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Trailer

The Importance of Being Earnest

2002Movie1 h 37 minPG

ComedyDrama
64
DecentGoodWatch score
IMDb6.8Metacritic607.1Rotten Tomatoes57%72%

A romantic, nostalgic comedy movie about history and society, with standout dialogue.

Good for date night · friends night · party vibe

Where to watch

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Not for scares or brutality.

Movies with

Story

Everybody Loves Ernest... But Nobody's Quite Sure Who He Really Is.

Two young gentlemen living in 1890s England use the same pseudonym ('Ernest') on the sly, which is fine until they both fall in love with women using that name, which leads to a comedy of mistaken identities.

Feels like

  • Oscar Wilde Adaptation
  • British Comedy
  • Comedy of Manners
  • Historical Setting
  • Romantic Entanglements
  • Satirical Wit
  • Wordplay and Irony
  • Mistaken Identity
  • Upper-Class Society

Cast

14 of 14

Crew

Directed by
Oliver Parker
Written by
Oliver Parker
Produced by
Barnaby Thompson
Music by
Charlie Mole

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

May 17, 2002 · 1 h 37 min · PG

Released
May 17, 2002
Runtime
1 h 37 min
Age rating
PG
Genres
Comedy, Drama, History, Romance
Original language
English
Also spoken
German
Made in
France, United Kingdom, United States
Budget
$15 million
Box office
$17 million
Available in
47 countries

Tropes

Ancestral Name, Kissing Cousins, Trial Balloon Question +9

  • Ancestral Name
  • Kissing Cousins
  • Trial Balloon Question
  • Horrible Judge of Character
  • Fauxlosophic Narration
  • Locked into Strangeness
  • Technician Versus Performer
  • All Women Hate Each Other
  • Phrase Catcher
  • Left the Background Music On
  • Talk About the Weather
  • Gorgeous Period Dress

12 of 88 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream The Importance of Being Earnest?"

Questions about The Importance of Being Earnest

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Importance of Being Earnest?

Paramount+Kanopy

In the United States, The Importance of Being Earnest streams on Paramount+, and it is free with ads on Kanopy. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, JustWatch TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 3 other countries.

Is The Importance of Being Earnest worth watching?

64
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 64 (IMDb 6.8, Rotten Tomatoes 57%, and Metacritic 60). Audiences rate it higher (70 out of 100) than critics (59).

Is The Importance of Being Earnest okay for kids?

PG

Not for young kids: it's rated PG in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for teens and adults.

Is The Importance of Being Earnest good for date night?

and 3 moreDate NightPartner WatchAdultsFriends NightParty Vibe

Yes: romance is 8 of 10, and the viewing guide lists it for date night.

Will The Importance of Being Earnest make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly sharp wit (9 of 10) and situational comedy (7 of 10).

What tropes does The Importance of Being Earnest use?

Ancestral NameKissing CousinsTrial Balloon QuestionHorrible Judge of CharacterFauxlosophic NarrationLocked into StrangenessTechnician Versus PerformerAll Women Hate Each OtherPhrase CatcherLeft the Background Music OnTalk About the WeatherGorgeous Period Dressand 76 more

TV Tropes lists 88 tropes for it, including Ancestral Name, Kissing Cousins, and Trial Balloon Question.