the Yiddish language will find the adaptation to be quite enjoyable.

7 Romeo and Juliet (1936) – 78%

This Romeo and Juliet is a strict adaptation of Shakespeare’s original work. The film stars screen legend Leslie Howard as Romeo and Canadian-American actress Norma Shearer as Juliet. Although some critics argued that the cast members were too old for their characters (Howard and Shearer were in their 40s and 30s respectively), the film was nevertheless a beautiful adaptation.

The film’s director, George Cukor, would go on to direct a string of critically acclaimed films including The Philadelphia Story and My Fair Lady, the latter for which he won his Best Director Oscar.

6 Warm Bodies (2013) – 81%

Warm Bodies tells the story of R, a zombie who slowly comes back to life after falling in love with a human named Julie. After eating her boyfriend’s brain, R makes it his mission to protect Julie from the other zombies, and their attraction to each other grows.

This zombie romantic comedy is a fresh take on the story aimed at a teenage audience. It blends horror elements with a comedic tone and features a great performance from Nicholas Hoult as R. With his mysterious demeanor, R makes the perfect love interest for this teen-flick.

5 Shakespeare in Love (1998) – 92%

Shakespeare in Love tells the story of William Shakespeare as he struggles to write his next play. He finds inspiration in Viola, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, leading him to construct his tragedy Romeo and Juliet. The film stars Joseph Fiennes as Shakespeare, Gwyenth Paltrow as Viola, and Judi Dench in a brief but Oscar-winning role as Queen Elizabeth.

The film was widely acclaimed by critics and racked up an armful of trophies during awards season. Shakespeare in Love was nominated for 13 Academy Awards, winning 7, including Best Picture and Best Actress.

4 West Side Story (1961) – 93%

In this film adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name, Romeo and Juliet are Tony and Maria, members of rival gangs in 1950s New York. The conflict in West Side Story stems from racial tensions between the white and Puerto Rican communities. The film includes multiple elaborate musical numbers including an almost 10-minute opening dance sequence.

While the film has been recently criticized for its casting of white actors in Puerto Rican roles, it was praised by critics and audiences at the time of its release. It won a total of 10 awards at the 1962 Oscars, including Best Picture.

3 Romeo and Juliet (1968) – 95%

Franco Zeffirelli’s version of Romeo and Juliet has been described as a gorgeous adaptation of Shakespeare’s play, aided by the film’s color palette and the performances by Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey as the titular characters. It has been described as the adaptation that is most dedicated to the original text. The film embraced the Shakespearean dialogue and the Renaissance aesthetic.

Being a direct adaptation from the play, the film unsurprisingly follows the same story. Romeo and Juliet are lovers whose union is threatened by the conflict between their two families.

2 West Side Story (2021) – 96%

Early reviews of Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of West Side Story have deemed it an entertaining and socially conscious update from the 1961 film. Its musical numbers are just as, if not more, magical than the original, and the cast members deliver excellent performances. A particular standout is Ariana DeBose, who takes on the role of Anita, the role that won Rita Moreno her Oscar.

The film stars Ansel Elgort as Tony and newcomer Rachel Zegler as Maria, and features Moreno in a supporting role as a go-between for the star-crossed lovers.

1 Romeo and Juliet (1916) – 100%

J. Gordon Edwards’s silent-film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet follows the traditional story of the two young lovers and was released on the 300th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. It stars popular silent film actress Theda Bara as Juliet and Harry Hilliard as Romeo.

Critics consider this film a classic with its beautiful presentation and the scene-stealing performance from Bara. Another component of the film that was praised is its depictions of the different settings, particularly the streets of Verona and the balcony scene.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/best-romeo-juliet-movie-adaptations-ranked-by-rotten-tomatoes-score/