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Shakespeare in Love

1998·Movie
2h 4min·R
IMDb7.1Metacritic877.0Rotten Tomatoes93%80%

Where to watch

fuboTVParamount+KanopyHoopla

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

Shakespeare in Love fingerprint

Big heart, funny.

Energy

Calm and low-key

  • Fast Pace6
  • Spectacle6
  • Tension4

Heart

Deeply romantic and hopeful

  • Romance10
  • Hopefulness8
  • Catharsis8

Humor

Plenty of sharp wit and satire

  • Wit & Wordplay9
  • Satire & Parody6
  • Situational Comedy4

World

History, show business, and a real life story

Lived-in and easy to get lost in. Holds up on a rewatch.

  • World Immersion9
  • Dialogue Centrality9
  • Rewatchability8

Craft

Standout performances, dialogue, and direction

  • Acting9
  • Dialogue Quality9
  • Direction8

Style

Standout cinematography

  • Cinematography8
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFamily Movie NightFriends NightParty VibeIntergenerationalPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensComfort WatchPure EscapismThought-Provoking

Find more like it

Motivational moviesPeaceful moviesRomantic moviesAtmospheric movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Love is the only inspiration.

Young William Shakespeare is forced to stage his latest comedy, 'Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter', before it's even written. When lovely noblewoman Viola de Lesseps auditions for a role, they fall into forbidden love — and Shakespeare's play finds a new life (and title). As their relationship intensifies, the comedy soon transforms into tragedy.
Period RomanceHistorical Comedy-DramaWitty DialogueLiterary InspirationBehind-the-Scenes TheatreCharmingArtistic CreationForbidden LoveEmotional Journey

Crew

Directed by:
John Madden, Olivia Lloyd, Toby Hefferman
Written by:
Tom Stoppard, Marc Norman
Produced by:
Harvey Weinstein, Edward Zwick, Bob Weinstein
Composed by:
Jenny Lee Wright, Robin O'Donoghue, Peter Glossop

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Shakespeare in Love

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Shakespeare in Love legally?

fuboTVParamount+KanopyHoopla

Shakespeare in Love is included with a subscription to fuboTV and Paramount+ in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy and Hoopla. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Shakespeare in Love worth watching?

81
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 81/100 (IMDb 7.1, Rotten Tomatoes 93%, and Metacritic 87). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Shakespeare in Love rated?

RSexual content

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: sexual content.

How long is Shakespeare in Love?

2 h 4 min

Shakespeare in Love runs 2 h 4 min.

Is Shakespeare in Love based on a true story?

Yes. It's based on real events or a real person's life.

Do critics and audiences agree on Shakespeare in Love?

Critics90
Audiences74

Not quite. Critics rate Shakespeare in Love higher (90) than audiences (74). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

Was Shakespeare in Love a box office hit?

Budget$25 million
Box office$289 million

Yes, a big one. It cost about $25 million to make and earned $289 million worldwide, 11.6 times its budget.

What language is Shakespeare in Love in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch Shakespeare in Love?

92ALARATAUBABEBGBOBRBZCACDCHCI+78

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Shakespeare in Love in 92 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Shakespeare in Love use?

Loophole AbuseChekhov's GunHistorical Domain CharacterFamed in StoryGood Adultery, Bad AdulteryStutter StopCoitus UninterruptusAdaptational SexualityWriter's Block MontageActor AllusionParents Suck at MatchmakingThe Loins Sleep Tonightand 80 more

TV Tropes lists 92 storytelling tropes for Shakespeare in Love, including Loophole Abuse, Chekhov's Gun, Historical Domain Character.