Much Ado About Nothing

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Much Ado About Nothing

PG-13

1993

1h 50m

Comedy

Romance

Drama

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Popcornmeter

90%

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50 Reviews

86%

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50,000+ Ratings

In this Shakespearean farce, Hero (Kate Beckinsale) and her groom-to-be, Claudio (Robert Sean Leonard), team up with Claudio's commanding officer, Don Pedro (Denzel Washington), the week before their wedding to hatch a matchmaking scheme. Their targets are sharp-witted duo Benedick (Kenneth Branagh) and Beatrice (Emma Thompson) -- a tough task indeed, considering their corresponding distaste for love and each other. Meanwhile, meddling Don John (Keanu Reeves) plots to ruin the wedding.

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Critics Consensus

Kenneth Branagh's love for the material is contagious in this exuberant adaptation.

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David Denby

New York Magazine/Vulture

12/31/2019

Much Ado About Nothing is one of the few movies of recent years that could leave its audiences weeping with joy.

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Stanley Kauffmann

The New Republic

01/05/2018

Doyle's enrapturing music and Branagh's cinematic grip of the play--inventive, lithe, somehow Shakespearean--are splendid. This Much Ado is a flawed gem. Certainly, regrettably, flawed; still, a gem.

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Adam Mars-Jones

Independent (UK)

11/16/2017

Emma Thompson is normally a very reliable performer on screen, but Beatrice is not one of her successes.

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Rachel Wagner

Hallmarkies Podcast

08/14/2024

My favorite Shakespeare adaptation of all time

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Farah Cheded

A Good Movie To Watch

07/26/2023

75/100

It might not be set to the music of ABBA, but with Patrick Doyle’s radiant score, an intoxicatingly beautiful Tuscan setting, and an infectious, non-stop party vibe, the joyous Much Ado About Nothing feels [...] akin to Mamma Mia

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Michael Dwyer

Irish Times

02/19/2019

What a piece of work is this.

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Joy B.

@9mr_0 Jan 12

ملحمه فنية . رواية لشكسبير فحتما انت على موعد مع قصة جميلةجدا. المخرج عرض الفلم بشكل هادىء يجمع بين الاداء السينمائي و المسرحي مع كوميديا جميلة. الممثلين ادائهم اكثر من رائع لكن ما ازعجني ان بعض الممثلين دائهم ما كان يوازي حجمهم او المخرج لم يعطهم المساحه الكافية . التصوير كان سلس و متزن. الموسيقى و الاغاني كانت رائعه. ملابس الممثلين كانت انيقة.

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John T

@DrJohnT Sep 8

Joyful story of love! Superb cast and setting in glorious Tuscany

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 19

Funny in 1 hour and 50 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $22,500,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Flavio C

@RT86455460 Jun 2

Just joyful. As Branaugh has a massive ego and almost always deserved, it is some like the movie. Villains underdeveloped and we must trust that common humanity gets us through weak plot places. Joyful, humorous and uplifting, and location so perfect the actual space in Tuscany.

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Andy M

@RT96250888 12/14/2024

I found it the most boring movie and couldn't follow the plot. So many good actors but they lost me

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julie b

@RT59310387 09/23/2024

I really wanted to love this but I didn’t. I like the enemies to lovers and playful vibe, but overall there’s too much silliness and crazy frolicking that it’s over the top and Kenneth Branagh is toooo much. There were some great convincing performances (Emma Thompson and Denzel Washington): Emma Thompson being witty while eating grapes in a tree is iconic, and I need to see more Denzel x Shakespeare or period pieces.

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Kenneth Branagh

Director

Kenneth Branagh

Seigneur Benedick

Emma Thompson

Beatrice

Denzel Washington

Don Pedro of Aragon

Keanu Reeves

Don John

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Synopsis

In this Shakespearean farce, Hero (Kate Beckinsale) and her groom-to-be, Claudio (Robert Sean Leonard), team up with Claudio's commanding officer, Don Pedro (Denzel Washington), the week before their wedding to hatch a matchmaking scheme. Their targets are sharp-witted duo Benedick (Kenneth Branagh) and Beatrice (Emma Thompson) -- a tough task indeed, considering their corresponding distaste for love and each other. Meanwhile, meddling Don John (Keanu Reeves) plots to ruin the wedding.

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Producer: Kenneth Branagh, Stephen Evans, David Parfitt
Screenwriter: Kenneth Branagh, William Shakespeare
Distributor: Argentina Video Home, Columbia Tristar
Production Co: BBC, Samuel Goldwyn Company
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 7, 1993, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 27, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $22.5M
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Surround

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