Everything is getting rebooted these days, from superhero movies to fantasy franchises! Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare has been the subject of several adaptations over the years. It is probably the most well-known and respected love tragedy in dramatic history. The story of a boy and a girl from rival households, who fall in love and are tragically torn apart by their families’ rules, has become the blueprint for many romances that have been published throughout the years.

Indeed, Shakespeare’s famous story of star-crossed lovers has been recounted in theater, television, and film for many years. While some movie-makers opted to keep close to Shakespeare’s original plot, others have changed the play’s core idea to match the contemporary culture. Here are a few of the greatest interpretations of the Bard’s epic work, ranked.

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8 Romeo and Juliet: Beyond Words (2019)

     The Royal BalletFootwork Films

Romeo and Juliet: Beyond Words, a ballet adaptation of the well-known Shakespeare play was written and directed by Michael Nunn, and stars Francesca Hayward as Juliet and William Bracewell as Romeo. Romeo and Juliet ought to be sworn rivals because they come from the rival Capulet and Montague families, but instead, they fall profoundly in love and secretly wed. This starts a series of happenings that end in disaster. This is the same tale presented in a manner that has never been done before, in a language that everyone can comprehend.

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7 Romeo and Juliet (1986)

     Paramount Pictures

Romeo and Juliet, which was directed by Franco Zeffirelli, is regarded as one of the original adaptations. The movie presents the old story while staying quite true to the original. Shakespeare’s timeless tale of adolescent love is revealed as a vicious blood war splits the great clans of the Montagues and the Capulets in the ancient city of Verona. A brief but exciting interaction with sensitive dark-haired Juliet Capulet (Olivia Hussey) opens the door for fervent desires and harsh intimate grief, and youth’s impertinence gives gorgeous young Romeo Montague (Leonard Whiting) the courage to arrive unannounced to the Capulets’ enthralling masquerade ball.

Currently, Romeo and Juliet is mired in its own tragedy. According to Variety, the lead performers, who were still in their teen years when the movie debuted, have sued the studio over a naked bedroom scene that they allege was recorded without their consent or knowledge.

6 Romeo & Juliet (2013)

     Relativity Media

In Romeo & Juliet, directed by Carlo Carlei, the Montagues and the Capulets coexist in this modernized theatrical adaptation under the watchful gaze of the Prince. But the animosity between the families poses a threat to everyone, especially the kids. Despite the Prince’s ban on such battles, the young men of both houses are hot-blooded and willing to engage in combat at the slightest provocation. No family rivalry can stop young Romeo (Douglas Booth), a Montague, from falling in love with Juliet (Hailee Steinfeld), the virginal Capulet daughter, when he first sees her. Both happiness and sadness for everyone result from this risky romance. The screenplay for the film was written by award-winning author Julian Fellowes, best known for his masterpiece Downtown Abbey.

5 Die in a Gunfight (2021)

     Lionsgate Films

The Rathcarts and the Gibbons in the movie Die in a Gunfight are the contemporary Montagues and Capulets, two warring families that each own their own media conglomerate in New York City. Despite their parents’ attempts to keep them separated, their teenage children Ben and Mary (Diego Boneta and Alexandra Daddario) choose to disregard the conflict and fall for each other. In this quick-paced, action-packed love story, hitmen, corporate corruption, love, passion, and feelings of vindictiveness all come to a climax during the nuptials.

4 Rosaline (2022)

     Hulu

Rosaline, which is based on Rebecca Serle’s book When You Were Mine, flips the traditional Romeo and Juliet plot on its head. With a comedic twist, the narrative is presented from the viewpoint of Romeo’s most recent ex-girlfriend, Rosaline, Juliet’s cousin, played by Kaitlyn Dever. Sharp but idealistic Rosaline concocts plans to thwart the well-known romance and win back her boyfriend after she is devastated when Romeo (Kyle Allen) left her after meeting Juliet (Isabela Merced). “Rosaline is Romeo’s whole world until he meets Juliet,” said film director Karen Maine to People Magazine, “and, well, we all know what happens once those two cross paths.”

3 Shakespeare in Love (1998)

     Miramax

Shakespeare’s struggle to create his next play is depicted in Shakespeare in Love. The daughter of a rich merchant, Viola, serves as his inspiration for writing Romeo and Juliet, his tragicomedy. The film boasts an all-star cast; Shakespeare is played by Joseph Fiennes, Viola is played by Gwyneth Paltrow, and Queen Elizabeth is played by Judi Dench, in a brief but Oscar-winning part. Shakespeare in Love had 13 Academy Award nominations and took home seven of them, including Best Picture and Best Actress.

2 Gnomeo & Juliet (2011)

In this animated narrative, director Kelly Asbury adapts the well-known Romeo and Juliet tale into something the whole family can enjoy. Garden gnomes are used in the Shakespeare retelling of Gnomeo & Juliet. The rival blue and red gnomes are divided by a garden fence. When garden gnomes Gnomeo (James McAvoy), on the blue side of the fence, and Juliet (Emily Blunt), on the red side of the fence, become embroiled in a dispute between neighbors, they face just as many challenges as their fictitious namesakes. They continue to fall in love with one another despite everything. Can their love survive the hilarity of a pink plastic flamingo war and races with lawnmowers?

1 Romeo + Juliet (1996)

     20th Century Fox

Romeo + Juliet, Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, is among the most well-known. The classic Shakespearean language is combined with a post-modern backdrop in this complex project. The families of Romeo and Juliet are competing gangs who use firearms rather than swords to battle one other. Fashion plays a significant role in the movie in separating the two gangs. With their leather leggings and pistol holsters, the Capulets have a more rugged appearance than the Montagues, who dress more casually with their flowing dress shirts and styled hair. The all-star ensemble of Romeo + Juliet — which stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes as Romeo and Juliet, respectively, and the renowned John Leguizamo as Tybalt — gives outstanding performances.