Every Jane Austen Adaptation Ranked from Worst to Best

What do YOU think are the best and worst Jane Austen adaptations? Let us know below, and be sure to also check out our video of the Top 10 Greatest Romantic Period Films – https://youtu.be/g7jTTnIM-aw

Emma with Anya Teylor Johns

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I hated the 2022 the Persuasion adaptation. It was vey disappointing for those who have read the book.

1995 Pride and Prejudice is the worst especially Colin Firth and Jennifer Elhe. 2005 is the best.

For once, I agree with msMojo (who screw it up plenty when it comes to cinema, owing to their proto-feminist-modernist take on everything), very well done.
Maybe I would just put Persuasion at number 3 (even at number 2) above the 2005 Pride and Prejudice. The casting and characterization is so perfect, they don't try to play it up. Anne is truly stoic, delicate, and passionate, she is Austen's most mature and purely "good" heroine, and Amanda Root doesn't feel the needs to be beautiful or show-off, she inherently knows that what makes Anne so special is what is within not the outward facade. The movie simmers with unspoken desire and anguish and the ciaran hinds really conveys all his pain and desire, while remaining within the confines of proper manners that the society of the times requires. That is why the slow burn of the whole movie leads to the beautiful quiet resolution in those magnificent close-up shots of the 2 hands meeting, and the reading of the letter. It's about the details, it's about the unspoken and it is magic. The novel is underrated because the heroine is not as flashy (when they try to sex it up, it's ridiculous, see the 2022 version, horrible) it's a mistake, you should go read it, and discover this small gem o a book and a film.
The 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie goes a step down in my opinion because the characterizations are off. The father is a hippie-like doofus instead of the world-weary wit and cynic, I love Keira Knightley, but she knows she is pretty and she plays for cute and feisty instead of sharp and smart, which is what Elizabeth is. Instead of rigid and just, Darcy goes for shy and ackward. It's one way to read it, but it's too a modern take which I guess Gen-X loves. Also the other characters are reduced to cameos and snapshots because the runtime is short and the pace frenetic. I like the chemistry, but pacing, characterization, and some framing decisions are off compared to the superb mini-series.

Sense and Sensibility is a great adaptation and the first film I saw at the cinema, but I fundamentally disagree with the material, it's a very underdeveloped novel by Austen, her first to be published, and she focused a lot more on the wit and the humous (which is great) than on the actual development of the characters and the story. It's still a bit rough, maybe too realistic, and I dislike it's ending and it's principles in general (elinor and marianne aren't really to root for, the pairs are mismatched and the colonel is creepy as f)
That's why in terms of pure romance, faithfulness to the source material, interpretation by the actors, setting and the actual nobility of the characters, Pride and Prejudice (1995) and Persuasion (1995), what a year, are the two most faithful and beautiful Austen adaptations. Sense and Sensibility comes third for the screenplay and production values which are great, but characters and story is just ok, and 4th Pride and Prejudice 2005 4th for lively if somewhat reductive and off-characterized performance.
Now I know why msMojo put Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice 2005 at numbers 2 and 3.
Because they are hollywood productions with famous actors and Emma Thompson wrote the script and bla bla bla, they have to pay lip service to US cinema….. ecc ecc.
I forgive them this time, most of the time they don't know what they have done.

I definitely love "Sense and Sensibility," though I personally think that Emma Thompson looks old for the character, I love her just the same; she is such a great actress. I saw Hugh Grant differently, and started looking for more of his movies. However, I prefer "Pride and Prejudice" starring Keira Knightley. I just feel that the cast is more beautiful. I loved listening to Keira as Lizzie. I thoroughly enjoyed Donald Sutherland as Lizzie's father. But, to each his/her own. I love Jane Austen's novels.

Persuasion 2022 was the best adaptation of that story. 1995 was good but not as good as 2022.
Mansfield Park 1999 was the best adaptation of that story.
Northanger Abby 2007 was the best adaptation of that story.
I also liked Love and Friendship- dont know any other adaptation to compare it to.
Emma 1996 was the best adaptation of that story
Sense and sensibility 1995 was the best adaptation of that story
Pride and Prejudice 2005 was a great disappointment. Too much cinema, not enough story, and they talked too fast without any character. It was like they were trying to get through the script as fast as they could.
Pride and Prejudice 1995 was not only the best Pride and Prejudice adaptation, it is the absolute best of all adaptations of any of Jane Austens books.
All the characters were perfectly picked, and acting was fantastic. I watch this version at least three times a year, probably more. Love that movie.

Absolutely right, there is no other contender for #1! 1995 P&P will always be the best. Newest adaptation of Persuasion is abhorrent. I will say that I would have rated the newest adaptation of Emma lower. It was loud, vulgar and all around ghastly. Mr. Knightley is tolerable I suppose. The director is from New York. I feel as though there was no true understanding of brittish culture at that time. Emma was portrayed as an outright snooty bitch. Of course Emma is snooty, but not in such a forward manner. Also felt scandalized by seeing Mr. Knightley naked 30 seconds into his introduction.

Your number 3 should be number 1 by far I don't agree with you .

As long as they are not woke, Im happy.

i have seen pried and prejudice 2005 and sense and sensibility 1995

The 2022 one was truly dire. Clumsy, hideous attempt to put modern sensibilities and language into a period context. If we wanted that we'd watch something modern!! The fascination with this era is because of the social norms of the age, both the beguiling aspects and the unappealing ones ( the challenge of being female/poor etc). Couldn't stomach it. Sense and Sensibility/ Pride and Prejudice Emma Thompson/ Colin Firth era have never been topped.

I guess I’m one of the few people who actually liked Persuasion (2022). I found it utterly hilarious. I loved when she spoke to the audience. Maybe the fact that an extremely difficult person in my life is exactly like her sister in this movie is what made it work for me. The person I have had to deal with is the epitome of her sister, right down to the sister declaring that she is an empath, when she is in fact a classic narcissist. Spot on! I guess the movie, and seeing how she didn’t let her sister’s behavior get to her, was therapeutic for me.

Agree with this wholeheartedly. 1995 P&P is my favorite adaptation. ❤️❤️❤️