It’s Shakespeare Day, a celebration of the Bard of Avon’s plays, sonnets and endless influence on our lives. To honour the day, we’ve put together a list of the best Shakespeare film adaptations that you can stream from the comfort of your home.

Falling on the same day as his death (and possibly his birth), the annual commemoration is a great way to immerse yourself in history’s greatest dramas and comedies. Here’s our picks of the best Shakespeare adaptions to watch:

Romeo + Juliet

One of the most enduringly popular film versions of Shakespeare, Romeo + Juliet features a pre-Titanic, pre-save-the-climate Leonardo DiCaprio and future Homeland star Claire Danes playing the star-crossed lovers. Modernised (or at least, modernised for the 90s) by Baz Luhrmann, this stylish adaptation has guns, wacky hair and a pulse pounding soundtrack. Underneath all the glamorisation though is a solidly faithful update of the Romeo and Juliet tale, with all the Shakespearean dialogue you could need. As the Capulet and Montague families spill into war, the young Romeo and Juliet find true love despite the rivalry between their houses. Staying together though won’t be easy when the two are torn between their love and their family. loyalties. John Leguizamo, Miriam Margoyles, Pete Postlethwaite and Brian Dennehy also star in the adaptation.

Stream on: Disney+

Much Ado About Nothing

Another 90s take on the Bard with an all-star cast, Much Ado About Nothing is one of Poirot star, Kenneth Branagh’s many Shakespeare adaptations. A romantic comedy, the film features Branagh himself in the role of nobleman Benedick, alongside Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves, Kate Beckinsale, Michael Keaton, Imelda Staunton and Brian Blessed. If the cast (somehow) hasn’t convinced you to start watching, then the ever appealing fashion and warm, dreamy cinematography will. Loving couple Hero (Beckinsale) and Claudio (Robert Sean Leonard) enlist the help of Don Pedro (Washington) in order to trick and prod Benedick and Beatrice (Thompson), who can’t stop bickering, to realise their true feelings for one another.

Stream on: Amazon Prime

Richard III

If you see the words “Ian McKellen” and “William Shakespeare” in the same sentence, then you need to pay attention. The legendary actor stars here as Richard III, perhaps Shakespeare’s most villainous character, in this version portrayed as a fascist plotter looking for ultimate power. Sir Ian isn’t the only big name here, with Anette Bening also starring as Queen Elizabeth and Robert Downey Jr. as Earl Rivers, alongside Maggie Smith , Jim Broadbent and Tim McInnerny . The scheming Richard is dead-set on claiming the British throne, and will kill if he has to in order to get it. In 1930s England, a dictatorship in which Richard can rule over all is in tantalising reach- but obstacles like his brother, his nephews and a succession of dukes and noblemen remain in his way. How far will he go, and can he be stopped?

Stream on: Apple TV

Othello

Also starring (though this time not directed by) Kenneth Branagh, Othello tells the story of a man who returns home to the city of Venice after being sent to fend off an invasion. The Moor (played by Laurence Fishburne) is married to one of the city’s most prominent gentlewomen, Desdemona (Irene Jacob) and is served by his trusted lieutenant Cassio (Nathaniel Parker). However, he faces prejudice and distrust from other members of Venetian society, and no-one embodies this more than Iago (Branagh.) He might be one of Othello’s supposed allies, but Iago quietly harbours a deep disdain for Othello and his life and success, and so devises a scheme, while acting as an advisor to the soldier, to bring him down and destroy his relationship with Desdemona.

Stream on: Apple TV

Macbeth

A gritty take on Shakespeare’s tragedy of Macbeth (or The Scottish Play if you’re superstitious), this 2015 movie stars Michael Fassbender in the title role. The famed Scottish lord returns from war to be contacted by three mysterious witches who proclaim that “something wicked this way comes.” He takes to heart their prophecy that he will one day rise to take the throne as King of Scotland, but Macbeth begins to become more and more erratic as he seeks to fulfil it. Even more scheming than him is his wife, Lady Macbeth (played here by Marion Cotillard), who is also firmly set on achieving power and influence alongside him. Of course, as the bodies pile up, so do the consequences.

Stream on: Netflix

10 Things I Hate About You

The Taming of the Shrew is one of the legendary playwright’s less famous plays, but it’s updated for a modern audience in this contemporary take on Shakespearean comedy. The late Heath Ledger stars as Patrick Verona, a rebellious bad boy and student at Padua High School, while Joseph Gordon Levitt plays Cameron James, a new arrival to the school who is keen to set Patrick up with his sister Kat (Julia Stiles). However, Kat is rather anti-social and isn’t that keen on the idea of dating Patrick, so this won’t be plain sailing. Cameron meanwhile is also juggling his affection for Bianca Stratford (Larisa Oleynik), who he is smitten with and desperately wants to date. Definitely one of the most accessible ways to get into Shakespeare, 10 Things I Hate About You is hard to resist.

Stream on: Disney+

Chimes at Midnight

It’s the oldest film on our list, but you can’t talk about Shakespeare adaptations without mentioning Chimes at Midnight. This hugely acclaimed take on the Henriad plays (which includes Henry IV Part 1 and 2 and Henry V) features Citizen Kane star Orson Welles as Sir John Falstaff, one of Shakespeare’s most beloved creations. The aging, boastful and criminal Falstaff has a close bond with Prince Hal (Keith Baxter), heir to the throne, much to the disapproval of Hal’s father Henry IV. The two share a love of boozing and stealing, but the King wants the young Prince to ready himself for being a monarch. Can Hal outrun his destiny forever? If you love Shakespeare you owe it to yourself to see Chimes at Midnight at least once in your life.

Stream on: Amazon Prime

Hamlet

Of course we had to put Hamlet on here, and we’ve saved it till last. There’s many versions to pick, but we’ve chosen this 2009 BBC version, a film adaptation of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s stage production. The honour of playing the Dane goes to David Tennant, who ponders life and purpose after he is visited by the ghost of his father after he was killed by his uncle. Hamlet’s nemesis is King Claudius, played by esteemed thespian Patrick Stewart, and this modern dress version follows the Prince of Denmark’s journey to seek revenge. Clocking in at three hours long, it’s actually condensed down from the full length four hour+ original text, and is one of the best ways to experience history’s most quoted play. We won’t be responsible though for any odd looks you get if you start reciting soliloquies at skulls.

Stream on: Apple TV

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