Even if you haven’t read it yet, you’ve definitely heard of the book Pride and Prejudice and the beautiful love story between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Written by the one and only Jane Austen, the a classic novel is completing 210 years of first its publication in 2023. Nowadays everyone adores the “enemies to lovers” trope, but did you know that Austen started it all back in 1813? This is probably one of the reasons why her book is still such a huge success among young readers.
In the narrative, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy hate each other and make a lot of mistakes. However, as you continue to read, they begin to grow in each other and manage to make things right, leading to an amazing love story and showing the importance of not judging a book by its cover. It brings out discussions that are still valuable, like class, wealth, marriage and self-knowledge.
Elizabeth is one of the most beloved characters of British literature and is considered a proto-feminist, since feminism wasn’t a defined concept at the time. Throughout the narrative, you understand why Darcy says “admire and love”, because, above his love, he admires her as a woman – and you will too.
Pride and Prejudice is a true work of art and has one of the most beautiful lines ever written, when Mr. Darcy says: “In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you”.
It is impossible not to fall in love with the book. Such an epic romance surely deserved to be on the big screens, and there are many different adaptations worth watching. So, we gathered a few movies and series inspired by the book that will definitely please a Jane Austen fan! Check it out!
- Pride and Prejudice (1995 Tv Series)
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The TV series is considered by fans to be the best adaptation. The six episodes show all of the nuances of the book’s narrative, characters’ growth and the feelings for each other, and it even has original dialogues from the book. Everything in the books happens slowly and is very subtle, and the series translates that to the TV in a magical way, with a special attention to the costumes and make-up and all of the 19th century aesthetic.
Also, it has a scene that is considered one of the most unforgettable moments in British TV history in which Colin Firth, who plays Mr. Darcy, is walking out of a lake in a wet t-shirt. Some of the later adaptations have a scene with the same character that honors the original one. In 2013, a statue of the scene of Mr. Darcy, actually of Colin Firth, was made and placed in the same lake it was filmed in London.
- Pride and Prejudice: A Latter-Day Comedy (2003)
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This one is a modern adaptation of the story. Set in the early 2000’s, Elizabeth (Kam Heskin) wants to be a writer. She lives with four roommates in Longbourne Avenue, and Jane (Lucila Solá), her best friend, is from Argentina. The movie makes references to the book and gives the characters and the plot a new perspective, like when Lydia (Kelly Stables) and Jack (Henry Maguire) run to Las Vegas to marry in a Scottish chapel, referencing the part of the book when they run to Scotland.
Between the comic moments, the movie keeps the essences of the characters and the story. So, even if Elizabeth wears low rise jeans, she still has the same personality traits and the important moments are still there.
- Pride and Prejudice (2005)
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The 2005 movie adaptation is the favorite among the young audience, because it has some historical liberties with the costumes, hair and make-up, that gives the story a new look but keeps the original plot line. Also, it has beautiful photography, and one of the most beautiful scenes is when Elizabeth is walking in Pemberley, where you can see all of the emotions in her face. It’s an important moment in the book and also the film, when she is debating her feelings and sees Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen) in a new perspective, which is beautifully portrayed by Keira Knightley.
The movie has some iconic moments like the hand flex after Darcy holds Elizabeth hand – an improvised moment -, the marriage proposal in the rain and the final scene, with the early morning vibe, his open-bottom shirt and his love declaration, when she accepts to marry him.
PS: the movie has an alternative ending that was included for the American audience in which you can (finally) see a kiss between Darcy and Elizabeth.
- Lost in Austen (Tv mini-series 2008)
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The four episode TV series brings Amanda Price (Jemima Rooper), who is obsessed with the book Pride and Prejudice, until one day, after she rejects a marriage proposal from her boyfriend. While she is reading the book, Elizabeth Bennet (Gemma Arterton) appears in her bathroom and they switch places.
Then, she is transported to the beginning of the story, and saying that she is Elizabeth’s friend, she manages to stay inside the narrative, but ends up messing with everything. A really good touch of the series is that some side characters are seen from new perspectives, like Wickhan (Tom Riley) and Caroline (Christina Cole), and it also brings new discussions to a historical romance – I can’t say anything more so as not to spoil it for you!
In the final episode, you can see how well Elizabeth is doing in modern London, which strengthens the idea of her being a woman ahead of her time. Also, a spoiler, but not really, Amanda and Darcy get together, which is every fan’s dream!
- The Lizzie Bennet Diaries (web-series 2012)
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It’s a vlog-style adaptation you can find on YouTube, and it tells Elizabeth Bennet’s (Ashley Clements) story in a totally different way, bringing her to the 21st century. She is freaking out about college and makes impressions of the other characters who later appear on the videos.
The web-series adapts everything in the narrative to make it more relatable and also has super funny moments – as a fan it’s really interesting to see the changes. It has 100 episodes between two and eight minutes long. It’s a lot but is easy and fast to watch and worth it!
- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016)
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The most unusual of all, it’s a mix of romance, comedy and horror movies, in which Elizabeth (portrayed by Lily James) and her sisters are fully trained to kill zombies. Mr. Darcy (Sam Riley) is a professional zombie killer and every minute someone can be turned.
Among some really bizarre and scary scenes there are also some comedic ones, like the proposal, when Darcy and Elizabeth fight during the whole thing. At the end, after betrayal, more fight scenes, and an explosion that leads to a tearfully love declaration, the finale shows a double wedding that has a twist at the end.
- Orgulho e Paixão (Pride and Passion, 2018)
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The Brazilian soap opera aired on TV Globo and was inspired by several Jane Austen’s books, but keeps Elizabeth (called Elisabeta – portrayed by Nathalia Dill – on the telenovela) and Darcy (Thiago Lacerda) as the protagonists.
It brings together characters from Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Emma (1815), Northanger Abbey (1818) and Lady Susan (1871), placing them all in Brazil. The soap opera was able to make the characters relatable and bring a little of Brazilian history to the plot, with the history of coffee production.
It’s a soft spot for me, because it’s a mix of Jane Austen and Brazil, something you didn’t know you wanted, but works perfectly.
If you were intrigued by the movies and series above, I recommend you read the book before watching them, it’s worth it! Also, check out Bridget Jones’s Diaries, which is inspired by Pride and Prejudice and has Colin Firth in the cast.
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The article above was edited by Amanda Moraes.
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