Shakespeare has an interesting role in Western culture. He's heralded as one of the greatest writers/poets in human history, and many of his works are held up as exemplary works of Western fiction. However, he also has a reputation with some people for being difficult to understand and "boring."
Luckily, these movies managed to avoid the pitfalls that often come with adapting Shakespeare's works. Rather than falling into tedium and obtuse difficulty, they managed to make the material fun, exciting, and somehow, fresh - quite a feat, considering these works have been around for 400 years.
Much Ado About Nothing (1993): 3.5
One of Shakespeare's most popular comedies, adapted by Kenneth Branagh in 1993, and it instantly became one of his best movies. It was one of the most successful Shakespeare adaptations of all time, at the time of its release, pulling in $43 million at the global box office.
This is quite an extraordinary feat, given its limited release and the relatively obscure nature of the source material. With Much Ado About Nothing, Branagh accomplished the nigh-impossible task of making Shakespeare funny again.
Hamlet (1948): 3.6
Hamlet needs no introduction. It's the one that everyone knows, and the one that many struggled with in high school. In 1948, acclaimed dramatist Laurence Olivier adapted the famous play for the screen, and it instantly became the most successful Shakespeare adaptation of all time.
While it cut out nearly half of the play, Olivier's Hamlet was nevertheless a massive critical success, and it won both the Academy Award for Best Picture and the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.
Hamlet (1996): 3.7
Kenneth Branagh strikes again with 1996's Hamlet, a staggering, monumental, and yes, intimidating film. This is the only theatrical adaptation of the Bard's famous play to include every single line of dialogue, and as such, it runs just over four hours in length.
Luckily, it's one of the best movies that is over four hours long. The movie is well regarded for its technical filmmaking, earning Oscar nominations for its art direction and costumes. Funnily enough, Branagh also earned a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, despite every word coming from Shakespeare himself.
Macbeth (1971): 3.7
Of all the Macbeth adaptations (and there are many), this is arguably the most famous. The movie was famously made by Roman Polanski after his wife Sharon Tate had been murdered by the Manson Family. As a result, the movie drips with ugliness and an obvious sense of pessimism.
It's brutal, horrifically violent, and filled with a cynical atmosphere. Of course, this is wonderfully in keeping with Shakespeare's source material, as Macbeth is arguably his darkest, most violent, and most misanthropic work.
Henry V (1989): 3.7
Within the wider Western culture, Shakespeare's tragedies have supplanted his histories in of popularity and acclaim. However, his Henry series has proved the exception, and its popularity has been bolstered by Henry V.
Directed by legendary Shakespeare expert Kenneth Branagh, Henry V was a major success when it was released in 1989. It earned acclaim from critics and earned three nominations at the 62nd Academy Awards, with Phyllis Dalton winning for Best Costume Design.
The Tragedy Of Macbeth (2021): 3.8
the Coen Brothers' darkest movies (even though Ethan Coen was absent from the creative process). While there was some questioning if Joel Coen could handle the proceedings by himself, he proved all the doubters wrong with a masterpiece of a Shakespeare adaptation.
The movie has earned widespread acclaim for its performances and technical virtuosity, and it earned three nominations at the 94th Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Denzel Washington.
Othello (1951): 3.8
Following his adaptation of Hamlet, Orson Welles once again tackled Shakespeare with Othello. The movie suffered a complicated production, taking an insane amount of time to make and causing numerous fights within its crew.
Luckily, the results were well worth all the trouble. The movie was instantly regarded as a masterpiece, not to mention the greatest film adaptation of Othello (a designation it continues to hold). In fact, it won the modern-day equivalent of the Palme d'Or at the 1952 Cannes Film Festival.
Chimes At Midnight (1965): 4.0
Not a direct adaptation of a Shakespeare play, Chimes at Midnight is rather an amalgamation. Written and directed by Orson Welles, Chimes at Midnight centers around the popular character of Falstaff. It rips direct lines from five of Shakespeare's plays, including Henry IV and Richard II.
It's a wonderfully creative way to utilize Shakespeare's texts and breath new life into his creations and characters. To this day, Chimes at Midnight is regarded as one of Welles's greatest works, and the director himself even called it his greatest creative accomplishment.
Throne Of Blood (1957): 4.2
Arguably the greatest Macbeth adaptation of all time, Throne of Blood was directed by the iconic Akira Kurosawa. Kurosawa supplanted the action of Macbeth from Scotland to feudal Japan and cut out a good chunk of the poetry, but the general storyline remains the same.
For those wishing to get into Shakespeare but finding the poetic language too daunting, Throne of Blood is a clear recommendation. A perfect combination of Shakespeare's storytelling prowess and Kurosawa's eye for filmmaking, it is an undeniable masterpiece.
Ran (1985): 4.4
One of the greatest epics ever made, Ran is considered by many to be Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece (and that's saying something). At the time, Ran was the most expensive Japanese film ever made, with a budget of $11 million. It also runs at a daunting 162 minutes, although that's normal for an epic of Ran's scope.
An adaptation of King Lear, Ran basically serves as the culmination of Kurosawa's entire career, featuring a majestic scope, gorgeous cinematography, inventive editing, and an epic story tinged with both heart and brutality.
