Adapting Jane Austen’s works into movies or TV shows has been a fan favorite for years. And while some adaptations follow the books, some projects take certain creative freedoms. For instance, not everyone might realize that Bridget’s Jones Diary is a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice.
And while some novel adaptations, like Sense & Sensibility, have stood the test of time, not all are equally successful. For instance, Persuasion 2022 took on the classic but struggled to hit the mark with the viewers.
Like Jane Austen novels, some adaptations never get old, and you can re-watch them repeatedly. Without further ado, here are the best Jane Austen TV and movie adaptations.
Jane Austen adaptations
There are so many novel-to-film adaptations, so picking a favorite is difficult. Moreover, filmmakers even recreated some into more modern versions as time passed. Since Austen inspired many movies and TV shows, we’ve decided to round up our favorites and jog your memory of her best screen adaptations you can re-watch.
Pride and Prejudice (1995)
The mini-series “Pride and Prejudice” is Jane Austen’s most popular adaptation. This mini drama probably came to mind first once you’ve read the title.
With Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, who did a fantastic job starring as Mr. Filtzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, and its faithfulness to the source novel, the six-episode mini-series quickly became worldwide famous and adored by the global audience. It is the best adaption of Pride and Prejudice in most critics’ and viewers’ eyes.
Sense and Sensibility (1996)
The movie follows two sisters, Elinor, and Marianne, portrayed by Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet, who lose their father and must move out since the family house has passed to their half-brother.
This incredible movie adaptation shows us the difference between the two sisters’ reactions to their life events and how they handle their emotions. Getting two Academy Awards for this movie, one for acting and one for screenwriting, Emma Thompson outdid herself with this movie adaptation.
Emma (1996)
Incredibly romantic and innocent, Emma Woodhouse, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, loves playing matchmaker for her friends and other people around her but doesn’t see her soulmate right under her nose. By entertaining herself with matchmaking, she almost misses her chance at true love with her lifetime friend.
Thanks to its faithfulness to the novel, the audience received this movie adaptation very well. It made it to almost everyone’s must-watch movie list. However, we also recommend giving Emma (2020) a try, as many viewers describe it as an exquisite adaptation.
Persuasion (1995)
The incredible love story of Anne Elliot, whose family called off her engagement to Frederick Wentworth only for them to rekindle their love eight years later, was depicted perfectly in this Jane Austen movie adaptation. After many mishaps and misunderstandings, the viewers see them finally confess their love for each other.
This satisfying conclusion and the movie’s attention to detail make this adaptation incredible and faithful to the original Jane Austen novel.
Love and Friendship (2016)
This thrilling comedy movie was based on Jane Austen’s novella “Lady Susan,” which she wrote in the form of letters between the characters. This distinctive form of writing wasn’t easy to portray in a movie form, but Whit Stillman did an impeccable job of it.
The movie follows the life of Lady Susan Vernon, a widow famous for being cunning and manipulative, portrayed by Kate Beckinsale. While visiting her brother-in-law, she is set on finding a good match for herself and her spoiled daughter. While trying to navigate her social and love life, she uses her wit and charm to manipulate those around her. Beckinsale did an outstanding job balancing all of Lady Susan’s characteristics perfectly.
How to watch these adaptations
Thanks to technological development, we no longer must wait for a TV screening to watch our favorite movies but can enjoy them online anywhere and anytime. Many streaming services offer Jane Austen novel adaptions on their platforms. Thus, check out which movies or TV shows you can find via your current subscriptions.
If you travel or experience speed drops due to ISP throttling, we also recommend getting a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Download VPN apps to protect your internet activities and speed, and change your IP address. The latter change will let you mask your location, which is incredibly useful when traveling abroad and wanting to access content from back home.
Conclusion
Jane Austen’s novels have been the first choice for countless romance lovers all around the globe. That led to numerous TV and movie adaptations of her best works. Even though you’ve probably seen them all, these adaptations are worth re-watching time and time again.