‘Pride and Prejudice’ Movies & TV Shows, Ranked From Worst to Best
More than 200 years after Jane Austen introduced readers to Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice remains one of the most beloved love stories of all time. And Hollywood and British television have certainly gotten their money’s worth out of it.
From Colin Firth‘s iconic wet-shirt moment to Bollywood musicals, zombie apocalypses, and modern-day romantic comedies, Austen’s classic has been reimagined in just about every way possible. Some adaptations stick closely to the original novel, while others take some serious liberties with the source material.
And Austen fever isn’t slowing down. Netflix is bringing Pride and Prejudice back to television with a new six-part adaptation premiering on December 3, starring Emma Corrin as Elizabeth Bennet, Jack Lowden as Mr. Darcy, Louis Partridge as Mr. Wickham, and Olivia Colman and Rufus Sewell as the Bennet parents. Meanwhile, The Other Bennet Sister, which puts the often-overlooked Mary Bennet in the spotlight, is returning for a three-part Christmas special.
So, with the bounty of Bennets at our fingertips, which versions are worth watching, and which ones are better left with empty dance cards? Below, we look back at the many adaptations and spinoffs of Pride and Prejudice, from the earliest BBC productions to the latest reimaginings, and rank them.
14. 1938: BBC's first Pride & Prejudice
The BBC aired the first television adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in 1938, starring Curigwen Lewis as Elizabeth Bennet and Andrew Osborn as Mr. Darcy.
The production is considered lost media, as no recordings or complete scripts survive, leaving only photographs and historical records. It earns a spot on the list for its historical significance as the first television adaptation, but since there’s no surviving version to watch, it’s impossible to judge how it stacks up against the others, leaving it at the bottom of our ranking.
13. 2016: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Action-horror comedy Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, directed by Burr Steers and based on Seth Grahame-Smith’s parody novel, reimagines Austen’s classic within a zombie apocalypse. Starring Lily James as a sword-wielding Elizabeth Bennet and Sam Riley as Mr. Darcy, the film blends Regency romance with martial arts and the undead. Despite its campy humor and Matt Smith‘s scene-stealing performance as Mr. Collins, the film received mixed reviews for its convoluted zombie mythology and rushed romance.
12. 1967: BBC limited series written and directed by women
The BBC’s 1967 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starred Celia Bannerman as Elizabeth Bennet and Lewis Fiander as Mr. Darcy. Produced to mark the 150th anniversary of Jane Austen’s death, the miniseries was written by Nemone Lethbridge and directed by Joan Craft, making it a rare adaptation of the classic novel both written and directed by women.
11. 2008: Lost in Austen
A body swap comedy set in the Regency era, the 2008 fantasy miniseries Lost in Austen follows a modern-day Austen fan (Jemima Rooper) who swaps places with Elizabeth Bennet (Gemma Arterton), accidentally disrupting the novel’s romantic pairings, including with Mr. Darcy (Elliot Cowan). The four-part series earned critical praise but struggled in the ratings and divided Austen fans over its changes to the original story.
10. 1952: BBC's version with Peter Cushing as Mr. Darcy
The BBC’s 1952 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice was a six-part serial starring Daphne Slater as Elizabeth Bennet and future horror icon Peter Cushing as Mr. Darcy. The production also marked the television debut of Prunella Scales, who later starred in Fawlty Towers, as Lydia Bennet. Broadcast live in six 30-minute episodes, the adaptation is now considered lost media, with no surviving recordings.
9. 1940: Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier version
The 1940 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, directed by Robert Z. Leonard, starred Greer Garson as Elizabeth Bennet and Laurence Olivier as Mr. Darcy. Written by Aldous Huxley and Jane Murfin, the MGM production favored Golden Age Hollywood romantic comedy over strict faithfulness to Jane Austen’s novel, delivering a faster-paced, theatrical take on the classic love story.
