Summary

• Pride & Prejudice movies have captured audiences for decades with witty heroines and dashing romantic leads.
• Various adaptations have brought fresh perspectives, from modern settings to even including zombies.
• Standouts like the 1995 miniseries and the 2005 film showcase the enduring appeal of Jane Austen's classic novel.

Jane Austen's novels are a staple for anyone who loves 18th and 19th-century romance, and the best Pride & Prejudice movies showcase why her works are so popular. Her witty heroines and dashing yet complex romantic interests have been adapted into movies and television shows for decades, delighting audiences and giving Austen all the credit her writing deserves. Few novels are more popular than Pride And Prejudice, which follows the turbulent relationship between the intelligent and stubborn Elizabeth Bennet and the elusive Mr. Darcy.

Many directors have translated the book onto the screen, and while some adaptations were more popular than others, they still deserve some credit. There will likely never be a shortage of Jane Austen adaptations for audiences to enjoy. The Hallmark Channel and YouTubers have turned the stories of Austen's heroines into modern romantic comedies in the last decade, giving fresh takes on a familiar story centered in offices or during the holiday season instead of on an English estate. Even many classic versions of Pride And Prejudice movies are now available to stream, giving Austen fans their pick of a variety of stories.

16 Pride And Prejudice

Released In 1967

Released in 1967 on BBC, Pride & Prejudice came out as a miniseries on the 150th anniversary of Jane Austen's death. Celia Bannerman and Lewis Fiander starred as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy in this version, which includes six episodes. Each episode is only 25 minutes though, so it's still a relatively quick watch for a serial adaptation. This is also an interesting release because it remains available to see online, but was never made available on home video, so Austen fans couldn't own a physical copy of the show.

Stream now on BFI

It is also reportedly the earliest BBC television adaptation in existence (via Screen Online). The one main difference here is that the middle sister Mary was omitted in this version. Changes are often made to screen adaptations of novels, and that is certainly true in later adaptations of Pride and Prejudice as well.

15 Pride And Prejudice

Released In 1980

In 1980, the Pride & Prejudice again, this time as another miniseries. It starred Elizabeth Garvie as Elizabeth Bennet and David Rintoul as Mr. Darcy. This version also aired in the United States thanks to the BBC's partnership with PBS television and Masterpiece Theatre.

Available to stream on Peacock

This was also the fourth of five adaptations of the story for BBC, although the first two (1938, 1952) are now considered "lost." The cast in this version was all great, especially the actors playing the Bennet sisters. The entire Bennet family is intact in this adaptation. This version stands up well alongside the other BBC releases of the story.

One of the most unique aspects of the series is that each episode opens with watercolor artwork. The art is created in the style of Thomas Rowlanson, who would have been one of Jane Austen's contemporaries. The costuming and lighting for the miniseries both earned BAFTA nominations, but the miniseries didn't take home any awards.

14 Pride And Prejudice

Released In 2003

When it comes to the best Pride & Prejudice movies, the 2003 Pride And Prejudice was one of the many that attempted to transport Jane Austen's story to modern times. In this case, the action takes place in Utah, with Elizabeth Bennet portrayed as a career-driven woman who dreams of becoming a writer and Mr. Darcy as a successful businessperson. The movie isn't made to be taken seriously and is more a comedy than a faithful retelling of an epic love story.

Available to stream on Peacock

While this isn't the most beloved adaptation of Austen's classic, it does make some inspired choices in bringing the story into the modern day. For example, the young women who would be Elizabeth's sisters in the original novel are now her roommates. She also has her own dreams of being a writer, and balks at the traditional expectation that women in their 20s should be heading for marriage. Here, Mr. Darcy is a successful businessman who gets off on the wrong foot with Elizabeth and her friends.

What doesn't work in the adaptation is the sudden rush characters like Collins have to get married, proposing to multiple women without the women showing him any interest. That doesn't really work today, or even in 2003.

13 Austenland

Released In 2013

Technically, Austenland isn't a straight adaptation of Jane Austen's work. Instead, it's based on the novel of the same name by Shannon Hale, which features a character who is obsessed with Austen's Pride And Prejudice and finds her own version of the story playing out when she visits a resort that recreates the Austen era for guests. Role playing is often seen as something for gamers or to be done in fantasy setting rather than a historical rom-com, so it's a fresh way to interpret Austen's work.

Available to stream on Starz

It's a clever idea that much of the audience for the movie will appreciate, and it allows for the audience to draw parallels to some of Austen's other works within the story as well. The main character Jane even sees several unexpected twists in her romantic entanglements that Austen herself would approve of.

