This post was originally published on Audible.com.
If you've ever dreamed of gossiping about the who's who of wealthy eligible bachelors at an 18th-century English ball, you're likely already a fan of Jane Austen. Despite achieving only modest success in her lifetime, Austen has become one of the most famous novelists of all time. Her six notable novels have been read and listened to by millions, inspiring countless retellings and screen adaptations along the way. With Austen's 247th birthday coming up on December 16th, there's no better time to celebrate her lasting genius. And what better way to mark the occasion than with a television binge or movie marathon?
In this list, I’ll take you through each of Jane Austen's novels in turn, noting which adaptations might be considered the best. (The best is, of course, a broad and subjective term—only you can decide which adaptation ranks number one in your heart!) But to help you find your favorite, this list details the adaptation most faithful to the original text, the most critically acclaimed adaptation, and honorable mentions for unique or noteworthy adaptations. So grab your best empire-waist dress and the nearest single man in possession of a good fortune, and let's get to it!
The Best Pride and Prejudice Adaptations
Pride and Prejudice is the most iconic and perhaps most universally adored of Jane Austen's works. Who amongst us hasn't swooned at Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy's enemies-to-lovers romance? Elizabeth and her four sisters know from the outset of the story that their father's inheritance can only be passed to a male heir, so at least one of them must marry well in order to support the women of the family upon their father's death. The stakes are high, the characters are nuanced and well-developed, and drama is inevitable. But which screen adaptation best brings the story to life?
Most Faithful to the Book: Pride and Prejudice (1995 Series)
This six-episode BBC television series is by far the most faithful to the original text. It's difficult to fit all the details and characters from the novel into one movie, so the serial nature of this adaptation lent director Simon Langton more room to accommodate everything fans love about Pride and Prejudice. It stars Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth and the incomparable Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. Try as they might, no actor can touch Firth's handsome, brooding, iconic portrayal of Darcy.
Most Critically Acclaimed: Pride and Prejudice (2005 Film)
Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet—need I say more? This blockbuster film version of the beloved novel stole the hearts of audiences and critics alike. Director Joe Wright intentionally subverted the clean and stuffy Regency period piece tradition, instead opting for a more realistic "muddy hem" style. Matthew Macfadyen's Darcy is glum and mysterious, and Rosamund Pike and Carey Mulligan as Jane and Kitty Bennet, respectively, are particularly memorable.
Honorable Mention: Bridget Jones's Diary (2001 Film)
Bridget Jones's Diary is among the most iconic rom-coms in the genre, but did you know it was inspired by Pride and Prejudice? It's based on the novel of the same name by Helen Fielding, told through the diary entries of 32-year-old Bridget Jones as she tries to find Mr. Right. The movie stars Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones (a.k.a. Elizabeth Bennet), Colin Firth as Mark Darcy (yes, again—he's just that dreamy!), and Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver (a character inspired by George Wickham).
Honorable Mention: Fire Island (2022 Film)
If you've ever wondered what a contemporary queer version of Pride and Prejudice might look like, look no further! This movie, written by and starring comedian Joel Kim Booster, is a delightful romp set in a popular queer vacation destination. Regency-era balls are replaced by beach weekends and rich, gay house parties. Kim Booster is the Elizabeth Bennet you never knew you needed, while SNL rising star Bowen Yang makes an outstanding Jane.
The Best Sense and Sensibility Adaptations
Sense and Sensibility is Jane Austen's first published work, though it was initially published anonymously, accredited only to "A Lady." It revolves around the Dashwood sisters—19-year-old Elinor, 16-year-old Marianne, and 13-year-old Margaret—as they come of age after their father's death. Their older half-brother inherits the family fortune and home, leaving the girls and their mother to rent a small house owned by distant relatives. The novel follows the three sisters through love, heartbreak, and a multitude of life lessons.
Most Faithful to the Book and Most Critically Acclaimed: Sense and Sensibility (1995 Film)
Bookworms and critics agree: The 1995 film version, written by and starring British national treasure Emma Thompson and directed by Ang Lee, is the very best adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. Thompson spent five years creating a screenplay that was faithful to and honored the original text, and her portrayal of Elinor likewise shows her respect for the source material. Kate Winslet is unforgettable as Marianne, and Hugh Grant and Alan Rickman can't be beat as Regency-era suitors Edward Ferrars and Colonel Brandon. While a few scenes and small characters don't make the 135-minute cut, the spirit of Jane Austen is very much alive and well in this film.
