It is universally accepted that any Jane Austen novel with a romantic hero, siblings that are silly, and a strategic match must be made into a movie.
The 19th century author penned six of the most famous novels of all time, from Sense and Sensibility in 1811 through Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Northanger Abbey.
She hid her manuscripts or covered them with a piece of blotting-paper, so her work as a writer was not just plonked on the dining room table. Making a living from your own wit and creative writing was not an option for most women during this time.
The halls of Pemberley, the grand estate of Hartfield, and the pangs of disappointed love at Northanger Abbey are just some of the places that readers were embarrassed to find out about. We've spent a lot of time talking about inheritance, marriage, and social standing with the Bennets, the Woodhouses, and the Elliots.
Such hot messes like Elinor Dashwood, Emma Woodhouse, Fanny Price, Elizabeth Bennet, Anne Elliott, and Catherine Morland are some of the more coveted roles in Hollywood.
The latest take on Persuasion, for example, is not on this list because it isn't good. Many a time of romantic unhappiness, school exams, and rainy nights, we have some of our favorites.
You knew it'd be in here. Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock
The mini-series of Pride and Prejudice is one of the best versions of the novel. You probably thought of it when you saw the headline, as quickly as Mrs Bennet comes into action when Mr Bingley lands. I could see the general incivility that Elizabeth Bennet brought to the snobs with her barbs. You probably came here for Colin Firth's role as Mr. Darcy in the movie of Pride and Prejudice, a role he would reprise in the movie of the same name.
The rest of the cast is on point, with Julia Sawalha perfectly carrying on like the child Lydia Bennet. Anna Chancellor is a great Mean Girls cheerleader. The cheerful Mr Bingley is played by Crispin Bonham- Carter, the smarmiest sycophant Mr Collins is played by David Bamber, and the charming Mr Wickham is played by Adrian Lukis. Barbara Leigh-Hunt is the one who will make you cringe as Lady Catherine de Bourgh. It has never been so tense to take a turn through a wilderness.
In the U.S. and the UK, Pride and Prejudice is available on BritBox.
One of the greats. Credit: Clive Coote / Columbia / Kobal / Shutterstock
I'm biased because this is one of my favorites of all time, and it's also one of my favorite films. You'll be happy from the beginning to the end and you'll cry. The only person to have won Oscars for both acting and screenwriting for the same movie was Emma Thompson, who won Oscars for both acting and screenwriting for Elinor Dashwood.
An absolute joy from start to finish, you'll ugly cry and cackle all the way through.
Sense and Sensibility follows the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, who are born into a wealthy family but suddenly fall into hard times when their father dies and their family estate is passed to their older half-brother. The Dashwood sisters and their mother go to live in a cottage owned by two cousins who provide comic entertainment for the film.
The two sisters realize they're not the same when it comes to handling their emotions. There's a scene in the movie where Thompson cries in front of Hugh Grant and makes sounds that will stay with you for a long time. It's an amazing thing. Alan Rickman, Greg Wise, Hugh Laurie, and others are in the movie.
Sense and Sensibility is available on Prime Video in the UK.
An underappreciated Austen movie gem. Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock
Is it really fucked? Do you mean in Austen? Some audiences were shocked by the sex scene in the film, but it's not the only liberty taken here.
This underappreciated Austen film treats its audience like grownups, reading between the lines of the book to add the sex and sexuality we all know existed at the time.
This underappreciated Austen film treats its audience like grownups, reading between the lines, thanks to the character of poor ward Fanny Price, who is more spirited and independent than her written counterpart. The novel's brief mention of slavery was expanded into a whole plot thread, a stinging critique of Fanny's wealthy relations, who benefit enormously from their investments in the sale and exploitation of humans. Throw in the late, great playwright Harold Pinter as the family matriarch and a charming turn by Jonny Lee Miller as Edmund, and you have a tale with heft and charm.
How to watch on Hoopla in the U.S.
Kate Beckinsale brings pitch-perfect comedic timing to this bold Austen heroine. Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock
Kate Beckinsale plays a notorious and unrepentant flirt in the film adaptation of Lady Susan. The snobs of high society don't like Lady Susan's strategic social climbing, but she uses her charm and wit to get a comfortable life for herself and her daughter. With a smirk and a bright eye, Beckinsale brings verve and pitch- perfect comedic timing to this bold Austen hero. Tom Bennett plays a doofy bachelor with a deep affection for peas in the movie.
The film is available on Prime Video in the U.S. and on the UK version of the streaming service.
This scene 😍 Credit: Pathe Ltd / Kobal / Shutterstock
Jane Austen and Bollywood share more in common than one might think. Hindi-language movies and novels are equally interested in complicated romantic situations, long families, social class, and the idea ofopposites attracting. Gurinder Chadha's Bride and Prejudice works because of that. The 19th century novel Pride and Prejudice is the basis of the romantic drama.
This is a 'Pride and Prejudice' remake unlike any other: kitschy, sure, but also flirty, satirical and as romantic as any good Austen adaptation should be.
