Is Shakespeare in Love easy watching?

Yes. More comforting than 77% of well-known films. This describes how the film comes across as a whole, measured against other well-known films; it is not a content list.

Is Shakespeare in Love violent?

Barely. Less violent than 76% of well-known films. This describes how the film comes across as a whole, measured against other well-known films; it is not a content list.

Does Shakespeare in Love end with hope?

Somewhat. More hopeful than 70% of well-known films. This describes how the film comes across as a whole, measured against other well-known films; it is not a content list.

Is Shakespeare in Love scary?

Not especially. Less frightening than 65% of well-known films. This describes how the film comes across as a whole, measured against other well-known films; it is not a content list.

Is Shakespeare in Love sad?

About average. Almost exactly mid-range for a well-known film. This describes how the film comes across as a whole, measured against other well-known films; it is not a content list.

Shakespeare in Love

Name: Shakespeare in Love
Genre: Romance, History, Comedy, Drama
Released: 1998
Duration: 124 min
Rating: 6.8
Cast: Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Geoffrey Rush, Tom Wilkinson, Judi Dench

Love is the only inspiration.

Directed by John Madden

Produced by Miramax, Universal Pictures

1998124 min6.8 / 10

A lush, playful romantic comedy that weaves Shakespeare's creative process with a forbidden love affair, celebrating art, passion, and the transformative power of desire.

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

Clusters

Feel-Good Homecoming Stories Feel-Good Second-Chance Romance Whimsical Reinvention Through Romance Second Chance Romance Gender and Sexual Identity

Genres

Romance History Comedy Drama

Keywords

London, England Theater Play Queen Elizabeth I Playwright Cross Dressing False History Francis Bacon 16th Century Acting Elizabethan England

Where to watch

StreamParamount+, fuboTV
FreeKanopy
RentApple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
BuyApple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube, Fandango At Home

Questions people ask

Is Shakespeare in Love easy watching? Yes. More comforting than 77% of films.
Is Shakespeare in Love violent? Barely. Less violent than 76% of films.
Does Shakespeare in Love end with hope? Somewhat. More hopeful than 70% of films.
Is Shakespeare in Love scary? Not especially. Less frightening than 65% of films.
Is Shakespeare in Love sad? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.