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Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, John Leguizamo, Harold Perrineau Jr., Pete Postlethwaite ... see more see more... , Paul Sorvino , Jesse Bradford , Vondie Curtis-Hall , Brian Dennehy , Vincent Laresca , Miriam Margolyes , Christina Pickles , Diane Venora , M. Emmet Walsh , Jamie Kennedy , Dash Mihok , Paul Rudd , Carlos Martin Manzo Ortalora , Harold Perrineau

The classic Shakespearean romantic tragedy is updated by director Baz Luhrmann to a post-modern Verona Beach where swords are merely a brand of gun and bored youths are easily spurred toward violence.... read more read more... Longtime rivals in religion and business, the Montagues and the Capulets share a page from the Jets and Sharks of West Side Story when they form rival gangs. Romeo (Leonardo DiCaprio) is aloof toward the goings-on of his Montague cousins, but after he realizes that Juliet (Claire Danes) is a Capulet at the end of one very wild party, the enmity between the two clans becomes the root of his angst. He relies heavily -- and with serious consequences -- on his rebel gender-bender of a friend, Mercutio (Harold Perrineau Jr.), and Father (not Friar) Lawrence (Pete Postlethwaite) for protection and support. Romeo is, of course, exiled, and it looks like Juliet will be forced into an arranged marriage with the bland Paris (Paul Rudd). It ends, as Romeo and Juliet must, when Romeo hears a tragic piece of misinformation and brings his suicide wish to what was meant to be Juliet 's temporary tomb. This time, though, the turf and the weapon of choice have taken a turn toward the surreal. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

Flixster Users

76% liked it

494,959 ratings

Critics

70% liked it

56 critics

PG-13, 2 hr.

Directed by: Baz Luhrmann

Release Date: November 1, 1996

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DVD Release Date: May 25, 1999

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Stats: 34,475 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (34,475)

  • fb100001050230219
    September 22, 2011
    fb100001050230219
    A fresh, very enjoyable and engrosing adaptation of Shakespeare's classic play. DiCaprio and Danes are excellent.
  • spielberg00
    September 11, 2011
    spielberg00
    To say the very least, ROMEO + JULIET is probably more brilliant and inventive than Shakespeare is himself. Set in a modern time period, this stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo and Claire Danes as Juliet. Some of the aspects of this production tend to strike as humor: for example... read more, if you look closely at Tybalt's gun during the brawl scene set on the beach, it has the word "dagger" (the object he used in the original Shakespeare text) written across it. Other aspects attempt to throw you off, such as near the end...I won't spoil that, as it is slightly different than the ending in the William Shakespeare text. Even if this needs to be slightly unfaithful in order to be modernized, it is a great film, and it is definitely worth seeing.
  • blkbomb
    August 15, 2011
    blkbomb
    Romeo: Did my heart love 'til now? Forswear its sight. For I never saw true beauty 'til this night. 

    "The Classic Love Story Set In Our Time" 

    I found little enjoyment in this modern Romeo and Juliet. Its style was really annoying and left my head aching. This movie boarders on... read more unwatchable. Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio are okay, but they don't give amazing performances. Nothing about it worked. The film was way too busy and could have possibly worked if Luhrmann had went for a more subtle approach. 

    I probably went into this with too high of expectations, which were completely crushed by the first 10 minutes of the movie. In a different directors hands, this could have possibly worked. In Luhrmann's, it is a complete mess and a waste of time.
  • jennifxu
    July 25, 2011
    jennifxu
    I don't usually like Baz Luhrmann's aesthetic (too noisy), but it just works here, alongside this improbable classic story with the cuh-razy Shakespearean dialogue. This is my favorite, favorite adaptation of the story: fairy lights, fireworks glittering in the night sky, multico... read morelored California bleached to its rawest and most potent, Mercutio the fabulous drag queen, and Leo's beautiful beautiful face peering into the translucent aquarium (no wonder Claire Danes practically orgasms in the pool).
  • ajv2688
    July 9, 2011
    ajv2688
    When I first saw this movie I thought it was very interesting how they updated the story in such a unique way. Now that I'm older and have studied the theatre more, though, I don't like this movie as much. It seems to only have been a vehicle for Leo fans to romanticize him. I... read more guess it has a little of both.
  • murphmann93
    June 24, 2011
    murphmann93
    Couldn't watch it all the way through! The fact that you don't understand what they're saying makes it difficult to watch!
  • riverdale237
    June 14, 2011
    riverdale237
    I'll admit that I enjoyed reading Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. It was cliche, but everything else about it was pretty good. That's why it really disappoints me when a Romeo and Juliet movie absolutley fails in every possible way.

