The Importance of Being Earnest
Seen it?2002 | 97 min | Comedy, Drama, History, Romance
Weeknight WatchWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
With soft box office, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for romantics, anyone who wants a laugh and history buffs. If you loved Emma., start here.
- The mood
- Funny with heart, romantic.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 37 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
Two young gentlemen living in 1890s England use the same pseudonym ('Ernest') on the sly, which is fine until they both fall in love with women using that name, which leads to a comedy of mistaken identities.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsSolid
57% on Rotten Tomatoes, 60 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.8 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$17 million worldwide on a $15 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 77K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Oliver Parker
- Rupert EverettAlgernon “Algy” Moncrieff
- Colin FirthJohn “Jack” Worthing
- Reese WitherspoonCecily Cardew
- Judi DenchLady Bracknell
- Tom WilkinsonDr. Chasuble
- Frances O'ConnorGwendolen Fairfax
- Anna MasseyMiss Laetitia Prism
- Edward FoxLane
- Patrick GodfreyMerriman
- Charles KayGribsby