Top 10 Jane Austen Adaptations in Movies and TV

We begin with a young lady who has read far too many novels. Catherine Morland loves the mystery and romance of her favorite Gothic tales, but her overactive imagination, combined with a stay in an imposing and slightly creepy house, lead her to believe that something sinister is afoot. This book was Austen’s parody of the spine-tingling literature that was popular in her day, so it’s full of comedic moments. The film also does a good job of keeping things fun and light, and Catherine’s wild fantasies are especially amusing. Felicity Jones and JJ Feild have great chemistry as the protagonist and her suitor Henry Tilney, and that at least isn’t just in Catherine’s head.

While the heroine of “Northanger Abbey” only imagined intrigue and murder, the characters in this TV drama have to deal with it for real. Set six years after the events of "Pride and Prejudice”, this mystery involves the youngest Bennet sister Lydia and her husband Mr. Wickham, and has none other than Lydia’s older sister Elizabeth Darcy playing detective. Although we get to see some familiar Austen faces, this series is not based directly on anything she wrote, instead being an adaptation of the P.D. James novel - and is more a “what-if” with a dark twist. It gets props for being an interesting idea, for letting us speculate about the Darcys’ future, and for honoring the original by feeling like it could fit in their world.

Young Fanny Price comes from a poor family with many children, so she’s sent to live with her wealthy relatives at Mansfield Park. Unfortunately, they all treat her like she’s below them, except for her cousin Edmund, and the two develop a close bond that is only threatened by the arrival of the scheming Crawford siblings. Fanny is portrayed rather differently in the movie than in the book, as the filmmakers made her more lively and also made her a writer, occasionally having her speak Austen’s words directly to the camera. Despite this deviation from the text, we give the film credit for not shying away from the serious stuff, like the slave trade and the grim realities of poverty.

The course of true love never did run smooth. Just ask Anne Elliot and Captain Frederick Wentworth, who were separated for years after her family persuaded her to reject his marriage proposal because they thought he wasn’t good enough. Now he’s back in town, and they’re both older and wiser…but is the torch still burning, and if so, will either one actually admit it? The lost time! The palpable longing! Austen’s last completed novel is also her most poignant, and both this film and the 2007 TV version really give us the feels. The ’95 film gets bonus points for keeping it real, doing away with makeup and fancy hairstyles in favor of a more down-to-earth look.

A ‘90s comedy about a popular Beverly Hills high schooler with a fabulous wardrobe might not seem like an obvious choice for this list, but it’s actually based on “Emma”, Jane’s 1815 novel about a young wannabe-matchmaker. Like Emma Woodhouse, Cher Horowitz is pretty, rich, and blissfully unaware that she lives in a bit of a bubble. She thinks she knows what’s best for everyone, leading to some well-intentioned meddling in their love lives. The movie stars Alicia Silverstone in her breakout role, as well as a young Paul Rudd and an adorable Brittany Murphy. Funny, sweet, and extremely quotable, it had a lasting impact on pop culture and is still admired to this day. How totally Austen-esque.

Like “Clueless”, this is another less-obvious choice, but the initially tense dynamic between stuck-up lawyer Mark Darcy and charmingly awkward diary-writer Bridget Jones is ripped straight from the pages of “Pride and Prejudice”. In a very meta twist, Colin Firth plays Mr. Darcy, just as he did six years earlier in the BBC adaptation of the book. Hey, if it ain’t broke, right? Just like the source material, the film features an ordinary, relatable heroine whose flaws and struggles make her even more lovable, and it does a great job of balancing humor. Awww, he wants her to be herself! Now what could be more attractive than that?

Meet Miss Emma Woodhouse: she’s bright, lovely, and has a bit of a Cupid complex. Although she is adept with a real-life bow and arrow, her aim is rather off when it comes to actually hooking people up. But that doesn’t stop her from trying, as she attempts to help her friend Harriet make an advantageous match with Mr. Elton, despite the fact that Harriet really likes someone else. Gwyneth Paltrow’s bubbly portrayal of the well-meaning but overly confident Emma is right on target. Entertaining and pretty to look at, the film was generally praised by critics and Jane-ites alike. Well done, indeed.

Turning the silver screen into a beautiful golden sunset, this adaptation of one of Austen’s most beloved novels is arguably the best-looking of the bunch. Throw in a delightful Oscar-nominated musical score, and you’ve got a treat for both eyes and ears. The hate-love relationship between the spirited Lizzy Bennet, played by Keira Knightley, and the seemingly snobbish Mr. Darcy, played by Matthew Macfadyen, simmers with underlying passion. The unwanted proposal from Mr. Collins is hilariously awkward. And the intimidating Lady Catherine is portrayed by the fantastic Dame Judi Dench. If you’re an Austen purist, you probably weren’t too crazy about the intimate final scene, but the overall experience was so enjoyable that you might just have forgiven it.

This film version of Austen’s first published novel follows two very different sisters as they attempt to find love in late 18th-century England. Marianne Dashwood, played by Kate Winslet, is a passionate and romantic dreamer, while her sister Elinor, played by Emma Thompson, is far more reserved and sensible. Thompson gets extra cred for also writing the Oscar-winning screenplay. Although changes were made to the male characters to update them for a modern audience, the film still remains true to the spirit of the book and to the core relationship between the sisters. The 2008 miniseries was also quite solid, but it’s tough to top anything that features Alan Rickman reading poetry in that glorious voice.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Bride and Prejudice” (2004)

“Love & Friendship” (2016)

Man, what was in the water in 1995??? Oh, right. It seems like everyone had Austen fever that year, including the creators of this popular BBC miniseries about misconceptions and marriage-seekers. Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth are well-cast as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, plus the story and dialogue are quite faithful to the book, but this entry’s biggest claim to fame is the scene where Elizabeth runs into a tousled Darcy in a wet white shirt. It doesn’t seem scandalous by today’s standards, but it’s basically their era’s equivalent of watching someone strip ! It’s spawned tributes and even a giant statue. It wasn’t the first telling of this classic tale, but it certainly made the biggest splash!

Do you agree with our list? Which Jane Austen adaptation do you love the most? For more splendid Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.