Shakespearean Adaptations in the 1990s

90s and Early 2000s Shakespeare Adaptations

Starting with the surprising success of Kenneth Branagh’s Henry V in 1989, the 1990s found a new cinematic fascination with Shakespeare with three big screen adaptations of Hamlet alone being released in ten years. A slew of Shakespeare films arrived in the 90s with big names, big budgets, and new takes on the classic tales. There were also several films inspired by Shakespeare’s works such as The Lion King, My Own Private Idaho, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, 10 Things I Hate About You, and the Oscar-winning Shakespeare in Love.

Henry V (1989) Hamlet (1990) Richard III (1995)

Kenneth Branagh as Henry V in Henry V. Photo Credit: Youtube. Glenn Close as Gertrude in Hamlet. Photo Credit: Frockflicks.com. Ian McKellen as Richard III in Richard III. Photo credit: Mckellen.com.

Twelfth Night (1996) Much Ado About Nothing (1993)

Stanley Tucci as Puck and Rupert Everett as Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Photo credit: Mubi.com.

Romeo + Juliet (1996)

Claire Danes as Juliet and Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo in Romeo + Juliet. Photo credit: IMDb

Irene Jacob as Desdemona and Laurence Fishburne as Othello in Othello. Photo credit: IMDb. Ethan Hawke as Hamlet in Hamlet. Photo credit: The Sundae.

Hamlet (1996)

Kenneth Branagh as Hamlet and Kate Winslet as Ophelia in Hamlet. Photo Credit: Medium.

Othello (1995)