Aishwariya Rai is best known as the "Queen of Bollywood" and she plays the lead role in the adaptation. Nadira Babbar wants her four daughters to get married and she's doing everything she can to make that happen. Her father supports her. When she meets Will Darcy, an American businessman who is going to India for a wedding, she is thrown for a loop. Lalita doesn't like what she sees as his condescension for India and Indian culture. A fascination for Lalita can be fostered by the presence of Darcy. There is a lot of tension between the two and it is one of the highlights of the rest of the story. There's no shortage of fun in the film, and it's thanks to the Bollywood style of dancing and other things. This is a remake of Pride and Prejudice that is both kitschy and romantic.
You can watch Bride and Prejudice in the US and the UK.
A 19th century '90s classic. Credit: David Appleby / Matchmaker / Miramax / Kobal / Shutterstock
It was badly done by Emma.
The words don't apply to the 1996 adaptation of the novel of manners. They apply to Emma Woodhouse, whose youthful hubris finds her in several spots of bother throughout the film, ultimately resulting in a rather cringeworthy admonishment by her best friend Mr. Knightley. Emma's interference proves to be less fruitful and more destructive than she thought. She needs to pay attention to her own love life and the love of her life who is standing right in front of her. The film was written and directed by Douglas McGrath, and has a great cast.
Emma is available in the U.S., and in the UK, on a number of platforms.
100 percent perfect "Pride and Prejudice" take. Credit: Hulu
This incredibly charming, surprisingly faithful, and very, very queer take on P&P is a love letter to a family. The updated analogues to the social mores of Regency England are universally clever, as evidenced by the Bennett sisters being rendered as obnoxious besties of our sweet lead, Noah.
Lydia's scandalous elopement becomes a very modern violation when the parties of Fire Island's summer season are in full swing. Our "Darcy" and "Lizzie" finally start to acknowledge their attraction? It is set at an underwear party and soundtracked by Sofi Tukker's song "Fantasy". The hand scene is taken. I think it has the most adorable Bingley and the hottest, wickedest Wickham of any Pride ever put on screen.
Fire Island is available on Disney+ in the UK.
Anya Taylor-Joy takes on Emma Woodhouse. Credit: Focus Features / Universal / Kobal / Shutterstock
The adaptation of the beloved classic is very stylish and was directed by Autumn de Wilde. It was a joy to watch this movie, even though I was hesitant to go. Johnny Flynn plays Mr. Knightley and Anya Taylor-Joy plays Miss Emma Woodhouse in the film. The addition of Bill Nighy as Emma's worrier is hilarious. The Crown's Josh O'Connor and Sex Education'sConnor Swindells are two of the more familiar faces from some of your favorite shows.
(opens in a new tab) Emma is available on Amazon Freevee in the U.S.
A big "what if"... Credit: Mammoth Screen
What Pride and Prejudice might look like in today's London was imagined by the author of the diary. However, this sensational British mini-series takes that idea one step further and puts a modern Austen fan into the thick of her favourite Georgian novel.
With Elizabeth Bennett gone MIA, fish-out-of-waterAmanda accidentally gaffes classic meet-cutes and fateful romances, revealing some shocking new sides. Mrs. Bennett would be a fiercer Momma Bear than we imagined. What if he isn't a bad person after all? Is it possible that Mr. Collins secured the hand of a bride? What if the reason for Bingley's manipulation was real? Lost in Austen takes the story we love so much off the rails, creates new paths, and has a finale that is as unpredictable as it is touching.
The film is available for rent on Prime Video in the U.S., and on ITV in the UK.
WHAT.EVERRRRRR. Credit: Paramount / Kobal / Shutterstock
There is a list without Clueless. It's as if. It took Amy Heckerling a long time to get the perfect adaptation of Emma for us to leave it out. Emma Woodhouse Cher Horowitz is a woman who wants to do a lot of things in life, but she also wants to be with her ex-stepbrother Mr. Knightley Josh. Cher sees a new project when the new student comes. She sees a romance for herself when Mr. Stovitz arrives. The film transports the characters into a Beverly Hills high school setting, so you have to study it for your school exams. Either you didn't know it was based on Emma or you were more interested in Cher's software.
Clueless is available on Prime Video in the US and on Paramount+ in the UK.
It had big shoes to fill, and fill them it did. Credit: Alex Bailey / Working Title / Kobal / Shutterstock
Joe Wright's Pride and Prejudice had big shoes to fill, with the BBC's version casting a large shadow over anyone who dared to read it. The 2005 film is perfect. A stunning work of cinematography showcasing the best parts of England's Peak District, the film strips Austen's novel back to its core themes and moments, with an exceptional adapted script from Deborah Moggach.
The film would propel Knightley into her period drama marathon of the '00s and beyond, with her performance of Elizabeth Bennett. Matthew Macfadyen's character in Succession was a stubborn romantic hero, but he was also snobbery and dreaminess. Macfadyen got his own version of The Pond Scene. What about the rest of the cast. Donald Sutherland is the quintessential Mr Bennett, the Bennett sisters are all stars now, and Kelly Reilly is brutal asCaroline Bingley.
I'm still mad at the film for butchering the "ardently love and admire" scene, but I'll forgive it for the use of filming locations.
In the U.S. and the UK, you can now watch Pride and Prejudice.
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