Shakespeare in Love
“Love is the only inspiration.”
Synopsis
Young William Shakespeare is forced to stage his latest comedy, 'Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter', before it's even written. When lovely noblewoman Viola de Lesseps auditions for a role, they fall into forbidden love — and Shakespeare's play finds a new life (and title). As their relationship intensifies, the comedy soon transforms into tragedy.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Shakespeare in Love - TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2013-04-06
Top Cast
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Joseph Fiennes
Will Shakespeare
Gwyneth Paltrow
Viola De Lesseps
Geoffrey Rush
Philip Henslowe
Tom Wilkinson
Hugh Fennyman
Judi Dench
Queen Elizabeth
Imelda Staunton
Nurse
Colin Firth
Lord Wessex
Ben Affleck
Ned Alleyn
Simon Callow
Tilney
Steven Beard
Makepeace
Jim Carter
Ralph Bashford
Rupert Everett
Christopher Marlowe
Martin Clunes
Richard Burbage
Tim McMullan
Frees
Joe Roberts
John Webster
Antony Sher
Dr. Moth
Georgie Glen
Lady in Waiting
Nicholas Boulton
Henry Condell
Release History & Theatrical Window
Berlin International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
December 11, 1998
Wide Cinema Exhibition
March 30, 2012
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$25M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$289.3M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
11.57x
+$264.3M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- John Madden
- Screenplay & Story
- Marc Norman, Tom Stoppard
- Original Score
- Stephen Warbeck
- Original Title
- Shakespeare in Love
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 4m
- Production Budget
- $25M
- Worldwide Gross
- $289.3M
- Production Studios
- Miramax, Universal Pictures, Bedford Falls Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John Madden
Marc Norman, Tom Stoppard
Stephen Warbeck
Richard Greatrex
David Gamble
Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein, Edward Zwick, Donna Gigliotti, Julie Goldstein
Department Leadership Roster
Harvey Weinstein
Producer
Sandy Powell
Costume Design
Edward Zwick
Producer
Donna Gigliotti
Producer
Stephen Warbeck
Original Music Composer
David Gamble
Editor
John Madden
Director
Marc Norman
Producer
Richard Greatrex
Director of Photography
David Parfitt
Producer
Martin Childs
Production Design
Marc Norman
Writer
Tom Stoppard
Writer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 6 — Restricted to viewers aged 6 and older.
Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Shakespeare in Love.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Shakespeare in Love.
Movie Collection
New English Movies
New in English
Dual Audio Hindi Movies
Automated renaming to: Dual Audio Hindi Movies
Dual Audio Hindi Movies Above 7
Automated renaming to: Dual Audio Hindi Movies Above 7
Academy Awards
Best Movie
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Frequently Asked Questions About Shakespeare in Love
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Shakespeare in Love about?
Young William Shakespeare is forced to stage his latest comedy, 'Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter', before it's even written. When lovely noblewoman Viola de Lesseps auditions for a role, they fall into forbidden love — and Shakespeare's play finds a new life (and title). As their relationship intensifies, the comedy soon transforms into tragedy.
Who directed Shakespeare in Love?
Shakespeare in Love was directed by John Madden.
Who stars in Shakespeare in Love?
The principal cast of Shakespeare in Love includes Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Geoffrey Rush, Tom Wilkinson, Judi Dench.
When was Shakespeare in Love released and how long is it?
Shakespeare in Love was released in 1998 with a total runtime of 2h 4m.
What was the box office and production budget of Shakespeare in Love?
Shakespeare in Love had a reported production budget of $25M and grossed $289.3M at the worldwide box office (11.57 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Shakespeare in Love?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Shakespeare in Love was composed by Stephen Warbeck.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Shakespeare in Love?
Shakespeare in Love holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); CA: R; DE: 6 (FSK 6 — Restricted to viewers aged 6 and older.); FR: 12 (Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).