Romeo + Juliet

Name: Romeo + Juliet
Genre: Drama, Romance
Released: 1996-11-01
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, Jesse Bradford, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Brian Dennehy

1996 | 120 min | Drama, Romance

Saturday Special

Why it’s a Saturday Special

It made about 10 times its budget, people are still talking about it and it drew serious awards attention. A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: Made for romantics. If you loved Amadeus, start here.
The mood: Warm and romantic.
The pace: Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr.
What might put you off: Nothing much: an easy pick for most people.

In this contemporary take on William Shakespeare's classic tragedy, the Montagues and Capulets have moved their ongoing feud to the sweltering suburb of Verona Beach, where Romeo and Juliet fall in love and secretly wed. Though the film is visually modern, the bard's dialogue remains.

How it earned its rating

CriticsSolid
74% on Rotten Tomatoes
AudiencesSolid
6.8 out of 10
AwardsStrong
Won 4 BAFTAs: British Academy Film Awards: Best Direction, British Academy Film Awards: Best Adapted Screenplay, British Academy Film Awards: Best Original Film Music, British Academy Film Awards: Best Production Design. Won 2 Berlin awards: Berlin International Film Festival: Alfred Bauer Prize, Berlin International Film Festival: Silver Bear for Best Actor. Also nominated for 1 Oscar, 3 more BAFTAs and 1 more Berlin award. Plus 4 other awards.
Box office & staying powerVery strong
$147 million worldwide on a $15 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactVery strong
About 796K people sought it out in the past year