Honorable Mention: Sense and Sensibility (2008 Series)
If you can't get enough of the Dashwood sisters, you'll likely also enjoy the three-part BBC series from 2008, adapted by Andrew Davies and directed by John Alexander. Some viewers appreciate that the actors are more convincingly teenaged than in the film mentioned above, with Hattie Morahan as Elinor, Charity Wakefield as Marianne, and Lucy Boynton as Margaret. Nevertheless, while Davies claimed his goal with the series was to make viewers forget the Ang Lee–directed film, it didn't quite achieve that goal.
Honorable Mention: From Prada to Nada (2011 Film)
This contemporary Sense and Sensibility retelling is certainly good for a laugh. Spoiled sisters Nora (Camilla Belle) and Mary (Alexa Vega) are stunned to find, upon their father's death, that they're broke. They move in with an aunt in East Los Angeles while they try to survive their new change in status, and Mary falls for their next-door neighbor, Bruno (a stand-in for Colonel Brandon), played by Wilmer Valderrama.
The Best Emma Adaptations
When Jane Austen set out to create Emma, she wrote, "I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like." Unsurprisingly, countless readers fell in love with her anyway. Deeply flawed yet somehow still charming, Emma Woodhouse is spoiled, stubborn, beautiful, and has a habit of meddling in other people's love lives. Needless to say, her story is full of humor and terrible matchmaking.
Most Faithful to the Book: Emma (2009 Series)
Lovers of the novel rightfully argue that this four-part BBC series adaptation fits in the most subplots and direct dialogue from Emma. Romola Garai is sparkling as the titular character, and Michael Gambon stands out as Emma's father, Mr. Woodhouse. However, some viewers still criticize the pacing of the series, which wraps up rather abruptly in the final episode. Nevertheless, it's still a wonderful exploration of the exploits of a fascinating character.
Most Critically Acclaimed: Emma (2020 Film)
Anya Taylor-Joy is no doubt a captivating, multitalented actress, and her portrayal of Emma in the 2020 adaptation, directed by Autumn de Wilde, demonstrates her skillset. While it may not be the most accurate adaptation of the book, it's got a great sense of humor, beautiful costumes, and eye-catching cinematography. (As far as critical reception goes, however, it's worth noting that the 1993 film adaptation starring Gwyneth Paltrow isn't too far behind.)
Honorable Mention: Clueless (1995 Film)
Clueless is undeniably a cult classic that also happens to be a delightful contemporary retelling of Emma. Alicia Silverstone's Cher actually captures the spirit of Emma surprisingly well, with her upbeat attitude, obsession with expensive clothes, and determination to play matchmaker for her teachers and friends. Once you've watched one of the more traditional adaptations, you'll likely enjoy revisiting this '90s blockbuster.
The Best Persuasion Adaptations
One of two Austen works published posthumously, Persuasion tells the story of 27-year-old spinster Anne Elliot as her family makes the financial decision to move in order to rent their home to an Admiral and his wife. That Admiral's brother, however, is Anne's ex-fiancé, Captain Frederick Wentworth. Anne's family and friends convinced her to break off the engagement, but seven years later, Anne might get a second chance at love.
Most Faithful to the Book and Most Critically Acclaimed: Persuasion (1995 Film)
Similar to Ang Lee's Sense and Sensibility, Austen fans and film critics agree that the BBC's 1995 adaptation of Persuasion is both truest to the original text and the best crafted film. Directed by Roger Michell, the classic film has gorgeous costumes and sets that are also accurate to the Regency setting. Amanda Root made a stellar screen debut as a thoughtful, complex Anne, and Ciarán Hinds plays a commanding and pining Captain Wentworth.
Honorable Mention: Persuasion (2022 Film)
Did this Netflix adaptation infuriate countless Austen enthusiasts with its irreverent dialogue and modern sense of humor? Yes. But is it entertaining? Also yes, especially if you’re willing to roll with some inventive, if quirky, directorial choices. Some critics accuse Dakota Johnson of parodying Anne Elliot's spinsterhood more than playing her as a well-rounded, sympathetic character, and if lines like "if you're a 5 in London, you're a 10 in Bath" bother you, definitely skip it. Otherwise, gather up some pals and queue up this film for a lighthearted, fun night in.
