Romeo + Juliet (1996)

Baz Luhrmann's second feature arrived in 1996 off the back of Strictly Ballroom (1992), his debut, and represented a significant step up in scale and ambition. Produced through his own Bazmark label and distributed by 20th Century Fox on a relatively modest $14.5 million budget, it went on to gross nearly $150 million worldwide, confirming Luhrmann as a major commercial force before he made Moulin Rouge! (2001). The film retains Shakespeare's original dialogue wholesale while transplanting the action to a sun-baked, gun-toting version of Verona, a choice that divided critics sharply at the time. It was shot largely on location in Mexico City and gave Leonardo DiCaprio one of his most prominent romantic leads during a period when he was consolidating his status following What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993).

You can tell who's never seen a Shakespeare play with the reviews. I actually really liked this film. Maybe it’s the nostalgia talking (GCSE English, anyone?), but Baz Luhrmann’s modern twist on Shakespeare’s classic works. It’s bold, chaotic and could not be more 90s, swapping swords for guns and Verona for a neon-soaked, sun-drenched fever dream of a city. The acting is fine....for Shakespeare. Some people clearly don’t get that this is theatre on screen, not your typical Hollywood drama. DiCaprio and Danes sell the doomed lovers well enough, and John Leguizamo as Tybalt is fantastic. The exaggerated delivery, the grand emotions, the over-the-top visuals, it’s all part of the Shakespearean experience. Is it perfect? No. The style can get overwhelming, and not every performance lands. But as a gateway into Shakespeare or  as a fresh, daring take on an overdone classic it absolutely delivers.

Rating: ★★★½  | Year: 1996  | Watched: 2025-04-04

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