The Importance of Being Earnest
“Everybody Loves Ernest... But Nobody's Quite Sure Who He Really Is.”
Synopsis
Two young gentlemen living in 1890s England use the same pseudonym ('Ernest') on the sly, which is fine until they both fall in love with women using that name, which leads to a comedy of mistaken identities.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Importance of Being Earnest (2002) - Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2009-08-21
Top Cast
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Rupert Everett
Algernon “Algy” Moncrieff
Colin Firth
John “Jack” Worthing
Reese Witherspoon
Cecily Cardew
Judi Dench
Lady Bracknell
Tom Wilkinson
Dr. Chasuble
Frances O'Connor
Gwendolen Fairfax
Anna Massey
Miss Laetitia Prism
Edward Fox
Lane
Patrick Godfrey
Merriman
Charles Kay
Gribsby
Marsha Fitzalan
Dowager
Cyril Shaps
Pew Opener
Finty Williams
Young Lady Bracknell
Guy Bensley
Young Lord Bracknell
Kiera Chaplin
Girl in Gambling Club
Suzy Boyle
Dancer
Bernadette Iglich
Dancer
Elaine Tyler-Hall
Dancer
Release History & Theatrical Window
May 17, 2002
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$15M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$17.3M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
1.15x
+$2.3M net gain
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Oliver Parker
- Screenplay & Story
- Oliver Parker
- Original Score
- Charlie Mole
- Original Title
- The Importance of Being Earnest
- Country of Origin
- France, United Kingdom, United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- German, English
- Runtime
- 1h 37m
- Production Budget
- $15M
- Worldwide Gross
- $17.3M
- Production Studios
- Ealing Studios, Miramax, Fragile Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Oliver Parker
Oliver Parker, Oscar Wilde
Charlie Mole
Tony Pierce-Roberts
Guy Bensley
Uri Fruchtmann, Barnaby Thompson
Department Leadership Roster
Oliver Parker
Director
Tony Pierce-Roberts
Director of Photography
Barnaby Thompson
Producer
Oliver Parker
Screenplay
Guy Bensley
Editor
Charlie Mole
Original Music Composer
Maurizio Millenotti
Costume Design
Luciana Arrighi
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance Suggested.
FSK 0 — Approved without age restriction.
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Importance of Being Earnest.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Importance of Being Earnest
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Importance of Being Earnest about?
Two young gentlemen living in 1890s England use the same pseudonym ('Ernest') on the sly, which is fine until they both fall in love with women using that name, which leads to a comedy of mistaken identities.
Who directed The Importance of Being Earnest?
The Importance of Being Earnest was directed by Oliver Parker.
Who stars in The Importance of Being Earnest?
The principal cast of The Importance of Being Earnest includes Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon, Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson.
When was The Importance of Being Earnest released and how long is it?
The Importance of Being Earnest was released in 2002 with a total runtime of 1h 37m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Importance of Being Earnest?
The Importance of Being Earnest had a reported production budget of $15M and grossed $17.3M at the worldwide box office (1.15 return on budget, classified as a budget recovered).
Who composed the musical score for The Importance of Being Earnest?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Importance of Being Earnest was composed by Charlie Mole.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Importance of Being Earnest?
The Importance of Being Earnest holds official age classifications: CA: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested.); DE: 0 (FSK 0 — Approved without age restriction.); GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).