Overview
A tale of love and ambition unfolds on the Elizabethan stage, where passion ignites creativity.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- romantic
- playful
- date night
- theater night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as an exceptionally witty, visually rapturous, and sweetly romantic period comedy-drama with strong performances and infectious theatrical energy.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The story invents a relationship between William Shakespeare and Viola while reimagining the creation of Romeo and Juliet.
Viola auditions and performs as Thomas Kent because women are forbidden from acting on the Elizabethan stage.
William and Viola's relationship is transformed into the writing and rehearsal of Romeo and Juliet.
Rehearsals, theater financing, actors, playwrights, and rival venues drive much of the film's action.
Films like Shakespeare in Love, and why
The Importance of Being Earnest
shared witty period romance, theatrical performance, and class constraints
Bright Star
shared literary adaptation, romantic longing, and visually polished historical setting
Stage Beauty
shared backstage comedy, artistic creation, and ensemble theatrical energy
The Favourite
shared playful historical revisionism, romance, and stylized courtly intrigue
Movie Details
- Director
- John Madden
- Release Date
- 1998-12-11
- Runtime
- 124 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (3286)
Cast
- Joseph Fiennes
- Gwyneth Paltrow
- Geoffrey Rush
- Tom Wilkinson
- Judi Dench
- Imelda Staunton
- Colin Firth
- Ben Affleck
- Simon Callow
- Steven Beard
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Shakespeare in Love about?
- A playful Elizabethan romance turns forbidden desire, theatrical ambition, and artistic invention into a sparkling fictional account of Shakespeare's creative awakening.
- What is Shakespeare in Love like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Shakespeare in Love as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Shakespeare in Love violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Shakespeare in Love.
- What did critics think of Shakespeare in Love?
- Critics broadly praised the film as an exceptionally witty, visually rapturous, and sweetly romantic period comedy-drama with strong performances and infectious theatrical energy.
- Which films are like Shakespeare in Love?
- Films with a similar feel include The Importance of Being Earnest, Bright Star, Stage Beauty, and The Favourite.
- How long is Shakespeare in Love?
- Shakespeare in Love runs 124 minutes.
- Where can I watch Shakespeare in Love?
- In United States, Shakespeare in Love streams on fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel.
