Best Jane Austen Film Adaptations to Watch

THose looking for a solution to Jane Austen after watching the Netflix adaptation of her latest novel, Conviction, starring Dakota Johnson, are in luck. There are more than a few good and even great film adaptations of Austen’s books available to stream right now. From tried-and-true adaptations to more modern versions of the cult English author’s classic work, there’s a film for every Austen fan. (Even for those who can’t imagine a movie doing justice to the book it’s based on – we know you’re out there too).

This must-watch list includes a Bollywood version of pride and prejudice, a prep school sendup from mansfield park, and a lovingly hilarious tribute to Austen’s entire literary canon. Gwyneth Paltrow, Anya Taylor-Joy and Alicia Silverstone have all done their own thing Emma‘s titular blonde heroine in three very different versions of the 1815 comedy comedy. For the hopeless romantics there are also several Mr Darcys to turn from enemies into lovers. Unfortunately, Colin Firth takes over the character in the 1995 UK miniseries pride and prejudice didn’t make it, but only because this list focuses on the full-length Austen-inspired features. Don’t worry, there are more than enough proud men and spirited female protagonists on this list to get your heart pumping. Below are the 14 movies that will make you fall in love with Jane Austen all over again.

sense and sensitivity (1995)

Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet star in director Ang Lee’s terrific retelling (written by Oscar-winning Thompson) of Austen’s first novel. The book tells the story of two sisters who are on the verge of bankruptcy and need to find financial prosperity through marriage. Prepare to fall in love with the late Alan Rickman’s portly Colonel Brandon.

Stream on HBO Max

fire island (2022)

Joel Kim Booster stars in this strange adaptation of pride and prejudice as Noah, a real Elizabeth Bennet guy who forsakes men during his annual trip to Long Island’s eponymous summer hotspot in hopes of helping his best friend Howie (Bowen Yang) get laid. Until he meets wealthy Will (Conrad Ricamora), who goes from being an eyesore to his lingerie party dance partner in one of the sexiest scenes ever streamed.

Stream on Hulu

Emma. (2020)

Director Autumn de Wilde offers a stylish and snooty version of the titular matchmaker (played by Anya Taylor-Joy) that modernizes the romance at the heart of Austen’s story. In this retelling, Mr. Knightley (a swooning Johnny Flynn) is no longer 16 years Emma’s senior, but a colleague who encourages her to be a little less Regina George and a little more Cher Horowitz.

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video/Freevee

love & friendship (2016)

The historical comedy directed by Whit Stillman, based on Austen’s posthumous 1871 epistolary novel, Mrs. Susanne, stars Kate Beckinsale as a flirtatious widow who wants to marry off her only daughter and find a wealthy husband for herself. And all while continuing an affair with her married lover. What could go wrong?

Stream on Amazon Prime Video

Austenland (2013)

Austen lover Jane Hayes (Keri Russell) books the vacation of a lifetime to the world’s only immersive Austen experience – think: western world to the Bridgeton Lover – to find her own Mr. Darcy. Unfortunately, the package she paid for only allows her to hang around in the servants’ wing, making it a little harder to become the Elizabeth Bennet of her dreams. However, that won’t stop them from trying.

Rent from Amazon Prime Video

clueless (1995)

Cool girl Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone) plays the matchmaker in Amy Heckerling’s adorable ’90s teen film version of with mixed success Emma which has been making viewers fall madly, madly, madly in love with Paul Rudd for more than a quarter century.

Stream on Amazon Prime Video or Outstanding+

Mansfield Park (1999)

In this romantic drama inspired by Austen’s favorite novels, the high-spirited Fanny Brice (Frances O’Connor) is sent to live with her wealthy cousins ​​in hopes that she will learn how to be a decent society wife. She quickly realizes that wealth and privilege aren’t all you imagine, which strangely makes her the object of all men’s affections.

Rent from Amazon Prime Video

The Diary of Bridget Jones (2001)

Renée Zellweger plays the film’s namesake, a British single in crisis pride and prejudiceesque love triangle with her high-spirited boss Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) and proud lawyer Mark Darcy (Colin Firth). While elements of this film haven’t aged particularly well — fat-shaming, sexual harassment, workplace power imbalances, to name a few — Bridget and Mark’s will-they-won’t-they still haven’t aged.

Stream on HBO Max

Northanger Abbey (2007)

In this surreal adaptation of Austen’s mildly satirical gothic novel of the same name, Catherine Morland (Felicity Jones) can’t tell her real-life romances from the supernatural love stories she loves. No wonder that doesn’t make the date easy.

Rent from Amazon Prime Video

Bride & Prejudice (2004)

do it like Beckham Bollywood spin-on directed by Gurinder Chadha pride and prejudice Stars Aishwarya Rai as Lalita, an unmarried woman, much to her mother’s chagrin, who quarrels with a wealthy American named Mr. Darcy (Martin Henderson) over love, marriage and India’s economic future.

Stream on Starz

conviction (2007)

This early adaptation of Austen’s last novel stars Sally Hakins as Anne Elliott, who gets a second chance at love eight years after she was persuaded by her family to turn down a marriage proposal from penniless Captain Frederick Wentworth (Rupert Penry-Jones). Too bad the now wealthy war hero harbors a grudge against her for breaking his heart all those years ago.

Stream to BritBox

Metropolitan (1990)

The nobles of New York’s Upper East Side stand in for the wealthiest of English society in Whit Stillman’s cheeky indie rom-com homage to Austen’s 1814 novel Mansfield Parkwho lovingly thrashes the debutante class – often by making fun of Austen himself.

Stream on HBO Max

Emma (1996)

In Douglas McGrath’s faithful interpretation of Austen’s 1815 novel, Gwyneth Paltrow plays Emma as a know-it-all who only discovers how naïve she really is about matters of the heart after her heart is broken. Toni Collette, Ewan McGregor and Alan Cumming also star in the romantic comedy.

Stream on HBO Max

pride and prejudice (2005)

With all due respect to Colin Firth, Matthew Macfadyen became the definitive Mr Darcy the moment he took that long early morning stroll through the English meadows to profess his love for Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Bennet. The future successor Star mesmerized audiences body and soul in Joe Wright’s beautiful adaptation of Austen’s greatest love story, and cinema hasn’t been the same since.

Rent from Amazon Prime Video

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