5 Film Retellings to Revisit on William Shakespeare Day
Didst thee knoweth yond the present is William Shakespeare Day? In other words, today, we celebrate the art of William Shakespeare on his birthday, April 23.
Shakespeare's works have influenced more projects than you'd probably predict. Many films have been inspired by everything from Romeo & Juliet to Hamlet. To introduce you to a few, we've gathered a list of our top five favorite Shakespearean film retellings.
10 Things I Hate About You
Can we all agree that the '90s and '00s were the best time for romantic comedies? Amongst their most notable has to be 10 Things I Hate About You. This Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger-led story is a modernization of The Taming of the Shrew.
As the older sister, Kat Stratford (played by Julia) holds the reigns of when the two siblings can date. But when younger Bianca is courted, she begs her sister to find a boyfriend so their father will allow her to date. To speed up the process, Bianca's suitor bribes another student to pursue Kat, Patrick (brought to life by Heath). Will they inevitably fall in love—or will the truth come crashing to the surface?
Gnomeo & Juliet
With a title like Gnome & Juliet, it's not hard to predict which story this animated film derived from. It's pretty much your typical alternate universe of Romeo & Juliet. Instead of living in fair Verona, the Montagues and Capulets are British garden gnomes at war—until Gnomeo and Juliet have a chance meeting in love.
Besides having a classic storyline, it offers good laughs and music. It's no surprise, though, because the film was produced and the soundtrack was created by none other than Sir Elton John.
Also read about: 11 Romeo and Juliet Quotes for Your Angstiest Instagram Captions
The Lion King
Honestly, we had no idea that The Lion King was based on Hamlet, but it makes sense. Mufasa is the king of a great kingdom, like Hamlet, ultimately betrayed and overthrown by his brother, Scar.
It's a feel-good but bittersweet moment when Simba rises to honor his father on the throne. Plus, The Lion King marks another soundtrack largely penned by Elton John! He certainly knows his way around Shakespearean music.
She's the Man
She's the Man is arguably one of the most hilarious '00s rom-coms, and it's based on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Amanda Bynes has the best comedic timing and always does an unbelievable job of immersing herself in every character.
If you've never seen it, run to watch it.
It's a love story about a girl who masquerades as her brother to achieve her dream of playing on the soccer team, eventually becoming a star player for the North Carolina Tar Heels. Along the way, she finds love and must decide whether it is worth sacrificing her identity in pursuit of the budding romance.
West Side Story
In Steven Spielberg's 2021 adaptation of West Side Story, watch this iconic stage musical come to life through a new lens.
In another tale channeling Romeo and Juliet, two gangs in New York City have been rivals for years. Until Tony (of the Jets) and María (the sister of the Sharks' leader, who is betrothed to another Sharks member) inevitably fall in love. As you can tell, the duo are doomed by fate from the start.
Your heart might break multiple times through this film. Don't say we didn't warn you!
Searching for even more movies to watch? Click HERE to discover all the biggest movie releases of spring 2024.