Shakespeare in Love

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Shakespeare in Love

R

1998

2h 30m

Romance

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

147 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

"Shakespeare in Love" is a romantic comedy for the 1990s set in the 1590s. It imaginatively unfolds the witty, sexy and timeless tale behind the creation of the greatest love story ever told. A young Shakespeare is out of cash and ideas; he meets his ideal woman and she inspires him to write one of his most famous plays.

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Critics Consensus

Endlessly witty, visually rapturous, and sweetly romantic, Shakespeare in Love is a delightful romantic comedy that succeeds on nearly every level.

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Caroline Siede

Girl Culture (Substack)

Mar 13, 2026

It’s a shared passion for the creative process that actively fuels Will and Viola’s romance. The play is good because they’re falling in love, but they’re also falling in love because the play is so good.

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Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

Nov 1, 2023

Tom Stoppard’s script is a playful delight; the tone is exuberant and lively.

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Terry Lawson

Detroit Free Press

Jan 5, 2023

4/4

Though set in the Bard's 16th Century, Shakespeare in Love is hipper, smarter and cleverer than any contemporary romantic comedy in recent memory.

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Rachel Wagner

Hallmarkies Podcast

Apr 7, 2025

A fun movie I enjoy

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Mar 2, 2025

3.5/4

While it’s no Saving Private Ryan (which it absurdly beat for the Best Picture Academy Award mainly due to Miramax head Harvey Weinstein’s bullying, Oscar-mongering campaign), it remains a witty romantic comedy.

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Mark Johnson

Awards Daily

Jun 27, 2023

A sweet and whimsical love story

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Erica B

Mar 25, 2026

I'm glad I finally got to watch this for the first time!

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Huntin P

@PaxVobiscum80 Sep 14, 2026

Pity those poor internet bores who whine about this movie grabbing a bunch of Oscars ahead of Saving Private Ryan. The same people complain about Star Wars losing out to Annie Hall in 1978. They have no taste, in other words. The fact that Miramax campaigned like mad, twisting the arms of academy voters, is neither here nor there. Written by the legendary Tom Stoppard, who came to fame by turning Hamlet into a comedy, Shakespeare in Love is an exquisite fiction on the writing of Shakey's greatest love tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. Joseph Fiennes and Gwyneth Paltrow's finest hours, acting in this movie. The rest of the cast are superb, and what the heck, let's include Ben Affleck in that assessment too. Tom Wilkinson and Geoffrey Rush are particular standouts. Colin Firth does his usual, pompous turn, but it was Rush, Paltrow, and Judy Dench, who all bagged the acting Oscars. A romantic, comedic, tragic, dramatic feast of a movie.

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bruce C

@bruce999 Aug 3, 2026

wow, what drama. the end scene with the dagger, is so great. don't miss this one

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Ben W

@Username618 Apr 18, 2026

Really didn't go for this at all - see Will, Horrible Histories.

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rex W

@RT11010153 Apr 6, 2026

The first time I saw "Shakespeare in Love," it was better than I wanted it to be because I was so loyal to "Saving Private Ryan." I decided to revisit the film, only to discover that I still like it better than I should. It is not better than "SPR," (too much kissin and poetry), but it is a good movie and a worthy contender.

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virginia S

@Ginny72 Mar 15, 2026

Finally saw this after more than 20 years and I must admit it is a great movie. I had been disappointed that it beat out "saving private ryan"—they are both fabulous movies and I can see why "Shakespeare" won.

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John Madden

Director

Joseph Fiennes

William Shakespeare

Gwyneth Paltrow

Viola De Lesseps

Geoffrey Rush

Philip Henslowe

Judi Dench

Queen Elizabeth

Simon Callow

Tilney, Master of the Revels

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Synopsis

"Shakespeare in Love" is a romantic comedy for the 1990s set in the 1590s. It imaginatively unfolds the witty, sexy and timeless tale behind the creation of the greatest love story ever told. A young Shakespeare is out of cash and ideas; he meets his ideal woman and she inspires him to write one of his most famous plays.

Director: John Madden
Producer: Marc Norman, Donna Gigliotti, David Parfitt, Harvey Weinstein, Edward Zwick
Screenwriter: Tom Stoppard, Marc Norman
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Miramax Films, Bedford Falls Productions, Universal Pictures
Rating: R (Sexuality)
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 21, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $100.2M
Runtime: 2h 30m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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