Shakespeare In Love cover art

Shakespeare In Love Details

1998 DVD Certificate 15.gif
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 27,902 members

The reign of Elizabeth I finds Will Shakespeare, a writer, broke and envious of a rival. Then, he meets with a woman who wants to be an actor and who disguises herself as a man... Read more

Starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, Rupert Everett
Director John Madden
Genres Comedy, Romance

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Shakespeare In Love

The reign of Elizabeth I finds Will Shakespeare, a writer, broke and envious of a rival. Then, he meets with a woman who wants to be an actor and who disguises herself as a man...

Starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, Rupert Everett, Ben Affleck, Judi Dench, Daniel Brocklebank, Colin Firth, Simon Callow, Jim Carter, Martin Clunes, Anthony Sher, Imelda Staunton, Estelle Harris, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Williams
Director John Madden
Studio UNIVERSAL PICTURES UK
Run time DVD: 1 hr 59 mins
Certificate DVD Certificate 15.gif
Collections 100 Rom-Coms
Genres Comedy, Romance
Language English
Dubbed German
Subtitles Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, German, Hebrew, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish
Released DVD: 02 Feb 2004
Production year: 1998
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (3) of Shakespeare In Love

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  • 5 stars out of 5

    Taking the writing process behind Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet as its inspiration, John Madden's follow-up to Mrs Brown combines contemporary humour with a convincing 16th-century setting. Young Will (Joseph Fiennes) falls for the soon-to-be-married Viola (Gwyneth Paltrow) and casts her, disguised as a boy, as his Romeo. As their love affair unfolds, so does the play in a film that is passionate, intelligent and hysterically funny in turns. Fiennes and Paltrow are supported by an outstanding cast that includes Geoffrey Rush, Tom Wilkinson and Colin Firth, while Judi Dench delivers an Oscar-winning portrayal of Elizabeth I, making fine use of Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard's Oscar-winning script.

    • Radio Times
  • 3 stars out of 4

    If movies be the food of love, then there's an excess of it in this delightful romantic comedy, a clever romp that makes witty use of theatrical conventions and Shakespeare's own works; it is not only in love with love, but with the power of theatre.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • Most helpful member's review of Shakespeare In Love

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  • 14 out of 16 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    Why?

    Infuriating romantic comedy in which every moment is drowned in a sea of schmaltz, particularly those between the lovers; the script is fairly good, witty even, but is ruined by honey-coated direction and poor performances.

    Why this arrogant, soppy sludge won so many Oscars remains beyond comprehension; it’s just a run-of-the-mill, saccharine rom-com. Don’t be drawn in by the word ‘Shakespeare’ in its title; it doesn’t make it any cleverer.

      • ATfilmcritic from London
  • Most recent members' review of Shakespeare In Love

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  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 2 stars

    Light hearted

    Good watch, not exactly a tribute to Shakespeare but good use of the plot. Gwyneth has acted well but the star of the show is Judi Dench.

      • Bansal from Surrey
  • News and features

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    Shakespeare In Love

    Dench donates Shakespeare In Love playhouse set to theatre group

    • 15 Sep 2009

    A theatre set handed to the British Shakespeare Company by actress Dame Judi Dench is to be turned into a real playhouse. Dench offered the oak-timbered set, modelled on London's 16th century Rose Theatre for 1998 movie Shakespeare In Love, to the troupe after she won an Oscar for portraying Queen Elizabeth I in the romantic comedy. The set, a gift to Shakespeare superfan Dench, is currently in storage, but is set to become part of a real theatre venue in the north of England. British... Read more

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Rating breakdown

27,902 Member ratings
  • 100
2,688
  • 90
2,493
  • 80
5,246
  • 70
5,110
  • 60
5,086
  • 50
2,889
  • 40
1,816
  • 30
1,152
  • 20
922
  • 10
500

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    • Shakespeare In Love
      The reign of Elizabeth I finds Will Shakespeare, a writer, broke and envious of a rival. Then, he meets with a woman who wants to be an actor and who disguises herself as a man......