Top 10 best ever ‘Pride and Prejudice’ adaptations revealed – as voted by you!
It’s 210 years since Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was published and we first encountered timeless heroine Elizabeth Bennet.
Over the past century, the classic romantic novel has been brought to the screen numerous times on TV and film, with another mini-series currently in development from the makers of Poldark.
We asked British period drama fans to vote for their all-time favourite adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
Here’s how the Top 10 turned out…
10. Pride and Prejudice (1952)
The first of many BBC adaptations on our list, this 1952 mini-series starred Daphne Slater and Peter Cushing.
9. Pride and Prejudice (1967)
The third time the BBC had brought Pride and Prejudice to television within just 15 years, this adaptation featured Celia Bannerman and Lewis Fiander.
8. Pride and Prejudice (1958)
Prior to that, Jane Downs and Alan Badel had starred in the BBC’s 1958 mini-series.
7. Pride and Prejudice (1940)
Sir Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson led the cast of this 1940 movie.
The movie is available on DVD on Amazon.
6. Bride & Prejudice (2004)
With 5.67% of the votes, this Bollywood-style 2004 movie from Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha updates Austen’s novel for the 21st century and moves the story to India.
Miss World 1994 winner Aishwarya Rai plays the film’s Elizabeth Bennet character, Lalita Bakshi, alongside Grey’s Anatomy hunk Martin Henderson, Lost star Naveen Andrews and Game of Thrones actress Indira Varma.
Bride & Prejudice is available on DVD on Amazon.
5. The Lizzie Bennet Diaries (2012-2013)
This American web series ran on YouTube for 100 short episodes between 2012 and 2013, attracting 6.34% of the votes in our poll.
Presented in the form of vlogs (video blogs), The Lizzie Bennet Diaries was the first web series to ever win an Emmy in 2013.
The Lizzie Bennet Diaries is available on DVD on Amazon.
4. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016)
Based on Seth Grahame-Smith’s 2009 parody novel, this historical action comedy horror retains Austen’s original period setting but adds in, you guessed it, zombies!
With 8.56% of the votes, the movie stars Lily James (Downton Abbey), Matt Smith (The Crown), Charles Dance (Game of Thrones), Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire) and Lena Headey (Game of Thrones).
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is available on DVD on Amazon.
3. Pride and Prejudice (1980)
Having not adapted Pride and Prejudice for 13 years, the BBC felt it was the time to give the story another mini-series, this time starring Elizabeth Garvie and David Rintoul.
This 1980 adaptation got 10.95% of your votes.
The complete mini-series is available on DVD on Amazon.
2. Pride and Prejudice (2005)
2005’s movie, starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen, pulled in 27.79% of the votes.
Directed by Joe Wright (Atonement, Darkest Hour), the film had four Oscar nominations in 2006, including a Best Actress nomination for Knightley.
The movie is available on DVD on Amazon.
1. Pride and Prejudice (1995)
With a huge 62.53% of the votes, the clear winner was the BBC’s 1995 mini-series, starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth.
Nearly 25 years later, this is still seen as the definitive adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel for many British period drama fans, with Firth’s wet shirt scene recently recognised as “one of the most unforgettable moments in British TV history.”
The complete mini-series is available on DVD on Amazon.