Is there anything as romantic as Pride and Prejudice? It’s impossible not to get swept up in the story of how Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy loathe each other after terrible first impressions, only to realize that they were perfect for each other all along. The story’s enemies-to-lovers plot and romance as social commentary have inspired countless other movies, and no matter what your favorite part is, there’s sure to be another movie that will spark the same feelings! We’ve rounded up a few of our very favorites, from modern rom-coms that have the same sparky chemistry to other adaptations of Jane Austen’s books and more. Keep reading to see which of these movies you should put on your own to-watch list!
Anna Karenina
Keira Knightley reunites with Pride and Prejudice director Joe Wright and costar Matthew Macfayden for this adaptation of the classic Russian romantic tragedy. Anna is trapped in an unhappy marriage with a dull aristocrat, but when she starts up an affair with a charming young officer, the fallout is disastrous. It’s definitely not a happily-ever-after romantic comedy like a Jane Austen novel, but it’s got the same lush production values and historical drama.
An Education
Carey Mulligan played the least important Bennet sister in Pride and Prejudice, but she gets to be center stage in the 1960s drama An Education. Mulligan plays Jenny, a schoolgirl whose Oxford dreams get slowly pushed to the side as she falls for the charms of a sophisticated older man who offers to show her the world.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society has all the swoon-worthy romance of Pride and Prejudice, but with a post-World War II setting. Juliet, a successful author, begins corresponding with the book society of Guernsey. She then decides to visit them in person, where she meets Dawsey Adams and discovers that their book club also served as a cover for undercover activities during the war.
Watch The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society on Netflix.
Love & Friendship
Pride and Prejudice fans looking for a lesser-known Austen adaptation should look no further than Love & Friendship, an adaptation of Austen’s novella Lady Susan (although, confusingly, it takes its name from a piece of juvenalia from Austen’s early work). Wealthy young widow Lady Susan is out to secure wealthy matches for her and for her daughter, and she’s not above some very petty manipulations to make it happen.
The Young Victoria
Just like Elizabeth and Darcy, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are both headstrong, opinionated people who disagree as often as they agree. But, also like Lizzie and Darcy, they fall madly in love despite the pressures of high society and politics on every side.
Ever After
A snobby, highborn man learns a lesson in humility as he falls in love with a strong-willed woman of a lower social class are we talking about Pride and Prejudice or Ever After? This twist on the Cinderella story sets the tale in Renaissance-era France, where Danielle uses the noble title of her late mother to get time with Prince Henry and convince him to pay attention to the troubles in his kingdom.
Little Women
Although Pride and Prejudice is a romantic comedy, at its heart it’s also a story of sisters who love each other and get on each other’s nerves in equal measure. That’s also true of Little Women, the story of four sisters in Civil War-era New England who struggling with growing up, falling in love, and figuring out where their lives will take them.
The Prince and Me
Just like Pride and Prejudice, this early-2000s rom-com centers on an ambitious, witty woman who first clashes with, then falls in love with, a charming man of much higher social status who makes a terrible first impression. This time, though, that young woman is Paige, a doctor in training, and her love interest isn’t just a wealthy gentleman, but the crown prince of Denmark.
Emma
The original adaptation of Austen’s classic antiheroine rom-com, Emma stars Gwyneth Paltrow as arrogant, meddling Emma Woodhouse, a determined matchmaker who’s equally determined not to fall in love herself. It’s a must watch for any Jane Austen fan, with a gauzy, dreamy approach and all the heartache and joy you’d expect.
Becoming Jane
If Becoming Jane is to be believed, Pride and Prejudice was inspired by Jane Austen’s own doomed love affair with the rakish, romantic Tom Lefroy. In reality, it’s more the other way around: the movie borrows from Austen’s most popular novel to embellish what little is known about her real-life romantic affair.
Emma.
Autumn de Wilde’s candy-colored adaptation of Emma captures the delicious yearning of an Austen novel better than any version in years. Not only is there a slow-burn romance between entitled Emma and her exasperated love interest Mr. Knightley, but, like Pride and Prejudice, a good portion of the story also hinges on its heroine coming to terms with her own flaws. (Plus, if you love the tension-laden ballroom scene from Pride and Prejudice, there’s another scene for you here!)
You've Got Mail
If Elizabeth and Darcy’s enemies-to-lovers arc is your favorite part of Pride and Prejudice, this classic Nora Ephron rom-com should be your next stop. Kathleen and Joe are absolute enemies in real life, as she fights to keep her indie bookstore open when his megachain moves into the neighborhood. What they don’t know: they’re each other’s secret email pen pals.
