The 1990s was a boom decade for screen adaptations of Shakespeare. Spurred by the surprise critical and box-office success of Kenneth Branagh’s 1989 Henry V, the 90s offered everything from Branagh’s own faithful, 4-hour version of Hamlet (1996) to the cheeky and charming 10 Things I Hate About You, a modern update of Taming of the Shrew that introduced the world to the talented, star-cross’d Heath Ledger.  

Emily Temple at LitHub assembled a ranked list of the Best 90s Screen Adaptations of Shakespeare. Here’s the list below sans commentary, but check out the link for Temple’s observations plus excerpts from reviews by contemporary critics. 

12. Let the Devil Wear Black, dir. Stacey Title (1999)

11. Hamlet, dir. Franco Zeffirelli (1990)

10. Othello, dir. Oliver Parker (1995)

9. O., dir. Tim Blake Nelson (2001)

8. Titus, dir. Julie Taymor (1999)

7. A Midsummer Night’s Dream, dir. Michael Hoffman (1999)

6. Twelfth Night, dir. Trevor Nunn (1996)

5. Much Ado About Nothing, dir. Kenneth Branagh (1993)

4. 10 Things I Hate About You, dir. Gil Junger (1999)

3. Richard III, dir. Richard Loncraine (1995)

2. Romeo + Juliet, dir. Baz Luhrmann (1996)

1. Hamlet, dir. Kenneth Branagh (1996)