Miniseries and Film Adaptations of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
By Taylor Jasmine | On December 5, 2017 | Updated December 8, 2024 | Comments (4)
If you’re the kind of Jane Austen fan who reads Pride and Prejudice every year or two, chances are good that you’ve seen at least one of its miniseries or film adaptations.
Considering the unabated reverence for this novel, it’s somewhat surprising that there haven’t been more. For many devotees, there can never be Too Much Jane.
In addition to the miniseries and film adaptations of Pride and Prejudice listed here, there was also a 1967 British TV adaptation which seems to have been lost to time. Which of these have you seen? Which do you think is most faithful to the original spirit of the novel?
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2005 film: a British and American collaboration
How do you encapsulate Pride and Prejudice in a two-hour film? The 2005 version starring Kiera Knightley as Elizabeth Bennett and Matthew Macfayden as Mr. Darcy manages to do just that. It was a collaboration between British and American film production companies.
Ms. Knightly does good work, though for me, it’s hard to forget that this is Kiera Knightly and not Elizabeth. My preference for sinking into the story is to have someone lesser known cast as the iconic Elizabeth. And the actor who plays Mr. Darcy seems like he wants to be somewhere else.
Evidently, I’m in the minority — by far! — as 5-star viewer ratings, at least on Amazon, are the rule. It’s hard to believe, but this was and continues to be only the second movie version of P & P (not counting the miniseries) since the 1940 Hollywood film.
More about this adaptation
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1995 BBC / A & E miniseries
The 1995 BBC/A&E production is considered by many the definitive adaptation, though those of us who prefer the 1980 BBC miniseries might argue with this.
Jane Austen aficionados might not particularly like it has come to be defined by Colin Firth in a wet shirt, because it has much more than this in its favor. Jennifer Ehle is a splendid Elizabeth, and the cast of actors brings all the beloved characters to life. This 6-part miniseries (which viewers rate highly on Amazon as well) is packed with period detail, including the lush English countryside and plush English manses.
More about this adaptation
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1980 BBC mini-series
The 5-part 1980 BBC adaptation is my personal favorite. It features a delightful portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet by a namesake, British actress Elizabeth Garvie. I remember watching it when it was first aired on Mastepiece Theater!
The pace and dialogue were beautifully captured in the screenplay by British author Fay Weldon. I’d argue that this is the most faithful adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. It has been eclipsed by the 1995 miniseries, not only due to its fresher date, but that David Rintoul’s portrayal of Darcy wasn’t quite as smoldering as that of Colin Firth’s.
Once again, I’m in the minority on this one. On Amazon it has a paltry 16 reviews, some quite negative, and it’s only available by subscribing to Britbox.
More about this adaptation
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The 1940 Hollywood film
The 1940 adaptation from the golden age of the Hollywood studio era stars Greer Garson as Elizabeth Bennett and Laurence Olivier as Mr. Darcy. As is to be expected, the studio heads altered much about the original so that this black-and-white film would be more glitzy.
It was set in a later period, for example, and some of the plot lines were altered. Still, the reception by critics and the public alike was positive. Today, it might be viewed far more as a novelty than as another means to enjoy the iconic story of Pride and Prejudice. That said, many reviewers on Amazon love it and agree that while it isn’t perfect, the casting is wonderful and that despite the alterations, it’s a movie classic.
More about this adaptation
- IMDB
- Watch the trailer on YouTube (absurd!)
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Not exactly an adaptation:
Pride + Prejudice + Zombies
If you want to go further afield we dare not call Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016) an adaptation of the original P & P. Rather, it’s an outgrowth of the 2009 book of the same title.
It’s safe to say that this is the most bizarre piece of Jane Austen fan fiction ever. In this reimagining, our heroine Elizabeth Bennett is a martial arts expert, and Mr. Darcy is a ferocious zombie. Together, they set out to vanquish the undead. You’d think that this kind of outrageous re-interpretation would be reviled, but that’s not the case given that there have been thousands of positive viewer reviews.
More about Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
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I completely agree with Rachel Weisz being the best Elizabeth Bennet. I’ve watched the 1995 mini series so many times, it’s like an old friend! The chemistry between Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle is undeniable. Have you seen the 2005 film adaptation with Keira Knightley? It’s a great take on the classic as well. Would love to hear your thoughts on which one you prefer!
I was a bit confused about the mention of Rachel Weisz, as she has been “fan cast” to play Elizabeth Bennett, but hasn’t IRL. Generally, I really like Keira Knightly on film, but she is so Keira Knightly that I couldn’t see past her as Elizabeth Bennett. I agree with you that the 1995 version is well-cast; I remember loving the 1980 miniseries as well, but it’s hard to come by.
I have seen almost all the versions.My favourite is 1995 version which is an exact representation of Jane Austen’s characters in Pride and Prejudice
I agree, that’s a really good one! Much as I like Kiera Knightly, she isn’t an Elizabeth Bennett at all in the later feature film (he was much better as Colette).