For many people, it can seem uninteresting or even impossible to connect with and understand the writings of William Shakespeare. The century-old plots and the old way of speaking can make it difficult and undesirable to engage in these stories. However, people do just that without even realizing it. Here are some of the best modern movies based on Shakespeare that might shock you.
6. The Fault In Our Stars
While the plot is original, the title of this famous book and movie was inspired by Act 1, Scene 2 of Julius Caesar.
In that scene, Cassius says to Brutus, “Men at some time were masters of their fates, / The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, / But in ourselves, that we are underlings.”
John Green found inspiration for his title, naming the book, The Fault In Our Stars.
5. Anyone But You
This recent rom-com hit takes its inspiration from a classic: Much Ado About Nothing. The main characters, Ben and Bea, have a complicated relationship. When Bea’s sister, Halle, and Ben’s sister, Claudia, get engaged, wedding attendees push Bea and Ben to get together. To satisfy the crowd, the pair enters into a fake relationship.
In Much Ado About Nothing, there is also a push for the main characters to be together. When Benedick’s friend, Claudio, and Beatrice’s cousin, Hero, confess their love for each other, they devise a plan to trick Benedick and Beatrice into doing the same.
The similarities between the names of these characters are no coincidence. Anyone But You is a Modern Take on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. Released in 2023, Anyone But You is one of the more recent movies based on Shakespeare to hit the big screen.
4. West Side Story
While West Side Story is one of the more obvious movies based on Shakespeare, it is still worth mentioning.
The classic movie musical follows the rivalry between two teenage gangs, the Jets and the Sharks, in Manhattan, New York. When Tony, the best friend of the Jets gang leader, falls in love with Maria, the sister of the Sharks gang leader, they are forced to keep their love a secret.
Tony and Maria are a parallel for the famous duo, Romeo and Juliet. Juliet is part of the Capulet family, while Romeo is a Montague. The rivalry between these two Italian families forced Romeo and Juliet to love each other in secret.
3. She’s The Man
This rom-com is a modern take on Shakespeare’s classic play, Twelfth Night. Both follow a pair of twins named Sebastian and Viola, who are separated: one by shipwreck, the other by boarding school.
While both feature Viola disguising herself as a man, She’s The Man showcases her pretending to be her brother, Sebastian, to play on the men’s soccer team.
Both versions of Viola find themselves in love with someone. However, both men believe Viola is a man, so she cannot express her feelings. Both shows also feature a woman named Olivia, who falls in love with Viola, believing she is a man.
2. 10 Things I Hate About You
While often seen as a classic, 10 Things I Hate About You was actually based on Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew. Both feature a headstrong female being pursued by a man.
Kat, from 10 Things I Hate About You, and Katherina, from The Taming of the Shrew, are both resistant to the pursuits of these men at first. As time goes on, their hard exteriors are slowly broken down.
Both shows also feature a younger sister, Bianca, and the men pursuing her.
Though this is a looser adaptation than others, it remains one of the most popular rom-com movies based on Shakespeare.
1. The Lion King
Though this film only features animal characters, it was actually based on Shakespeare’s famous play, Hamlet.
The Lion King features a young lion cub, Simba, who dreams of taking his father’s role as King one day. Simba’s uncle, Scar, murders the king in a jealous attempt to take the throne for himself. Although Simba leaves out of fear, he ultimately returns home to seek revenge and take back the throne.
Hamlet follows a similar plotline. Prince Hamlet seeks revenge against his uncle, Claudius, after he kills his father to claim the throne for himself.
It may seem unlikely at first, but once you know the plots, The Lion King can be easily recognized as one of the many movies based on Shakespeare.