Honorable Mention: Rational Creatures (2019 Web Series)
This short-form web series reinvents Austen’s tale, centering a queer, Latina Anne Elliot played by Ana Elías. Four multinational women filmmakers teamed up to make this modern romantic dramedy inspired by Persuasion. It's filled with complex women characters, honest conversations about mental health and chronic illness, and a bisexual Captain Wentworth. What more could you ask for?
The Best Mansfield Park Adaptations
One of Jane Austen's more controversial works, Mansfield Park tells the story of Fanny Price from age 10, when her impoverished family sends her to live with her wealthy aunt, Lady Bertram, through young adulthood. Although all of Austen's novels address pertinent issues of wealth and status, this book most directly addresses class divides and the struggles of Regency-era women to determine their own fates.
Most Faithful to the Book: Mansfield Park (1983 Series)
This six-part TV series, directed by David Giles, is widely agreed to be the most faithful adaptation. Where many series try to make Fanny Price more upbeat or charming, the 1983 series stuck more closely to Austen's depiction of the character (played by Sylvestra Le Touzel) and even uses a fair amount of dialogue directly taken from the book. While some say that the strict adherence to the source material makes the series feel a bit dry and slow, if you're a page-to-screen purist, this is the adaptation for you.
Most Critically Acclaimed: Mansfield Park (1999 Film)
The 1999 film adaptation, directed by Patricia Rozema, is regarded by critics as the highest quality adaptation of Mansfield Park. Frances O'Connor plays a more vocal and independent Fanny Price than comes across in the book. Rozema also takes a bolder interpretation of the novel's themes and times. In addition to tying in some details from Jane Austen's real life, Rozema incorporates feminist themes and a postcolonial perspective on slavery and its role in the Bertram family's wealth.
Honorable Mention: Mansfield Park (2003 Radio Drama)
Okay, okay, so this is technically cheating because it's not a screen adaptation. But audiobooks have the power to bring stories to life in incredible ways, so I say it counts. This star-studded full cast BBC radio dramatization of Mansfield Park is certainly worthy of note. Felicity Jones phenomenally voices Fanny Price, Benedict Cumberbatch plays Edmund Bertram, and David Tennant fills the role of Tom Bertram. How can you go wrong with talent like that? (Better yet, you can go ahead and listen to this gem right now on Audible.)
The Best Northanger Abbey Adaptations
Jane Austen broke from the popular Gothic novel tradition of her time in style, but in this novel published after her death, she takes it a step further, satirizing the genre itself through protagonist Catherine Morland, a naive young woman whose view of the world is distorted by her love of Gothic fiction. When handsome young Henry Tilney invites Catherine to his family's imposing old mansion, she can only imagine the dark secrets hiding in its walls, based on what she's learned from her favorite books.
Most Faithful to the Book and Most Critically Acclaimed: Northanger Abbey (2007 Film)
In the case of Northanger Abbey, Austen fans tend to agree that no screen adaptation has yet managed to perfectly capture the wit, youthful spirit, and Gothic satire of the novel. The 1987 BBC series leans too heavily into the Gothic noir and loses some of the humor and young romance. And while this very, very good 2007 film starring Felicity Jones as Catherine comes a little closer to the humor in Austen's writing, it's still not without flaws. (In particular, Henry's charm gets a bit muddled and lost, and Isabella Thorpe gets a rough characterization as a fickle flirt.) So, television and film producers, if you're reading this—please give Pride and Prejudice a rest and deliver the Northanger Abbey adaptation we deserve!
Honorable Mention: Ruby in Paradise (1993 Film)
This independent film, directed by Victor Nunez and featuring Ashley Judd in her first starring role, is loosely inspired by Northanger Abbey—it even shows Judd's character, Ruby, reading the Jane Austen book and connecting with the protagonist! Instead of a Gothic mansion, young Ruby leaves home to find herself at a souvenir shop in Panama City, Florida. Judd's charisma and Nunez's unexpected take on the classic work surprisingly well.
So there you have it—the best Jane Austen adaptations for your viewing pleasure! It seems like BBC adaptations can often be relied upon for the most faithful adherence to the books, and plenty of filmmakers find creative ways to bring these beloved stories into the future. But if you want the stories straight from the source, there's no better way to enjoy Jane Austen's books than on Audible.
Susie Dumond is a senior contributor at Book Riot and the author of Queerly Beloved.
