

Shakespeare in Love
Love is the only inspiration.
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.
TMDB
6.8/10
3,302 votes
IMDb
Not rated yet
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- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $25M
- Box office
- $289.3M
- Language
- English
- london, england
- theater play
- queen elizabeth i
- playwright
- cross dressing
- false history
- francis bacon
- 16th century
- acting
- elizabethan england
- romantic
Top billed cast

















Behind the camera
Director
Writers
Music
Produced in
United States of America
Where to watch
All optionsAvailability for India. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
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Videos
Release dates
United StatesUS
- PremiereNew York City, New York3 Dec 1998
- PremiereLos Angeles, California8 Dec 1998
- Theatrical (limited)R11 Dec 1998
- TheatricalR8 Jan 1999
United KingdomGB
- Theatrical1529 Jan 1999
AustraliaAU
- TheatricalM11 Feb 1999
CanadaCA
- TheatricalR11 Dec 1998
BrazilBR
- Theatrical1412 Mar 1999
CzechiaCZ
- TheatricalU11 Mar 1999
FranceFR
- Theatrical129 Mar 1999
GermanyDE
- PremiereBerlin International Film Festival14 Feb 1999
- Theatrical64 Mar 1999
GreeceGR
- Theatrical154 Mar 1999
IrelandIE
- Theatrical1529 Jan 1999
ItalyIT
- Theatrical26 Feb 1999
JapanJP
- Theatrical1 May 1999
Frequently asked questions
Shakespeare in Love was released on 11 December 1998.
Audience reviews
2- G1/10
GenerationofSwine
1/14/2023
Does anyone remember this? I do, but only because its what turned me off of the Oscars. Haven't watched them since. It was the rude awakening that they were fixed, the quality of the film didn't matter as much as the bribes. It beat Saving Private Ryan for best picture. And then it beat Bulworth for best screen play. That was sort of enough to turn my head. Both of them? Bulworth was far from best picture wo…
- C7/10
CinemaSerf
8/28/2023
Set during the later reign of Engand's Queen Elizabeth, this joyful drama sees poor old William Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) having a bit of a creative drought. Lacking ideas and cash, and being pursued by both Richard Burbage (Martin Clunes) and the wonderfully dead pan Geoffrey Rush as Philip Henslowe for work he's supposed to have already penned, things are looking a bit bleak. When Gwyneth Paltrow, an ardent thea…
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