All 5 Jane Eyre Screen Adaptations, Ranked

Five adaptations, five wildly different takes on Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre. One nails the fiery chemistry between Jane and Rochester, while another is so rushed it barely lets them connect. And the best one? It’s a near-perfect blend of sharp wit, raw emotion, and unforgettable performances.

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#perioddramas #costumedramas #BBCperioddramas #JaneEyre #CharlotteBronte

[wildthornrose]

Although I understand why people liked Toby Stephens so much (he embodies the man we'd prefer Rochester to be, rather than as he is actually described) in the end the most authentic-to-the-book Rochester was Timothy Dalton, because you KNOW that he not only read the book, but took time to understand the character and interpret him as closely to the original material as he could. He captures Charlotte Bronte's description of Rochester in all his varying tempers: mercurial, sardonic, saturnine, playful, irritable, selfish, teasing, passionate. He manages to capture the whole spectrum. . Without fail, Timothy brings layers and nuance to all the characters he plays. Sadly, I didn't feel the chemistry between him and Zelah, although she made a very sweet and earnest Jane. I think she was almost overwhelmed by Timothy's charisma. Not really her fault, he just about burns up the screen with his fiery performance.

[melissaking]

The 1983 Zelah Clarke-Timothy Dalton is very true to the book. Great acting and Clarke-Dalton chemistry is beautiful. Dalton may be too handsome for Edward, but he captures his complexity perfectly.

[TaraAnn-fbxd]

Jane Eyre 1983 should be first in my opinion.

[fammue]

After watching all of them because I became totally obsessed after reading the novel, the 1983 and 2006 version are my favorites. 😁 It's one of the books you wish you could read again without knowing how the story goes.

[patriciapendlbury]

Timothy Dalton is a great actor and he can play a maniac as well as a bumbling idiot with so much flair and believability !!!!

[maineclayton]

Impressive you managed to put the 1996 version in high spot. Many "Jane Eyre" fans don't like that version and it's good to see some people appreciate it.

[JenniferKoagel]

Nope, the Timothy Dalton version was the best. I felt that one stayed true to the characters. I see that in one of those versions there is a happy scene at the end with Adele, Edward and Jane. That isn't true to the book. They sent Adele to school at the end of the book. She isn't really part of their reunion. I remember the first time I saw the Timothy Dalton one. I was up at my cousin's camp and I had just gotten back from a swim. I sat down in the living room to dry off and it was playing on the TV. I was mesmerized. Next thing I knew it was several hours later and I was hooked. From there I went on to read the book. Then I read everything from the Brontes. It is still my all-time favorite book.

[megdelaney]

2006 version with Ruth Wilson & Toby Stephens is the BEST!

[stacytadlock]

I think that the 2006 adaptation should be first but the 1983 adaptation should be second as both adaptations allow for a more full telling of this classic story. I agree with other posts that there were other adaptations left out such as the great adaptation with Jayston and Cusack!

[pancakesnotwaffles]

I really enjoyed seeing what other versions are out there, but sheesh! How is Orion Welles 1943 version not getting mentioned?! Should be in the top spot for casting, drama, and style. My 2 cents.

[joylederman]

There are many things wrong with this ranking, starting with the fact that there are way more than five adaptations of the novel. The dialogue in the 2006 version is completely different from the Bronte novel and there are too many additions to the storyline. You completely missed my favorite version, the 1973 BBC adaptation starring Cusack and Jayston. For faithfulness to the novel, it is equal to the 1983 Dalton/Clarke version. Don't know who the Couch Queens are, but definitely NOT hardcore Jane Eyre fans.

[texasred]

You missed maybe the best one, the 1973 version with Sorcha Cusak in the title role and Michael (Nicholas and Alexandra) Jayston as Rochester. You really get the feel of loneliness of her childhood, and the meeting of minds between them that most of the other adaptations skip in favor of gothic angst. The production values aren't as slick as in the Zefferelli version, but it was shot on location at Renishaw Hall in the north of England, so in addition to the performances and great chemistry between the 2 leads, it escapes the low budget 70s chintzy feeling of other BBC productions of the same time.

[robertthomson]

I agree. The 2006 version is the best of them all.

[patriciapendlbury]

I totally agree with your number one pick I've seen so many adaptations and by far your number one pick brings the book more to still if you've only ever seen a film of it you are missing out on so much by not reading the book

[linnyb]

Number two should not even be in this top 5. William Hurt was a great actor, but no Rochester.

[alisachocersok]

I prefer Cary Fukunaga's Jane Eyre: it's beautiful, I felt the chemistry between the charismatic Fassbender and stern Mia who conveyed Jane's youthfulness, strengh and stoicism perfectly. I also adore Zefirelli's Jane Eyre for its romanticism and chemistry between the leads. Timothy Dalton was fascinating, magnetic, perhaps the best Rochester, the 1983 version holds it own place in my heart. Never watched 2006's show cause I felt Jane was miscast (looked too mature and self-assured), Toby was too suave and handsome to my liking, and the adaptation gave off a modern, overly melodramatic and sexualised vibe (from the clips that I saw). I like my Jane Eyre more reserved.

[juanitajones]

This ranking is absolute shit to me. You placed the 1996 adaptation over the 1983, 2011 and 1997 versions? What a joke!

[d_izzy]

Haddon Hall in Derbyshire is a must visit for any Jane Eyre lover as it is the place for Thornfield in so many adaptations of the novel. (Also no so far away from Chatsworth...)

[ИннаЖирова-мт]

Согласна с вами Мой рейтинг. -- 1983, 1943, 1973, а потом все остальные, в разном порядке

[ИннаЖирова-мт]

Не смотря на то, что вы сделали упор на версиях 1996 и 1997, экранизация 1983 является лучшей, эталонной Она более приближена к книге, как и 1973 Версия 1983, удивительный, умный и тонкий сериал И Тимати Далтон и Зела Кларк настоящие Джейн и Рочестер И неважно, какой у них возраст и рост, они убедили нас в том, что любят друг друга И у них прекрасная химия