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William Shakespeare is regarded by many as one of the greatest writers of all time. His plays have been performed countless times worldwide, and there have been direct adaptations of his work in film and TV. However, some films are not direct adaptions but instead inspired by Shakespeare’s writings. These films find clever ways to modernize Shakespeare’s classic plays. Let’s take a look at 10 films inspired by Shakespeare’s plays.
Forbidden Planet
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Forbidden Planet is an innovative film for the sci-fi genre. It was one of the first films to use faster-than-light-speed travel. It had incredible special effects for the time, garnering an Academy Award nomination, and used an electronic score, which was groundbreaking. Star Trek even drew inspiration from the film. The story seems like a typical sci-fi setting, but it was inspired by the Shakespeare play The Tempest. Instead of a deserted island, it is a remote planet. It dazzles the characters with its futuristic technology instead of Prospero’s magic. It explores the subconscious. There is also a love story that reflects the one in The Tempest.
Scotland, PA
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Scotland, PA is an indie dark comedy that gained cult status partially due to its parallels with the Shakespeare play Macbeth. In the film, Joe “Mac” McBeth, played by James LeGros, represents Macbeth, and Pat McBeth, played by Maura Tierney, represents Lady Macbeth. Pat conspires to kill their boss at the restaurant where they work. Norm Duncan, played by James Rebhorn, is like King Duncan. In Macbeth, there are three witches, but in the film, three hippies foresee what is about to unfold. Lieutenant McDuff, played by Christopher Walken, represents Macduff, who tries to get to the bottom of what happened by investigating the murder of Norm Duncan. It is a fun, hilarious adaptation of one of literature’s greatest tragedies.
Get Over It
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Get Over It is a teen romantic comedy that modernizes the Shakespeare play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Like the play, the film focuses on the love quadrangle between high school students. There are also a bunch of miscommunications, and there is even a play within a play. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, they perform Pyramus and Thisbe, and in the film, they go completely meta and put on a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It stars Ben Foster, Kristen Dunst, Melisssa Sagemiller, Colin Hanks, Shane West, and Martin Short. It is a great way to bring the classic Shakespeare comedy to a newer generation.
My Own Private Idaho
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My Own Private Idaho is an indie dramatic film celebrated among the LGBTQI+ community. It was directed by Gus Van Sant, known for films like Good Will Hunting, Elephant, and Milk. The film draws inspiration from Shakespeare’s plays, Henry IV, Part 1 and II. Some dialogue is pulled directly from the plays, but ultimately, it hybrids the Shakespearean language with modernized dialogue. Scott Favor, played by Keanu Reeves, represents Prince Hal, who hangs out with the lower class before becoming king. Favor’s father, Richard Waters, played by James Russo, represents King Henry IV but is the mayor in the movie. Bob Pigeon, played by William Richert, represents Falstaff, who appears in multiple Shakespeare plays, including The Merry Wives of Windsor and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Richert mentors Favor. Mike Waters, played by the late River Phoenix, is not a direct symbolic character but an amalgamation of multiple Shakespearean characters.
O
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O is a teen drama thriller that modernizes the Shakespeare tragedy, Othello. Instead of Othello’s military experience, the film takes a different approach to the film’s setting by focusing on basketball. The film captures the play’s jealousy, manipulation, and love themes. Hugo Goulding, played by Josh Hartnett, represents Lago, jealous of Odin “O” James, played by Mekihi Phifer, who represents Othello. James is the star basketball player at their high school. Goulding sets out to take James down, which leads to his tragic murder, similar to the play. Goulding convinces James that his girlfriend, Desi Brable, played by Julia Stiles, who represents Desdemona, is being unfaithful to his best friend, Michael Cassio, played by Andrew Keegan, and inspired by Cassio. The film was originally put on hold due to a real-life tragedy, the school shooting at Columbine High School.
She’s The Man
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It is a classic case of mistaken identity, a common thread throughout several of Shakespeare’s plays, including the comedy Twelfth Night. She’s The Man is a modernized version of Twelfth Night. Viola Hasting, played by Amanda Bynes, represents Viola. She goes incognito, as her fraternal twin brother Sebastian Hasting, played by James Kirk, represents Sebastian. Hasting takes the place of her brother on the high school soccer team. A love triangle forms between Hasting, Duke Orsino, played by Channing Tatum, who represents the character with the same name, and Olivia Lennox, played by Laura Ramsey, who represents Olivia. Hilarity ensues when the characters’ identities are mistaken.
Anyone But You
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Anyone But You is a modernized version of the Shakespeare play Much Ado About Nothing. At first, Brea, played by Sydney Sweeney, who represents Beatrice, has eyes for Ben, played by Glen Powell, who represents Benedick. After a hilarious misunderstanding, Beatrice and Ben grow to hate one another. However, they are forced to spend time together when their mutual friends get married, which also happens in the play. Like the play, constant insults fly back and forth until they eventually start loving each other. The film still holds the themes of Much Ado About Nothing, including lies and deceit, communication, love, and marriage.
Warm Bodies
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Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare’s most popular tragedies and has been adapted into several films, including West Side Story and Gnomeo & Juliet. However, one of the most interesting films inspired by the play was Warm Bodies. Warm Bodies is a romantic zombie comedy. A zombie named R, played by Nicholas Hoult, represents Romeo. A human named Julie, played by Teresa Plamer, represents Juliet. The unlikely couple falls in love despite it being forbidden. Instead of the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets, it is between humans and zombies. The film brings a lot more levity and comedy than the play.
10 Things I Hate About You
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10 Things I Hate About You is a romantic teen comedy and happens to be a modern retelling of the Shakespeare play, Taming of The Shrew. There have been other adaptations of the play in other films, such as My Fair Lady, Kiss Me, Kate, and Deliver Us from Eva. However, none of them compare to 10 Things I Hate About You. Kat Stratford, played by Julia Stiles, represents Katherine Minola, the “shrew.” Stratford’s sister Bianca, played by Larisa Oleynik, represents Bianca Minola, who is disheartened when her father says she can only date if her sister does. Bianca tries to set her sister up with Patrick Verona, played by Heath Ledger, who represents Petruchio. Verona’s bad-boy exterior fades when he develops real feelings for Stratford. The plan gets derailed when Verona’s initial intentions are revealed. One of the reasons this film is so unique in its approach to modernizing Taming of The Shrew is how it celebrates Stratford’s real persona instead of cutting it down as the play does.
The Lion King
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Perhaps the best Shakespeare-inspired film is the Disney classic, The Lion King. The film is based on the most celebrated tragedy of all time, Hamlet. Similar to the play, the film focuses on the prince of the jungle, Simba, played by Jonathan Taylor Thomas, and Matthew Broderick, who represents Hamlet. Simba’s father, Mufasa, played by the late James Earl Jones, represents Hamlet’s father, the king, who is murdered by brother Scar, played by Jeremy Irons, who represents Claudius. Scar seeks to gain power, becoming the king. After being manipulated by his uncle Scar, Simba runs away and meets Timon, played by Nathan Lane, and Pumbaa, played by Ernie Sabella, who represent Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. They even had a spin-off movie called The Lion King 1½, inspired by the play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. Unlike the play Hamlet, the film is more light-hearted and humorous. Disney does not mind killing off a parent, but it has an obligatory happy ending.