8. 2019: Pride & Prejudice: Atlanta
Lifetime’s 2019 Pride & Prejudice: Atlanta reimagines Jane Austen’s classic in modern-day Atlanta with an all-Black cast, including Jackée Harry, Reginald VelJohnson, Tiffany Hines, and Juan Antonio. While praised for its fresh take on Regency-era class struggles and social expectations, the adaptation received criticism for its lackluster romance, dull Darcy, and rushed subplots.
7. 2013: Death Comes to Pemberley
The 2013 BBC miniseries Death Comes to Pemberley, based on P.D. James’ bestselling novel, reimagines Pride and Prejudice as a murder mystery. Set six years after Austen’s story, the three-part drama follows the now-married Elizabeth (Anna Maxwell Martin) and Mr. Darcy (Matthew Rhys) as a murder threatens their peaceful lives. Also starring Matthew Goode and Jenna Coleman, the series earned praise for blending Austen’s social satire with a darker mystery while exploring life after the couple’s happily ever after.
6. 2022: Fire Island
The critically acclaimed 2022 romantic comedy Fire Island, directed by Andrew Ahn and written by Joel Kim Booster, reimagines Pride and Prejudice within a modern gay vacation destination. Starring Booster as the Elizabeth Bennet-inspired Noah, Bowen Yang as his best friend Howie, and Conrad Ricamora as the Darcy-like Will, the film swaps Regency-era issues like class differences for modern probs of money and looks while celebrating queer love and friendship.
5. 2026: The Other Bennet Sister
The 2026 BBC period drama The Other Bennet Sister, based on Janice Hadlow’s novel, puts the spotlight on Pride and Prejudice‘s overlooked middle sister, Mary Bennet (Ella Bruccoleri). The 10-part series follows Mary as she steps out of her sisters’ shadows and finds romance and independence. Also starring Richard E. Grant, Ruth Jones and Indira Varma, the series became a ratings hit in the U.K. and earned praise for its humor, heartfelt storytelling and refreshing focus on Austen’s most overlooked Bennet sister.
4. 2004: Bride & Prejudice
The 2004 musical romantic comedy Bride & Prejudice, directed by Gurinder Chadha, reimagined Austen’s novel as a Bollywood-inspired love story set across India, London, and Los Angeles. Starring Aishwarya Rai as Lalita Bakshi and Martin Henderson as wealthy American William Darcy, the film replaces British class divisions with cultural clashes between Eastern traditions and Western values. The film found international success, helping introduce Bollywood-style storytelling to mainstream Western audiences.
3. 1980: BBC miniseries with Elizabeth Garvie as Elizabeth
The BBC’s 1980 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice was a five-part miniseries starring Elizabeth Garvie as Elizabeth Bennet and David Rintoul as Mr. Darcy. Written by acclaimed novelist Fay Weldon and directed by Cyril Coke, the BBC and Australian Broadcasting Corporation co-production is widely regarded as one of the most faithful adaptations of Jane Austen’s novel, with Garvie’s portrayal of Elizabeth remaining a favorite among Austen purists.
2. 2005: Joe Wright's film with Keira Knightley
The 2005 film adaptation of Pride & Prejudice starred Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet and Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy. Directed by Joe Wright in his feature debut, the visually stunning romantic drama earned four Academy Award nominations and introduced Austen’s classic to a new generation. While the film condensed several major subplots, Macfadyen’s portrayal of Darcy as socially awkward offered a fresh take on the traditionally arrogant aristocrat.
1. 1995: BBC sets the gold standard
The crown jewel of Pride and Prejudice adaptations. Widely considered the definitive screen adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel, the BBC’s 1995 six-part miniseries starred Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet and Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. The critically acclaimed production helped spark a renewed interest in Austen’s work and gave television one of its most iconic moments when Darcy emerges from a lake in a soaking-wet white shirt. The series also helped inspire Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones novels, with Firth later playing Mark Darcy in the film adaptations.
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