What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedRomeo + Juliet
Baz Luhrmann · Film · 1996
If you loved Romeo + Juliet, start with Romeo and Juliet (1968) — a film from the same story. Below: 2 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Romeo + Juliet across media.
If you loved Romeo + Juliet, you are drawn to the high-stakes intensity of star-crossed lovers battling against impossible, external forces.
Start with the source
The source
Romeo and Juliet
Film · 1968
Adaptation
The Lion King II: Simba's Pride
Darrell Rooney · Film · 1998
Adaptation
Gnomeo & Juliet
Kelly Asbury · Film · 2011
Books on the same thread
Chinese Novels
Sir John Francis Davis · Book · 1822
Shares 2 threads with Romeo + Juliet: Fate, Tragedy.
Just as in Romeo + Juliet, this exploration of star-crossed love highlights how the weight of feuding families and the cruel hand of fate drive tragic, irreversible consequences.
Burning Daylight
Emily McIntire · Book
Shares 2 threads with Romeo + Juliet: Forbidden Love, Family Feud.
This contemporary retelling mirrors the forbidden love found in Romeo + Juliet, focusing on how family feuds create a dangerous, high-pressure environment for two people destined to be together.
Series on the same thread
Bridgerton
Chris Van Dusen · Series · 2020
Shares a thread with Romeo + Juliet: Forbidden Love.
Like the intense societal pressures in Romeo + Juliet, this series captures the friction between personal desire and the rigid expectations imposed by powerful families and social status.
Pride and Prejudice
Andrew Davies · Series · 1995
Explores: Social Class, Courtship, Misunderstandings.
Similar to the social tension in Romeo + Juliet, this story navigates the complications of courtship and status where family expectations threaten to keep the protagonists apart forever.
Descendants of the Sun
Baek Sang-Hoon · Series · 2016
Shares 2 threads with Romeo + Juliet: Forbidden Love, Fate.
This drama captures the same star-crossed dynamic as Romeo + Juliet, illustrating how duty and opposing philosophies create obstacles that force lovers to fight for their future together.
The Get Down
Baz Luhrmann · Series · 2016
Explores: Urban Decay, Youth Culture, Musical Innovation.
Directed by the same visionary behind Romeo + Juliet, this series shares that signature kinetic energy, focusing on youthful passion and the urgency of chasing dreams amidst urban chaos.
Podcasts on the same thread
boomer and zoomer
Podcast
Explores: father-daughter relationship, intergenerational relationships, age gap.
While distinct from the tragedy of Romeo + Juliet, this podcast echoes the generational conflict and complex family dynamics that define the central struggle of the Capulets and Montagues.
The Montoyas
Podcast
Explores: marriage, relationships, cultural assimilation.
This podcast explores the intimate reality of a partnership, contrasting with the dramatic, public-facing romance of Romeo + Juliet to show how two people navigate their unique, daily differences.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Romeo + Juliet by Baz Luhrmann a modern retelling?
Yes, Romeo + Juliet is a contemporary take on the classic Shakespeare tragedy. While the setting is moved to the modern suburb of Verona Beach, the film retains the original dialogue from the play.
How does the 1968 Romeo and Juliet compare to the 1996 Romeo + Juliet?
The 1968 Romeo and Juliet is a traditional adaptation of the play, whereas the 1996 Romeo + Juliet directed by Baz Luhrmann reimagines the story within a contemporary setting at Verona Beach.
Are there other films like Romeo + Juliet that use the same source material?
Yes, there are several adaptations based on the same source material. You can watch the 1968 Romeo and Juliet, the animated film Gnomeo & Juliet released in 2011, or The Lion King II: Simba's Pride from 1998.
Does Romeo + Juliet keep the original Shakespearean language?
Yes, Romeo + Juliet features a visually modern aesthetic and setting, but the film strictly adheres to the original dialogue written by William Shakespeare throughout the entire production.