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The 'Best Pride & Prejudice' Adaptation Celebrating Its 20th Anniversary is Streaming on HBO Max

Published

2 weeks ago

12th June 2025

Few romance genre movies come close to the 2005s Jane Austen adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Almost everything about that movie is perfect, from Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen’s casting to its quotable dialogues, to the climactic pouring rain scene – it’s always a great watch and the movie is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Now the fan-favorite feature is available to stream on HBO Max.

Back in 2005, the BBC adaptation spoke to modern times and defined love for a generation. As one of the beloved romance films, Pride and Prejudice is Austen’s best adaptation of love and misunderstanding, bedazzled with romance, wit, and an emotional core. Directed by Joe Wright, the feature follows Elizabeth Bennet (Knightley), who meets the handsome Mr. Darcy (Macfadyen) and feels he is the last man on earth she could ever marry. Thanks to her family’s pressure, when their lives become intertwined, Elizabeth finds herself captivated by the very person she swore to loathe for eternity.

Pride and Prejudice grossed over $122 million at the global box office upon its initial release and is loved for a poignant recreation of the period, its modern sensibilities, and Knightley’s performance. It has an 87 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating and was nominated for four Oscars, including one for Knightley in the Best Actress category. The film makes a great rewatch as it has some power-packed performers like Judi Dench, Donald Sutherland, and Brenda Blethyn. Further rounding off the cast are Rosamund Pike, Carey Mulligan, Jena Malone, Tom Hollander, and Penelope Wilton, among many others.

A New ‘Pride & Prejudice’ is in the Works at Netflix

The love that Pride & Prejudice gets from its audience makes it a brilliant IP that has been entertaining generations. And for the modern generation, Netflix is set to adapt the story again. Slow Horses star Jack Lowden is set to play Mr. Darcy, with The Crown star Emma Corrin set as the female lead Elizabeth Bennet, and The Favourite’s Olivia Colman will play Mrs. Bennet.

The six-episode miniseries will be written by Dolly Alderton (Everything I Know About Love) and directed by Euros Lyn (Heartstopper) and will begin filming in the UK later this year. The idea of another adaptation is great, given that many themes of Austen’s works are still relevant, like class divide, individuality, gender dynamics, and more.

Pride and Prejudice is streaming on HBO Max. No further details about the Netflix adaptation are available at the moment. Stay tuned to Collider for more such updates.