You might think Shakespeare is all about old language, long speeches, and something you had to study at school. His stories are everywhere — including in films you’ve probably already seen. Here are a few well-known movies that are actually based on Shakespeare plays, whether it’s obvious or not.
The Lion King (1994) — Hamlet
A young prince, the sudden death of a father, an uncle who takes over, and a journey of self-discovery.
Sound familiar?
The Lion King follows a very similar storyline to Hamlet, just with a slightly more upbeat ending.
10 Things I Hate About You (1999) — The Taming of the Shrew
Set in an American high school, this is a modern take on one of Shakespeare’s comedies.
It keeps the core idea — strong personalities, complicated relationships, and a bit of chaos — but makes it much more accessible.
She’s the Man (2006) — Twelfth Night
A story about disguise, mistaken identity, and confusion all round.
She’s the Man updates Twelfth Night into a football-focused teen film, but the themes are exactly the same.
West Side Story (1961 / 2021) — Romeo and Juliet
Two people fall in love despite being from rival groups.
West Side Story takes Romeo and Juliet and places it in New York, replacing feuding families with rival gangs.
Ran (1985) — King Lear
A more serious take.
This Japanese film by Akira Kurosawa is based on King Lear, focusing on power, family, and the consequences of poor decisions.
So why does this matter?
Because Shakespeare’s stories are still relevant.
They’re about relationships, ambition, power, and identity — things that haven’t really changed. They’ve just been retold in different ways.
Final thought
If you’ve watched any of these films, you already know more Shakespeare than you might think. If you’re curious, the original plays are available through the Library. You can also watch many of these films from our DVD collection, or online through resources such as Kanopy and Box of Broadcasts.
We hope you enjoy!
