With Valentine’s Day around the corner, Hollywood once again intends to fill our screens with love stories that trace back through the centuries. Few influences loom as large as Shakespeare, whose explorations of romance — whether through star-crossed lovers or fiery enemy-to-lover dynamics — continue to shape modern storytelling. From teen rom-coms to lavish period dramas, his plays remain a blueprint for how love is brought to life in film.
We all know the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare’s tale has been retold so many times that its themes remain relevant today. Directors constantly reinvent the story through diverse adaptations, each bringing a unique and creative vision to the timeless romance. Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet (1996) preserves Shakespeare’s original language but reimagines Verona as a hyper-stylized, neon-soaked modern world. With playful cinematography, an MTV-inspired aesthetic and stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes, the film helps the classic love story resonate with a younger generation. Another adaptation, West Side Story (both 1961 and 2021), transforms the feuding noble families into rival street gangs, layering the story with societal, cultural and racial tensions. Meanwhile, Gnomeo & Juliet (2011) reimagines the tragedy as a lighthearted children's film, replacing loss and sorrow with comedy and adventure. Same story, different twists — proving that love, in all its forms, may never go out of style. These adaptations reflect their time, showing just how flexible Shakespeare’s work can be — stretched, twisted and reshaped to syncopate with any era’s cultural heartbeat.
Shakespeare knew that love wasn’t all sunshine and roses — sometimes, it was a battlefield. One of my personal favorites, 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), reimagines The Taming of the Shrew through a refreshingly modern lens. This adaptation brings Shakespeare’s legendary “war of wits” to the halls of high school, transforming the old courtship tale into a slow-burn romance fueled by scheming, poetry and rebellion. Kat Stratford isn’t a “shrew” in need of taming — she’s a modernized take on Shakespeare’s Katherina Minola, fierce, independent and unwilling to yield to anyone’s expectations. Yet, much like in The Taming of the Shrew, love takes shape through fiery banter and unexpected moments of vulnerability that draw them together. Though Kat’s romance with Patrick Verona starts off rocky, it culminates in one of the film’s most iconic moments: her raw, heartfelt poem — nowhere near submission but proves that she will continue to love on her own terms. In this case, their relationship blossoms not from submission, but from genuine love and respect for one another.
Now, let’s not forget how She’s the Man (2006) swaps Shakespearean disguises for soccer jerseys, capturing the playful chaos of Twelfth Night in a contemporary setting. In the film, we see Shakespeare’s signature identity-swapping trope at play as Amanda Bynes’ character, Viola Hastings, disguises herself as her twin brother to join the boys' soccer team and prove she’s just as skilled — quite literally showing that she’s “the man.” But beneath the comedy, Shakespeare’s themes highlight something much deeper. This story isn’t just about Viola playing dress-up; it’s about gender roles and the expectations placed on them. Why is it that the boys’ team genuinely believed that gender defined talent? The story’s relevance lies in its ability to confront societal biases, showing that these perceptions can not only be challenged but also reshaped. Shakespere’s work continues to resonate with modern audiences, especially in its exploration of gender-based discrimination and the ongoing call for inclusivity.
At the heart of it all, Shakespeare’s view on love — whether tragic, fiercely stubborn or cleverly disguised — still lingers in the stories we tell and the way we understand love stories centuries later. His stories remind us that there is no easy way to find love; it twists, turns and tests us before leading us to our own version of happily ever after. Love is shaped by the world around us, yet it always finds its way into our lives. As the years pass, adaptations take bits and pieces from each generation, pulling us in again and again. Maybe that’s why we keep returning — because, no matter how much time passes, we see ourselves reflected in these stories. Whether you spend Valentine’s Day lost in a sweeping Shakespearean romance, watching films inspired by his timeless tales or skipping the love-filled festivities altogether, it’s all perfectly okay. If Shakespeare taught us anything, it’s that love is never dull.
Mikayla Tetteh-Martey is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at mkt62@cornell.edu
