Much Ado About Nothing

Play trailer

Much Ado About Nothing

PG-13

1993

1h 50m

Comedy

Romance

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

50 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

In this Shakespearean farce, Hero (Kate Beckinsale) and her groom-to-be, Claudio (Robert Sean Leonard), team up with Claudio's commanding officer, Don Pedro (Denzel Washington), the week before their wedding to hatch a matchmaking scheme. Their targets are sharp-witted duo Benedick (Kenneth Branagh) and Beatrice (Emma Thompson) -- a tough task indeed, considering their corresponding distaste for love and each other. Meanwhile, meddling Don John (Keanu Reeves) plots to ruin the wedding.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Kenneth Branagh's love for the material is contagious in this exuberant adaptation.

Read Critics Reviews

David Denby

New York Magazine/Vulture

Dec 31, 2019

Much Ado About Nothing is one of the few movies of recent years that could leave its audiences weeping with joy.

Go to Full Review

Stanley Kauffmann

The New Republic

Jan 5, 2018

Doyle's enrapturing music and Branagh's cinematic grip of the play--inventive, lithe, somehow Shakespearean--are splendid. This Much Ado is a flawed gem. Certainly, regrettably, flawed; still, a gem.

Go to Full Review

Adam Mars-Jones

Independent (UK)

Nov 16, 2017

Emma Thompson is normally a very reliable performer on screen, but Beatrice is not one of her successes.

Go to Full Review

Rachel Wagner

Hallmarkies Podcast

Aug 14, 2024

My favorite Shakespeare adaptation of all time

Go to Full Review

Farah Cheded

A Good Movie To Watch

Jul 26, 2023

75/100

It might not be set to the music of ABBA, but with Patrick Doyle’s radiant score, an intoxicatingly beautiful Tuscan setting, and an infectious, non-stop party vibe, the joyous Much Ado About Nothing feels [...] akin to Mamma Mia

Go to Full Review

Michael Dwyer

Irish Times

Feb 19, 2019

What a piece of work is this.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Austin B

@RT35999578 Sep 15, 2026

Austin B Boswellllgmailcom

See more

Diandre R

@RT53139537 May 16, 2026

I love Shakespeare movies. I am a sucker for them. They are always good to me. This movie was really good, especially the acting. This is an all-star cast putting on an all-star performance. I also thought the story was really good too.

See more

Christopher C.

@PapaTangooo May 16, 2026

A very fun adaptation of Shakespeare . . . for the romantic in you.

See more

Joy B.

@9mr_0 Jan 12, 2026

ملحمه فنية . رواية لشكسبير فحتما انت على موعد مع قصة جميلةجدا. المخرج عرض الفلم بشكل هادىء يجمع بين الاداء السينمائي و المسرحي مع كوميديا جميلة. الممثلين ادائهم اكثر من رائع لكن ما ازعجني ان بعض الممثلين دائهم ما كان يوازي حجمهم او المخرج لم يعطهم المساحه الكافية . التصوير كان سلس و متزن. الموسيقى و الاغاني كانت رائعه. ملابس الممثلين كانت انيقة.

See more

John T

@DrJohnT Sep 8, 2025

Joyful story of love! Superb cast and setting in glorious Tuscany

See more

Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 19, 2025

Funny in 1 hour and 50 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $22,500,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Kenneth Branagh

Director

Kenneth Branagh

Seigneur Benedick

Emma Thompson

Beatrice

Denzel Washington

Don Pedro of Aragon

Keanu Reeves

Don John

Michael Keaton

Constable Dogberry

The American President

90%

77%

The American President

Watchlist

Drive Me Crazy

27%

53%

Drive Me Crazy

Watchlist

Modern Girls

40%

64%

Modern Girls

Watchlist

Don Juan DeMarco

70%

68%

Don Juan DeMarco

Watchlist

Picture Perfect

44%

37%

Picture Perfect

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

87 Fearless Women Movie Heroes Who Inspire Us

Rank Michael Keaton’s 10 Best Movies

Emma Thompson’s 10 Best Movies

View more photos

Synopsis

In this Shakespearean farce, Hero (Kate Beckinsale) and her groom-to-be, Claudio (Robert Sean Leonard), team up with Claudio's commanding officer, Don Pedro (Denzel Washington), the week before their wedding to hatch a matchmaking scheme. Their targets are sharp-witted duo Benedick (Kenneth Branagh) and Beatrice (Emma Thompson) -- a tough task indeed, considering their corresponding distaste for love and each other. Meanwhile, meddling Don John (Keanu Reeves) plots to ruin the wedding.

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Producer: Kenneth Branagh, Stephen Evans, David Parfitt
Screenwriter: Kenneth Branagh, William Shakespeare
Distributor: Argentina Video Home, Columbia Tristar
Production Co: BBC, Samuel Goldwyn Company
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 7, 1993, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 27, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $22.5M
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Surround

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings