Ranking Jane Austen Adaptations

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Adaptations Mentioned:
Lizzie Bennet Diaries:

Emma Approved:

Emma (1996):

Persuasion (1995):

Sense and Sensibility (1995):

Sense and Sensibility (2008):

Emma (2009):

Pride and Prejudice (2003):

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies:

[elizabethbrink]

So fun!! My favorite will always be the 1995 P&P too. So many good memories associated with it. I think my other top two are the Romala Garai Emma and the 1995 Persuasion. A close runner up is the Gwyneth Paltrow Emma because it was the first Jane Austen I ever came into contact with, books or movies.

[TooFondofBooksJH]

I'm in the middle of compiling a ranking of Jane Austen adaptations too! It's fun to think through the one's I've seen and consider where they would fall on the list. I've never seen Emma Approved or The Lizzy Bennet Diaries.
I agree with you about the two adaptations of Sense and Sensibility. There is just something about the film that is consistently engaging. Aaron and I quote from that movie all the time.

[capturedbyannamarie]

When I picture pride and predjudice the Kiera knightly one is what I picture. My favorite movie of all time.

[ankilarsen]

I saw Pride and Prejudice: A Latter-Day Comedy in the theater when I was in college (at BYU), and fell in love with it. It's completely silly, but it works. As far as more...faithful adaptations go, my favorite is the 1985 Pride and Prejudice with David Rintoul as Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Garvie as Elizabeth. Granted, it doesn't have the same sort of sweeping cinematography of more recent adaptations, but it's still delightful. I almost never see it mentioned, though, unless I bring it up.

[shelliclarke]

I love your story about watching Emma in a cozy attic room on Sunday nights 🥰

[meghanthestorygirl]

I love those fond memories you have of watching different adaptations. I have that too with the LBD. Also, I loved hearing your reasoning behind your P&P preferences

[SumSouuthernSugar]

I have not seen several of these but want to. I bookmarked this page in my 'video' folder so I can return to it and refresh my memory. Thank you.

[ArtBookshelfOdyssey]

I have not seen the 2009 Emma yet! I love the Gwenyth Paltrow version so much I've been afraid to watch other versions of it. But I got around to seeing the 2020 Emma and really enjoyed it, and loved Emma Approved - so I think that 2009 version might be the next one I tackle.

And good for you for including Pride and Prejudice and Zombies... my sister was finally able to get her husband to read a Jane Austen book by giving him the book version to read LOL!

[eruditearchive]

I really like Pride & Prejudice & Zombies, too. I'm going to be watching the 1995 Pride & Prejudice for the first time this month! I grew up on the 2005 version, but when I read the book, Lizzie is definitely more Jennifer Ehle than Kiera Knightley in my head. And I might skip the new Netflix Persuasion for the one you recommended...

[sandra]

Some of these, even the more "mainstream" ones, I haven't seen . . . Yet!

[sandyokey]

I love Sense and Sensibility 1995💕it made me fall in love with Alan Rickman. And I’ve always loved Emma Thompson.

[bookingthroughlife]

The 2005 P&P is my all time favorite movie. For me it is a near perfect movie. Thanks for sharing. I haven’t watch P&P and Zombies. I will have to check it out.

[MrJedi]

I tend to not like modern adaptations of Jane Austen so for me, the absolutey most perfect adaptation my wife and I love is 1995 Pride and Prejudice with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. The adaptation is essentially flawless.

[ABearandaBeeBooks]

Hi Kate! I completely agree with your top three. Though the Sense and Sensibility is my personal favorite. I just watched that adaptation of Emma and was so moved. It is truly a beautiful adaptation. I agree, Miss Bates was perfectly cast in that one. Plus P&P with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle is always a classic.

[GinaHouse]

Kate, I love your rankings! I can say that I almost 100% agree with you, especially with the 1995 vs 2005 P&P. I think I'd have to swap the 2008 Emma with the 2008 Sense & Sensibility on your list. I think S&S with Emma Thompson and Emma with Gwenyth Paltrow are so lovely and nostalgic :) I haven't watched numbers 8 and 9 on your list, but I'll have to put them on the my TBR list. Thank you!!! I read P&P and Zombies, so I'll have to watch that movie, too! 🤩🌟🌈

[a.g.]

#1 for me is the 1995 BBC Pride & Prejudice too 💗💗💗 #2 The BBC 2007 Persuasion with Sally Hawkins 💖 #3 the BBC 2008 Sense and Sensibility 💕💗💕
I can watch these 3 over & over & over. 😂

[emilykateisreading]

I totally love Pride and Prejudice and zombies!! Haha :) What a great list, thanks Kate :)

[amyofhearthridge]

I love the Mormon P&P! 😂 This is a great list!

[beatrixscudeler]

I wonder if you've seen the new Emma (2020)? I didn't love it after my first watch, but I've now seen it 3 or 4 times and have grown to really appreciate its tone and beautiful cinematography! Plus I love the soundtrack in that one!

[the_bookish_took]

Hahaha I love the Mormon Pride and Prejudice too 😂 it's so weird and hilarious and doesn't get enough credit! I think my favorite adaptation would either be Sense and Sensibility 1995 or Persuasion 1995. At least, they're the ones I find myself wanting to watch the most, which is weird because Northanger Abbey is the one I reread most often. It's been sooo very long since I've watched the Gweneth Paltrow Emma. I need to fix that this month!