Warm Bodies
This love story chronicles the romance of Julie, a teenage girl, and R, a zombie. Their names are references to Romeo and Juliet, which mirrors Warm Bodies' star-crossed lovers.
The Lion King
King Mufasa is killed by his brother, Scar, leaving young Simba to do some soul-searching and eventually claim his rightful throne. Sound familiar? That's because this beloved Disney classic is based on Shakespeare's Hamlet.
10 Things I Hate About You
A young Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Heath Ledger, and Julia Stiles star in a teen romance flick modernized from The Taming of the Shrew. Many of the characters names—Patrick Verona, Kat, and Bianca—are direct references to the play.
West Side Story
Tony and Maria are lovers affiliated with two feuding gangs, the Jets and the Sharks—much like how Romeo and Juliet's love transcended the rift between the Montagues and the Capulets.
Gnomeo and Juliet
James McAvoy and Emily Blunt voice gnomes from opposing gardens who hold secret meetings and fall in love. Luckily, this animated feature has a much happier ending than Shakespeare's original. A sequel, called Gnomeo and Juliet: Sherlock Gnomes, is in the works.
She's the Man
Amanda Bynes plays Viola, the character from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night who dresses as a man and unwittingly falls in love with a man (and causes a woman to fall in love with her!). In this modernization, Channing Tatum plays Viola's love interest, turning a classic comedy into a teen favorite.
My Own Private Idaho
This critically acclaimed street hustler drama starring Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix was adapted from Shakespeare's Henry IV and Henry V.
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It’s Shakespeare’s birthday today (and in a poetic twist of fate, it’s also his death-day).
In honor of the playwright and poet’s continued profound influence on modern culture, we present a list of seven movies based on Shakespeare’s works. You’ll be surprised to learn which hit movies lifted their plots from the Bard himself!