Movies Like Shakespeare in Love (1998)

Shakespeare in Love is a 1998 comedy, history, romance film from John Madden with a MovieMagicScore of 6.8/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with King Lear and Anonymous.

Comedy History Romance

King Lear

2018

An aging King invites disaster, when he abdicates to his corrupt, toadying daughters, and rejects his loving and honest one.

6.1

MagicScore

Anonymous

2011

Set against the backdrop of the succession of Queen Elizabeth I, and the Essex Rebellion against her, the story advances the theory that it was in fact Edward De Vere, Earl of Oxford who penned Shakespeare's plays.

6.4

MagicScore

The Virgin Queen

1955

Sir Walter Raleigh overcomes court intrigue to win favor with the Queen in order to get financing for a proposed voyage to the New World.

7.2

MagicScore

The Sea Hawk

1940

Dashing pirate Geoffrey Thorpe plunders Spanish ships for Queen Elizabeth I and falls in love with Dona Maria, a beautiful Spanish royal he captures.

7.1

MagicScore

Elizabeth: The Golden Age

2007

When Queen Elizabeth's reign is threatened by ruthless familial betrayal and Spain's invading army, she and her shrewd adviser must act to safeguard the lives of her people.

6.7

MagicScore

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex

1939

This period drama frames the tumultuous affair between Queen Elizabeth I and the man who would be King of England.

6.2

MagicScore

Elizabeth

1998

The story of the ascension to the throne and the early reign of Queen Elizabeth the First, the endless attempts by her council to marry her off, the Catholic hatred of her and her romance with Lord Robert Dudley.

7.2

MagicScore

Mary, Queen of Scots

1971

Mary Stuart, who was named Queen of Scotland when she was only six days old, is the last Roman Catholic ruler of Scotland. She is imprisoned at the age of 23 by her cousin Elizabeth Tudor, the English Queen and her arch adversary. Nineteen years later the life of Mary is to be ended on the scaffold and with her execution the last threat to Elizabeth's throne has been removed. The two Queens with their contrasting personalities make a dramatic counterpoint to history.

6.6

MagicScore

Mary Queen of Scots

2018

In 1561, Mary Stuart, widow of the King of France, returns to Scotland, reclaims her rightful throne and menaces the future of Queen Elizabeth I as ruler of England, because she has a legitimate claim to the English throne. Betrayals, rebellions, conspiracies and their own life choices imperil both Queens. They experience the bitter cost of power, until their tragic fate is finally fulfilled.

6.6

MagicScore

#10

The King of Laughter

2021

In early 20th-century Naples, a theatrical parody lands beloved thespian and playwright Eduardo Scarpetta in court, facing a malicious lawsuit that could compromise his freedom of expression and the economic security of his extended family—including his son's, young Eduardo De Filippo.

7.5

MagicScore

#11

Man of La Mancha

1972

In the 16th century, poet, playwright and part-time actor Miguel de Cervantes has been arrested, together with his manservant, by the Spanish Inquisition. They're accused of presenting an entertainment offensive to the Inquisition. Inside the huge dungeon into which they have been cast, the other inmates gang up on Cervantes and his manservant, staging a mock trial, with the intention of stealing or burning his possessions. Cervantes wishes to desperately save a manuscript he carries with him and stages, with costumes, makeup, and the participation of the other prisoners, an unusual defense—the story of Don Quixote.

6.5

MagicScore

#12

Love Exposure

2009

The story of a teenage boy named Yu, who falls for Yoko, a girl he runs into while operating for the sake of sin as an "up-skirt" photographer. His attempts to woo her are complicated by a spot of cross-dressing – which convinces Yoko that she is lesbian – dalliances with kung-fu and crime, and a constant struggle with the guilt that's a legacy of his Catholic upbringing.

7.9

MagicScore

#13

Orlando

1992

England, 1600. Queen Elizabeth I promises Orlando, a young nobleman obsessed with poetry, that she will grant him land and fortune if he agrees to satisfy a very particular request.

6.9

MagicScore

#14

Wilde

1997

Oscar Wilde is a married playwright who has occasionally indulged his weakness for male suitors. After much toil, Wilde debuts 'The Importance of Being Earnest' in London, and a chat at the theatre with Lord Alfred 'Bosie' Douglas leads to a full-fledged romance. However, this affair leads to a legal dispute with Lord Alfred's oppressive father, the Marquess of Queensberry, and, given the local anti-gay laws, Wilde is jailed. Wilde's vast intellect helps him survive until he regains his freedom.

6.6

MagicScore

#15

The Trials of Oscar Wilde

1960

England, 1890s. The brutal and embittered Marquis of Queensberry, who believes that his youngest son, Bosie, has an inappropriate relationship with the famous Irish writer Oscar Wilde, maintains an ongoing feud with the latter in order to ruin his reputation and cause his fall from grace.

6.3

MagicScore

#16

See How They Run

2022

In the West End of 1950s London, plans for a movie version of a smash-hit play come to an abrupt halt after a pivotal member of the crew is murdered. When world-weary Inspector Stoppard and eager rookie Constable Stalker take on the case, the two find themselves thrown into a puzzling whodunit within the glamorously sordid theater underground, investigating the mysterious homicide at their own peril.

6.4

MagicScore

#17

23 Paces to Baker Street

1956

Philip Hannon, a blind playwright living in London, overhears part of a conversation , that leads him into a desperate race, to find a kidnapped child. When he gets no help from the police, he along with his butler, and his ex fiancée, attempt to track down the crooks.

6.7

MagicScore

#18

Prick Up Your Ears

1987

When the young, attractive Joe Orton meets the older, more introverted Kenneth Halliwell at drama school, he befriends the kindred spirit and they start an affair. As Orton becomes more comfortable with his sexuality and starts to find success with his writing, Halliwell becomes increasingly alienated and jealous, ultimately tapping into a dangerous rage.

6.6

MagicScore

#19

Finding Neverland

2004

During a writing slump, playwright J.M. Barrie meets a widow and her four children, all young boys—who soon become an important part of Barrie’s life and the inspiration that lead him to create his masterpiece. Peter Pan.

7.3

MagicScore

#20

London Town

2017

A 14-year old boy’s life changes forever when his estranged mother introduces him to the music of The Clash in 1979 London.

6.1

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Shakespeare in Love?

The top films similar to Shakespeare in Love by MovieMagicScore are King Lear (6.1), Anonymous (6.4), The Virgin Queen (7.2). Each shares comedy/history/romance themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Shakespeare in Love worth watching?

Shakespeare in Love holds a MovieMagicScore of 6.8/10 from 3,107 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is Shakespeare in Love?

Shakespeare in Love (1998) is a comedy, history, romance film directed by John Madden, starring Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Geoffrey Rush.

Where can I find more recommendations like Shakespeare in Love?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more comedy recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like King Lear Movies like Anonymous Movies like The Virgin Queen Movies like The Sea Hawk Movies like Elizabeth: The Golden Age Movies like The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex

About movies like Shakespeare in Love

This ranked list pairs Shakespeare in Love (1998), a comedy and history and romance film from John Madden, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Joseph Fiennes take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

← Back to Shakespeare in Love