9 Best Jane Austen Adaptations, Ranked
Jane Austen is one of the most prolific writers to have ever graced this planet. Roaming around England in the late 1700s and early 1800s, she never could’ve imagined the impact she’s had on literature and media. Nowadays, there’s no way of escaping an Austen tale, but who would ever want to?
With subtle humor and incredible romances that still reel us in two centuries later, Austen’s novels encompass love, class structure, and much more. Even as filmmakers adapt her stories for the modern age, her work has maintained its relevancy because of her universal themes.
The book-to-screen adaptations have been plentiful, yet only a handful have withstood the test of time, so Swooon is ranking nine Jane Austen adaptations. Does anyone see a movie marathon in the future? Because I sure do.
Mansfield Park
Mansfield Park should be talked about more. Taking inspiration from the original novel, this movie often deviates from the plot. It incorporates the actual Jane Austen, the issues of slavery, and the West Indies plantations. Trying to make it more topical by compiling some key factors of the era that Austen never mentioned in her books, the viewer gets to wonder what would’ve happened if she had included any of that. But then again, how much would she actually have known of the issues outside of her area? Probably not a lot.
Mansfield Park asks a lot of important questions without ever losing track of the main throughline. Not as visually pleasing as some others on this list, this adaptation is a refreshing change from the typical Austen films!
Unlike many of the other additions to this list, Pride & Prejudice: Atlanta was not a theatrical release but rather a Lifetime flick. But that doesn’t make it any less credible. Not talked about as much as the others, Pride & Prejudice: Atlanta fully set the 1813 novel in the modern world, and it’s good.
With hilarious lines, the subtle changes to make it fit the 2019 era allow you to fully see the comparison to the original. The chemistry between the characters could’ve been better, and some of the editing choices were interesting. However, Pride & Prejudice: Atlanta is an enjoyable watch.
Emma
Privileged Emma Woodhouse (Gwyneth Paltrow) seems a bit softer than usual in this adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma. Though still as careless and selfish as other iterations, you’re still really rooting for the heroine.
Putting much of the focus on the love stories throughout its plot, this adaptation lacks nuance. The bond between Emma and Harriet Smith (Toni Collette) appears more fraught, making the audience wonder if Emma ever truly cared for her at all. A visually pleasing movie, this version of Emma is still worth the watch!
Emma.
With many passages directly adapted from the book written in 1815, this Regency-set movie still has a modern twist. The pacing of Emma is erratic and almost indie-like, making it a refreshing watch. Anya Taylor-Joy’s version of Emma Woodhouse is a little colder than previous iterations, but she is so captivating in the role.
Emma allows you to not just fully immerse yourself in the story but also its vibrant cinematography. It’s a very pleasurable experience for all the senses. Do yourself a favor and re-watch this Austen adaptation.
Featuring some of the best British actors of their generation, Emma Thompson’s screenplay of Sense and Sensibility has all the wit and poise that Austen once put down to paper.
Predictable at times but still magical, it’s no wonder this movie received an Oscar. Thompson’s performance as Elinor Dashwood works along lovely with floppy-haired Hugh Grant as Edward Ferrars. Though that’s not where its genius ends, as a bright-faced Kate Winslet brings the innocence and delicate nature expected from Marianne Dashwood. Set in the 1800s with a modern spin on the dialogue, Ang Lee’s Sense and Sensibility is a classic that is up there with all the Austen greats.
Clueless
“As if,” Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone) loves to say in this must-watch rom-com. One of the most popular movies to come out of the ‘90s, this retelling of Emma struck a chord with audiences all over the world. The sometimes obnoxious Cher tries to fight it but eventually falls in love with her once-upon-a-time stepbrother Josh (Paul Rudd), and she had all of us cheering along.
Yeah, looking back, it’s a little weird. But, hey, it was the ‘90s. With to-die-for dialogue, amazing outfits, and a closet stimulator people to this day still want, Clueless is the epitome of an iconic adaptation.
Okay, I admit, the top three Jane Austen adaptations are some version of Pride and Prejudice, and we have to talk about the Gurinder Chadha-directed movie Bride and Prejudice.
Set in Amritsar, Goa, London, and Los Angeles, the premise of a bunch of sisters trying to find love in the modern world gets intertwined with the classic Austen tale. The oldest sister, Lalita Bakshi (Aishwarya Rai), doesn’t want her parents to help her get a husband. She wants to take on that quest herself — and she certainly finds an epic love. With eclectic dance scenes, vibrant colors, and a myriad of cultures, Bride and Prejudice is a cinematic masterpiece.
With all of her chain-smoking, foul-mouthed, and drinking glory, Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger) is just so real. Bridget Jones’s Diary is one of the best rom-coms ever made, and being a loose Pride and Prejudice adaptation makes it even better. I mean, the main love interest’s name is actually Mark Darcy (Colin Firth).
Will the movie make you wince in second-hand embarrassment? Yes. Will you want to yell at the screen just for her to make better decisions? Yes. And will you rewatch this flick over and over again? Also yes. So do yourself a favor, set some time apart, and watch Bridget Jones’s Diary.
The English countryside becomes one of the most important backdrops in modern cinema in this faithful Pride and Prejudice adaptation. Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Bennet takes you along to a world so charmingly quaint that even the most cynical person will become enamored with her. Lizzie and Mr. Darcy (Matthew MacFadyen) play into each other’s strengths, and despite their initial negative feelings, they fall in love.
Alongside the BBC series, there’s no better Jane Austen adaptation in existence. In the two decades since its release, Pride and Prejudice has established itself as a modern classic and the blueprint for how to translate a book to the big screen while also becoming one of the best pieces of comfort media.