10 Movies To Watch If You Like Pride And Prejudice

Jane Austen's beloved 1813 novel, Pride and Prejudice, has been used as the source material for several films and miniseries. But the 2005 feature film, directed by Joe Wright and starring Keira Knightley, is likely the most widely known. The story follows Elizabeth Bennet (Knightley) and her sisters as they engage various potential suitors, helped along by their mother, Mrs. Bennet (Brenda Blethyn), who is looking to get them all married off to wealthy husbands. Matthew Macfadyen co-stars as Elizabeth's brooding love interest, Mr. Darcy. It also features early performances from Rosamund Pike and Carey Mulligan, both of whom play Bennet sisters.

There's a lot to love about this film. The romance between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy is one of the most famous courtships in literature, and Knightley and Macfadyen bring it to the screen with electrifying chemistry and palpable tension. Screenwriter Deborah Moggach's screenplay adapts the centuries-old story into something that feels fresh and modern, even as it remains a period piece. And, as it does in every great adaptation of the classic story, Austen's keen social commentary shines through, as funny as it is cutting.

If you're one of the many movie fans out there who loves 2005's Pride and Prejudice, you're in luck — there are a lot more films out there in the same vein. We're here to help you figure out where to start.

Adapted from a book that is itself a modern retelling of Austen's Pride and Prejudice, this 2001 romantic comedy from director Sharon Maguire is both worthy of the Austen association and more than good enough to stand on its own. Renée Zellweger stars as the titular Bridget Jones, a 32-year-old who, at the start of the new year, decides to change her relationship to food, dating and cigarettes and track her progress in her diary. But her attraction to her smarmy boss, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), and her conflicted feelings toward her childhood acquaintance, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), may get in the way of her goals.

Zellweger absolutely excels as the magnetic and charming Bridget — it's no wonder she received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Grant and Firth, as her two wildly different love interests, have firm grasps on their respective roles, fully rounding out Bridget's world. Of the film as a whole, Film4 declares it "a cheerfully frothy romantic comedy that benefits from sharp writing, lively performances and touching characterisation." It turns out, the themes and topics of Austen's 19th-century novel work just as well in the 21st century – Bridget Jones's Diary stands as proof.

Charlotte Brontë published what is often considered her magnum opus, Jane Eyre, in 1847. Much like Austen's works, Jane Eyre has been the subject of more than one adaptation over the years, from silent films beginning as early as 1910 to the first feature film version in 1934. More recently, it was adapted for the screen by Moira Buffini for director Cary Joji Fukunaga's 2011 adaptation, starring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender. 

Jane (Wasikowska), a woman with a traumatic past, lands a job as a governess at Edward Rochester's (Fassbender) estate. Despite Rochester's frequent mood swings, the two bond and begin to fall for each other. But Rochester has a dark secret. Upon discovering it, Jane runs away from his home and their potential romance.

The 2011 movie has been labeled an ultra-faithful adaptation of the classic work, which only strengthens the film overall. It has even been deemed the best of all Jane Eyre adaptations. As Cinemaficionados details in their review, "This Jane Eyre adaptation far surpasses any of the previous film versions by benefiting from a master execution by director Cary Fukunaga." Fukunaga's direction is aided by the stars' alluring, stormy, and irresistible performances. This film isn't just one Austen fans should check out — it's recommended for all cinephiles.

Another Austen novel, another string of adaptations — yet there's only been one feature film made out of Austen's 1814 novel, Mansfield Park. The 1999 film, written and directed by Patricia Rozema, stars Frances O'Connor as heroine Fanny Price. Coming from a poor background, Fanny is sent to live with her uncle's family so she can have a proper upbringing. In her new home, she finds herself treated poorly by her extended family — except for her cousin and eventual love interest (in a time when cousins frequently married), Edmund (Jonny Lee Miller). The social dynamics become more complicated, however, with the arrival of siblings Mary (Embeth Davidtz) and Henry Crawford (Alessandro Nivola), the latter of whom soon develops feelings for Fanny.

While it's less well-known than other Austen adaptations, Mansfield Park still has the charm and wit that Austen fans are so drawn to. This film takes more liberties with its source material than other adaptations, but all to its own benefit. Newsweek writes, "Rozema's handling of the entangled amours and social gamesmanship at Mansfield Park is delightful ... It's impure Austen, but potent moviemaking." As charming as it is thought provoking, Mansfield Park is a hidden gem for Austen lovers.

Part of what makes 2005's Pride and Prejudice work so well is Keira Knightley in the leading role. She excels in period pieces, and a prime example of this — other than Pride and Prejudice, of course — is 2012's Anna Karenina, in which she plays the titular role. Both films are also directed by Joe Wright, at the height of his powers.

Set in Russia in 1874, this tragic tale, based on the 1877 novel by Leo Tolstoy, centers around Anna, the wife of imperial minister Alexei Karenin (Jude Law). Bound to her unfaithful, much older husband, Anna is unhappy in her marriage. She soon begins an affair with a cavalry officer, Count Vronsky (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), which sparks a scandal in her social sphere.

Just as she does in the role of Elizabeth Bennet, Knightley brings out all of Anna's nuances. This makes her all the more compelling — and her demise all the more heartbreaking. On Knightley's performance, Maclean's Magazine writes, "A radiant Keira Knightley brings more depth to Tolstoy's heroine than you would ever expect." Furthermore, Wright manages to match the novel's epic scope. Behind the Lens calls its one of the best Tolstoy adaptations out there, labeling it with several coveted adjectives: "Enthralling, moving, exhilarating."

This list wouldn't be complete without 2013's Austenland, a film literally about Austen obsession. Protagonist Jane Hayes (Keri Russell) is obsessed with all things Jane Austen, but is particularly drawn to Colin Firth's portrayal of Mr. Darcy in the 1995 BBC miniseries. After pulling together all the money she can, Jane books a trip to Austenland, a Jane Austen-themed resort where guests act out their fantasies, complete with pseudonyms and period costumes ... as well as romantic scenarios acted out with the male actors employed by the resort. Naturally, things get complicated and the emotions involved become very much real.

While the film received mixed reviews, it bears different significance for fans of Austen, who can relate to getting swept up in all-things-Darcy fandom. The film fully embraces its silly nature, making for a fun and engaging watch. Plus, Russell's performance is delightful, endearing, and entirely familiar to anyone who might also be considered an overly enthusiastic Austen lover.

NPR deems it "exactly the sort of thing to watch when you want to feel better about your life." With Austen's strong belief in the happy ending, it's likely she'd approve of the light-hearted, feel-good Austenland.