People all over the world love Jane Austen for her stirring romances. Austen's stories are retold again and again for the timeless questions about social status and the variety of in depth characters. We relate to characters like Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett in every time period, not just in the Regency era (which has gained a lot of popularity since the release of Bridgerton season two). Whether you like to dive deep into the symbolism of her words or just swoon over a good Regency romance, there is something everyone can enjoy in each of her stories. Here are some of the best Jane Austen movies and TV shows.
8 Mansfield Park (1999)
Mansfield Park is one of Austen's lesser-known novels. The story centers around Fanny Price, who is sent to live with her wealthy relations because of her immediate family's poverty. Her new family is nice to her, but everyone except cousin Edward constantly reminds Fanny of her "lesser" background. Something about Fanny's Cinderella-like character doesn't always appeal to modern audiences. She is neither obedient enough to be a martyr nor obstinate enough to be a true rebel. But for audiences who enjoy a more realistic and moderate approach to a realizable social problem, Fanny's sweet personality hits the spot. We love this movie for the modern humor and the fun it infuses into story.
7 Clueless
Something about Emma's frivolous personality fits well in Beverly Hills. In the classic 1815 novel, the titular Emma loves to play matchmaker, but trouble arises when she tries to find a match for herself. This version turns Emma into a somewhat Clueless valley girl. We love seeing Emma's annoyingly lovable character translated into something so familiar to us today. The references to '90s technology and culture (and those specifically '90s outfits) add a level of hilarity to the already humorous premise.
6 Persuasion (1995)
Jane Austen's last novel Persuasion carries more maturity and seriousness than most of Austen's other books. Anne Elliot's family convinces her not to marry the love of her life because of his lack of social standing. However, she never stops loving him. When he returns as a wealthy captain and society pushes him toward many other suitors, Anne worries she may be miserable forever.
Some prefer the 2007 version for its dramatic outbursts of emotion, but we prefer this version for its subtleties. The characters are thoughtful and conservative adults that only express the intentions of their hearts through subtext in dialogue and veiled expressions. These hundreds of small hints create a world of suspense and romance under the surface.
5 Emma (2009)
This PBS series offers more detail than the average movie but is significantly shorter than many TV series. We love this version of Emma for its in-depth storytelling and lovable characters. The length of the series gives enough time to allow viewers to se inside each characters' head and understand their personalities. The plot develops quickly while still giving adequate time to minor characters and subplots. The romance between the heartfelt Emma and the responsible Mr. Knightly is a classic every Jane Austen fan should be familiar with.
4 Bride and Prejudice
This Bollywood adaptation of Pride and Prejudice is one of the most unique versions of the story that exists. Mr. Darcy and Lalita don't like each other at first. As they get to know each other better, the two start to fall in love, but other suitors and their difference in economic status keeps them apart. We love watching these classic characters come to life in a modern setting and a different culture. Bride and Prejudice is full of bright colors and upbeat musical numbers to bring joy to the hearts of any viewer,
3 Sense and Sensibility (1995)
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We love this version of Sense and Sensibility for the excellent chemistry between the characters. Even though the Dashwood sisters love each other, they can't be more different. Eleanor is very practical, but Marianne is free-spirited and wild. As the two find love, they disagree on many fronts, but in the end remain each other's greatest allies.
Emma Thompson becomes the nagging and responsible older sister and Kate Winslet plays the younger carefree women perfectly. Their back and forth dialogue matched with Alan Rickman and Hugh Grant makes this movie a must-watch for any Jane Austen fan. This version was also the English-language debut for Ang Lee, who brings a truly international reach to the tale.
2 Pride and Prejudice (2005)
Kiera Knightly can draw viewers into any of her projects, but her bold and courageous personality fits especially well in the role of Elizabeth Bennett. Knightly's performance in this version of Pride and Prejudice allows viewers to relate to all the emotional ups and downs within the story. She masters acting strong, while still allowing us to glimpse moments of her pain, doubt, and elation in her mind. The stacked cast also includes Carey Mulligan, Rosamund Pike, and Donald Sutherland all giving great performances.
Aside from the acting, we love this version for the modern production values. Technology advanced a lot between the old PBS classics in the '90s and this movie in 2005. The cinematography captures various breathtaking locations, sets, and costumes that make even those with a humble status look good.
1 Pride and Prejudice 1995
Even though the six-hour run time may overwhelm some viewers, we love the 1995 series of Pride and Prejudice for its great attention to detail. Because of the length, we get to see more subplots and small moments of character developments in this movie. Even though none of those subplots are really essential to the main plot, they do make the journey meaningful and elaborate the world of the characters, really bringing the novel to life. This version is also one of the best to develop Mr. Darcy's character. He is truly dislikable in the first several episodes, but with the extra time he transforms into the attractive leading man every Jane Austen fan hopes for.