12 Pride And Prejudice And Zombies

Released In 2016

Unlike many other Pride & Prejudice movies, it's interesting to note that Pride And Prejudice And Zombies is an adaptation of an adaptation. The book that inspired this 2016 movie took Elizabeth and Darcy's relationship and turned it upside down by including zombies. Yes, zombies in the 19th century. It's one of the most unique takes on Austen ever done. More parody than true adaptation, the movie certainly turned heads. It turns training in social niceties to training with specialized weapons and the attraction between Elizabeth and Darcy is sparked by a battle against zombies at a country dance.

Available to stream on Fubo

Austen purists weren't exactly happy with the book, but it makes for an entertaining watch, and Lily James' take on the famous heroine is commendable. In fact, the cast can claim a lot of credit for making the movie so entertaining. The chemistry between the romantic leads as well as the sisters is fantastic.

It might not be the best Pride And Prejudice movie, but it makes the romantic comedy more adrenaline-fueled. It's not a terrifying horror movie, and it's not a straight-up love story, but it is a standout among Austen adaptations because it is so different.

11 Pride, Prejudice And Mistletoe

Released In 2018

This particular holiday version of Austen's classic is a modern update and features Hallmark mainstay, Lacey Chabert. It's unique in that it's a gender-flipped version of the story. Chabert stars in the Darcy role, but this time, Darcy is a woman who returns home to help her mother with a community fundraiser — where she falls in love with a rival from high school.

Available to stream on Hoopla

It takes a lot of liberties with the source material, but the unique story makes it stand out from other adaptations. Pride, Prejudice, And Mistletoe might not be the most beloved adaptation, but it's nice to see Austen's story still finding new life. Hallmark, with its penchant for both modern cozy romances and holiday movies in which women often have to examine their love lives and their careers, loves to adapt Austen's work in interesting ways. It's got numerous adaptations, most of them modern, in its catalog.

10 Unleashing Mr. Darcy

Released In 2016

Yet another Hallmark adaptation of Austen's most famous novel that brings the story into the modern era, this takes Elizabeth and Darcy into the competitive world of dog shows. Elizabeth Scott enters her dog into a show, while Donovan Darcy is one of the judges.

Available to stream on Hoopla

The movie might be vastly different from the source material, but it stays true to the spirit of the original novel with both characters attracted to one another, but stubbornly believing their first impressions of one another, and allowing misunderstandings to cloud their judgment. The audience knows how the story will end, but that doesn't make the adaptation any less fun than other of the best Pride & Prejudice movies.

This is, however, one of the few adaptations that is actually an award-winner. Director David Winning, who has done a lot of movies for Hallmark, is a frequent entrant into WorldFest Houston, an independent film festival in Houston, Texas. When this movie was entered, he won a Platinum Remi, one of the highest honors in the made for tv category.

9 Bride & Prejudice

Released In 2004

Bollywood studios love to adapt classics for the Indian style of filmmaking. This is especially true for romances like Austen's and mysteries like Agatha Christie's. The Bollywood take on Pride & Prejudice is yet another instance where the beloved characters are transported to the modern-day, including plenty of colorful dance numbers and stunning visuals. There are not many musical adaptations of Austen's works, but this one has some great musical sequences in it.

Available to stream on Hoopla

Bride And Prejudice stays as faithful to the novel as an adaptation like this can and includes pretty good performances by the two main actors. Plus, it's wonderful to witness a clash of cultures within the realm of Austen as the male suitors are English but the young women they are pursuing are Indian. It adds another layer to the conflict between the characters.

8 Christmas At Pemberley Manor

Released In 2018

In 2018, more than one movie inspired by Pride And Prejudice hit the Hallmark channel. Christmas at Pemberley Manor took the idea of Elizabeth and the infamous Mr. Darcy and turned them into adversaries during the holiday season. In this case, Elizabeth is an event planner from New York who ends up planning the holiday celebration in a small town. She wants to use Pemberley Manor as the venue, but the wealthy Darcy wants to sell the property, putting them at odds.

Available to rent on Apple TV

It's pretty standard holiday fare for Hallmark, and similar plots have played out without Elizabeth and Darcy at the center on the network, but the Austen link keeps the audience looking for nods to the source material. There are a lot of differences here though since Elizabeth's sprawling family doesn't appear in this version of the story.

7 Death Comes To Pemberley

Released In 2013

Jane Austen's novels exist only as standalone stories, without sequels. But the good news is, the world of television doesn't quite care about that. There have been numerous plays and movies made as sequels to Austen's works as well. This time around, the product of that sentiment is the miniseries Death Comes To Pemberley.

Available to stream on PBS Masterpiece

Even though it's not an adaptation per se, it still features the characters fans know and love, this time married for six years already, as they are wrapped up in a murder mystery. A bit darker of a take than most adaptations, it's for those Austen fans who love a good sleuth. Yet another incredible series brought to the audience by BBC.

While the series might not have picked up a ton of award show nods, the craftsmanship of the hair and makeup for the series was recognized. It picked up a BAFTA TV Craft nomination for the looks worn by the characters.