Where to watch Shakespeare in Love online

Storyline

Young Shakespeare is forced to stage his latest comedy, "Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter," before it's even written. When a lovely noblewoman auditions for a role, they fall into forbidden love -- and his play finds a new life (and title). As their relationship progresses, Shakespeare's comedy soon transforms into tragedy.

Released

1998-12-11
Revenue

$289,300,000
Budget

$25,000,000
Runtime

2hr 3m
Genre

Romance, History, Comedy
Status

Released
Language

English
7.1
Production

Miramax, Universal Pictures, Bedford Falls Productions

Crew

John Madden

Director

Marc Norman

Writer

Harvey Weinstein

Producer

Keywords:

london, england theater play queen elizabeth i playwright cross dressing false history francis bacon 16th century acting elizabethan england romantic

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Cast

Joseph Fiennes

Will Shakespeare

Gwyneth Paltrow

Viola De Lesseps

Geoffrey Rush

Philip Henslowe

Tom Wilkinson

Hugh Fennyman

Judi Dench

Queen Elizabeth

Imelda Staunton

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Colin Firth

Lord Wessex

Ben Affleck

Ned Alleyn

Simon Callow

Tilney

Steven Beard

Makepeace

Jim Carter

Ralph Bashford

Rupert Everett

Christopher Marlowe

Martin Clunes

Richard Burbage

Tim McMullan

Frees

Joe Roberts

John Webster

Antony Sher

Dr. Moth

Georgie Glen

Lady in Waiting

Nicholas Boulton

Henry Condell

Barnaby Kay

Nol

Mark Williams

Wabash

Jill Baker

Lady De Lesseps

Nicholas Le Prevost

Sir Robert De Lesseps

Rebecca Charles

Chambermaid

Bob Barrett

George Bryan

Simon Day

Taxi boatman

Bridget McConnell

Lady in Waiting

Sandra Reinton

Rosaline

Jason Round

Tavern Actor

Rupert Farley

Barman

Adam Barker

First Auditionee

Harry Gostelow

Second Auditionee

Alan Cody

Third Auditionee

David Curtiz

John Hemmings

Gregor Truter

James Hemmings

Amber Glossop

Scullery Maid

Robin Davies

Master Plum

Hywel Simons

Servant

Roger Morlidge

James Armitage

Daniel Brocklebank

Sam Gosse

Mark Saban

Augustine Phillips

Timothy Kightley

Edward Pope

Roger Frost

Second Taxi Boatman

Rachel Clarke

First Whore

Lucy Speed

Second Whore

John Ramm

Makepeace's Neighbour

Paul Bigley

Peter

Patrick Barlow

Will Kempe

Steven O'Donnell

Lambert

John Inman

Lady Capulet in Play

Videos and Photos

Movie Reviews

Reviews for Shakespeare in Love

A Review by GenerationofSwine 1

Written by GenerationofSwine on 2023-01-14

Does anyone remember this? I do, but only because its what turned me off of the Oscars. Haven't watched them since. It was the rude awakenin... read more

A Review by Geronimo1967 7

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2023-08-28

Set during the later reign of Engand's Queen Elizabeth, this joyful drama sees poor old William Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) having a bit of... read more

Set during the later reign of Engand's Queen Elizabeth, this joyful drama sees poor old William Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) having a bit of a creative drought. Lacking ideas and cash, and being pursued by both Richard Burbage (Martin Clunes) and the wonderfully dead pan Geoffrey Rush as Philip Henslowe for work he's supposed to have already penned, things are looking a bit bleak. When Gwyneth Paltrow, an ardent theatre fan prohibited from taking to the stage by virtue of her sex, dresses as "Thomas Kent" and auditions for a part, he sees through the disguise quickly and his creative juices once again begin to flow... Snag is, she "Viola de Lesseps" is engaged to the poverty stricken "Lord Wessex" (Colin Firth) and Virginia bound - as soon as he can raise the dowry from her father... What ensues is a rapid-fire, lightly comical, romantic drama that sees quite a collection of acting talents contributing well to the ensemble effect of this story. Fiennes shines as the playwright in trouble - frequently - as do Paltrow, Rush, a surprisingly effective Ben Affleck, Imelda Staunton as her worldly-wise nurse with Jim Carter as the onstage version of that persona and Barnaby Kay as the mischievous little "Nol". The costumes and sets are magnificent; the writing from Marc Norman and the newly knighted Sir Tom Stoppard is witty and stimulating - cleverly incorporating quite a bit of the original bard's efforts into their screenplay as they go. It would have been easily possible for this embarrassment of acting riches to have overwhelmed this story, but John Madden keeps all pulling well in the same direction. The film will doubtless be remembered more as Dame Judi Dench's consolation Oscar (for not winning for "Mrs. Brown" the year earlier), and as far as they go her performances are fine - but there is much more to this story of the trials and tribulations of a bard in love. A wee bit long, it seems to end more than once, but it is still a story the eponymous writer himself might well have enjoyed.

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)

A Review by GenerationofSwine

Does anyone remember this? I do, but only because its what turned me off of the Oscars. Haven't watched them since. It was the rude awakening that they were fixed, the quality of the film didn't matter as much as the bribes. It beat Savi...