Romeo and Juliet: book vs. movie
Romeo and Juliet has been filmed dozens of times, starting in the silent-film days, and it has inspired ballets, operas, musicals and even a cartoon with garden gnomes. The best known films are Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 version and Baz Luhrmann’s modern 1996 Romeo + Juliet. Because the story ends in the deaths of its young heroes, most versions are best for teens. This page helps parents find the few that suit 6–9 year olds and know which to save.
Which version should we watch?
With a 6–9 year old, begin with a gentle retelling of the play and then watch Gnomeo & Juliet (2011). It is rated G, funny and full of songs, and children who know the real story will enjoy spotting the jokes. Be ready to explain that its happy ending is different from Shakespeare’s.
Save the other versions for the teen years. The 1968 Zeffirelli film is the most faithful and is often shown in middle and high school, but it includes brief nudity. Romeo + Juliet (1996) and both West Side Story films are exciting, but they are violent and very sad, so they are best for teenagers who have read or seen the play.
The film and TV versions
Romeo and Juliet (1968)
FilmRated PGVery close to the book
Franco Zeffirelli cast real teenagers, Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey, and filmed in old Italian towns, with a famous musical score by Nino Rota. Many teachers still show it in class.
For families: Rated PG under the standards of its time, but it includes a brief nude scene after the wedding night, sword-fight deaths and the tragic ending. Common Sense Media suggests ages 14 and up.
William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet (1996)
FilmRated PG-13Modern retelling
Baz Luhrmann sets the play in a flashy modern city called Verona Beach, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. The characters carry guns instead of swords but still speak Shakespeare’s words.
For families: Not for 6–9s. It is rated PG-13 for contemporary violence and some sensuality, with gunfights, drug use at the party and a fast, loud style. Best for teens studying the play.
Romeo & Juliet (2013)
FilmRated PG-13Mostly faithful
Hailee Steinfeld and Douglas Booth star in a traditional, costumed version with a screenplay by Julian Fellowes, who created Downton Abbey. It uses a simplified version of Shakespeare’s language.
For families: Rated PG-13 for some violence and thematic elements. Calmer than the 1996 film, but it still ends in tragedy, so it suits older children and teens.
West Side Story (2021)
MusicalRated PG-13Modern retelling
Steven Spielberg’s film of the famous musical moves the story to 1950s New York, where two street gangs, the Jets and the Sharks, take the place of the two families. Rachel Zegler and Ansel Elgort play Maria and Tony.
For families: Rated PG-13 for strong violence, strong language, thematic content, suggestive material and brief smoking. The songs and dancing are glorious, but the knife fight and deaths make it one for teens.
West Side Story (1961)
MusicalModern retelling
The original film of the Broadway musical, starring Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer, with Rita Moreno and George Chakiris, who both won Oscars. It is famous for songs like “Tonight” and “America.”
For families: Gentler on screen than the 2021 film, but it has gang fights, deaths and grown-up themes. Older children who love musicals may enjoy it with a parent; the length (over two and a half hours) is a lot for young viewers.
Gnomeo & Juliet (2011)
Animated filmRated GLoosely based
A cartoon comedy about garden gnomes in two feuding back gardens, the Blues and the Reds, voiced by James McAvoy and Emily Blunt, with songs by Elton John. It even pokes fun at the play.
For families: The best choice for 6–9s. It is rated G, has slapstick action such as a lawnmower race and some smashed gnomes, and ends happily, unlike the play.
How the movies differ from the book
- Guns called swords
- In Romeo + Juliet (1996), the families fight with guns. To keep Shakespeare’s words, the guns have brand names like “Sword” and “Dagger” printed on them, so the characters can still say “put up your swords.”
- A swimming pool, not a balcony
- The famous balcony scene becomes a scene in and around a swimming pool in the 1996 film. Romeo and Juliet even fall into the water together, which is nowhere in the play.
- A party in costume
- The Capulets’ feast becomes a wild costume party, with Romeo dressed as a knight, Juliet as an angel and Mercutio in a sparkly dress, singing. In the play it is a grand masked dance.
- A letter by courier
- In the play, Friar Laurence’s important letter fails to reach Romeo because the messenger is stuck in a house shut up for sickness. In the 1996 film, the letter is sent by a delivery service and simply arrives too late.
- Cut characters
- The 1996 film leaves out some characters and shortens many speeches. Paris, the young nobleman who wants to marry Juliet, has a much smaller part than in the play.
Questions about Romeo and Juliet movies
- Is Romeo and Juliet OK for kids?
- The story itself is a tragedy with sword fights and the deaths of its young heroes, so most films are best for teens. Gnomeo & Juliet (2011), rated G, is a happy cartoon version that works well for young children.
- What is the best Romeo and Juliet movie?
- Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 Romeo and Juliet is often called the most faithful, and Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 Romeo + Juliet with Leonardo DiCaprio is the most famous modern version.
- Is Romeo + Juliet (1996) the same as the play?
- It uses Shakespeare’s own words but sets them in a modern city, with guns instead of swords and many scenes changed or cut. The story and ending follow the play.
- What movies are based on Romeo and Juliet?
- The best known are Romeo and Juliet (1968), Romeo + Juliet (1996), Romeo & Juliet (2013), West Side Story (1961 and 2021) and the cartoon Gnomeo & Juliet (2011).
Ratings are shown only where we could confirm them. Check current ratings and streaming details before watching.