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Much Ado About Nothing

Play trailer Poster for Much Ado About Nothing PG-13 1993 1h 50m Comedy Romance Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
90% Tomatometer 50 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 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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Much Ado About Nothing

Much Ado About Nothing

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Critics Consensus

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

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Critics Reviews

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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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review Rachel Wagner Hallmarkies Podcast 08/14/2024
My favorite Shakespeare adaptation of all time Go to Full Review 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 Go to Full Review Michael Dwyer Irish Times 02/19/2019
What a piece of work is this. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Diandre R @RT53139537 May 16 I love Shakespeare movies. I am a sucker for them. They are always good to me. This movie was really good, especially the acting. This is an all-star cast putting on an all-star performance. I also thought the story was really good too. See more Christopher C. @PapaTangooo May 16 A very fun adaptation of Shakespeare . . . for the romantic in you. See more 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. See more John T @DrJohnT Sep 8 Joyful story of love! Superb cast and setting in glorious Tuscany See more 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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Flavio C @RT86455460 06/02/2025 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. See more Read all reviews
Much Ado About Nothing

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Cast & Crew

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Kenneth Branagh

Director

Kenneth Branagh

Seigneur Benedick

Emma Thompson

Beatrice

Denzel Washington

Don Pedro of Aragon

Keanu Reeves

Don John

Michael Keaton

Constable Dogberry

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Much Ado About Nothing

Much Ado About Nothing (1993) Much Ado About Nothing (1993) View more photos

Movie Info

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