    To this day, there has never been a good Ro... read moremeo and Juliet movie. Gnomeo and Juliet was horrible and the 1968 Romeo and Juliet remains one of the worst movies I've ever seen. However, this movie's not as bad. Why? Two words. John Leguizamo. His performance as Tybalt was one of the best villain performances I've ever seen. He was menacing, with a dark sense of humor and that nasty villain style. Reminded me of Bullseye in Daredevil.

    Harold Perrineau did a very good job to as Mercutio. My only regret was that he didnt get more screen time. But alas, even he couldn't save this god awful hell spawn.

    The rest of the actors were horrible. Leonardo DiCaprio was clearly not in his rhythym as Romeo. His performance flat out sucked, especially in the scene where he murders Tybalt. Claire Danes was even worse. She seemed way too dull to play Juliet.

    Also, Romeo + Juliet needs to shut up, literally. The film just throws scenes and explosions at us randomly. And the prologue? Down right laughable.

    Worse still, the movie speaks in old english. That's right, old english. I'm not even joking. Every line from the movie was taken right out of the Romeo and Juliet transcript.

    I'm not exactly sure why this movie got 70%. What I am sure of? It is bad. Very bad.
  • DreamExtractor
    May 19, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    I liked this a lot. Horribly stupid moments and taking out many scenes was only problem. Acting was great, and was worthy of Shakespeares work
  • stevenecarrier
    October 22, 2010
    stevenecarrier
    Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet" is a vivd and memorable adaptation of William Shakespeare's play. While I can certainly understand the hatred of this film, I for one, really enjoy it. Visually, it's one of the most striking films to come out of the 90s; capturing the dizzying fee... read moreling of being in love. Add Shakespeare's iconic dialogue, two wide eyed and natural performances from Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes and Luhrmann's intoxicating aesthetic and you have the recipe for a wholly original and thrilling picture that decidedly splits it's audience while updating and reinventing it's source.
  • MizturY0da
    September 8, 2010
    MizturY0da
    2 stars

View All Romeo + Juliet Reviews

Critic Reviews

Owen Gleiberman
July 6, 2010
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

A slick blast of ''decadence,'' the kind of violent swank-trash music video that may make you feel like reaching for the remote control. Full Review

Todd McCarthy
June 11, 2008
Todd McCarthy, Variety

Doesn't approach the emotional resonance of Franco Zeffirelli's immensely popular 1968 screen version. Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Where is the audience willing to watch a classic play thrown in the path of a subway train? Full Review

Desson Thomson
August 28, 2002
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Puts Shakespeare's greatest romance in a choke-hold and takes it slam-dancing. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
June 18, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

A monumental disaster. Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Luhrmann and his two bright angels have shaken up a 400-year-old play without losing its touching, poetic innocence.

Kenneth Turan
February 21, 2001
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

Sure to infuriate as much as it delights. Full Review

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

Traditionalists are sure to despise the psychedelic tunes and the flashy sets of this audacious adaptation. Full Review

January 1, 2000
USA Today

The film's skewed stylistic flourishes capture enough of the original's spirit to provoke more respect than rejection.

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Danes makes a breathtaking Juliet, merging strength and fragility into one. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Romeo + Juliet Trivia

  • In Romeo and Juliet who's a capulet and who's a Montague?  Answer »
  • Which Oscar-winning musical is based on Shakespeare's 'Romeo & Juliet'?  Answer »
  • Who dies first in Romeo & Juliet?  Answer »
  • A Musical of ROMEO AND JULIET where the rival families are mafiasoes. A film by Baz Luhrmann.  Answer »
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