History
Romantic drama
Romeo and Juliet (1968): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Romeo and Juliet is a 1968 romantic drama directed by Franco Zeffirelli, starring Michael York, John McEnery and Robert Stephens. It is based on Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. It runs 2 hours 18 minutes and earned $6,292 worldwide. It won 2 Oscars, including Cinematography and Costume Design, and 6 awards in all. Critics gave it 69 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.6/10.
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- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 18m (138 min)
- Director
- Franco Zeffirelli
- Original language
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English - Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
The story
What Is Romeo and Juliet About?
The premise of Romeo and Juliet without spoilers, adapted from Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Amidst the bitter feud of two families in Verona, young Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet meet and fall passionately in love. Secretly married, their hopes for a future together are shattered by a tragic turn of events, leading to impulsive actions and devastating consequences. As they struggle to escape the escalating violence, their desperate attempts to find happiness culminate in a heartbreaking and fatal conclusion, forever altering the lives of those around them.
Romeo and Juliet Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- forbidden love
- adolescence
- teen suicide
- family feud
- star crossed lovers
- young love
- shakespeare's romeo and juliet
- love
- shakespeare play
- teenage boy
- brawl
- poisoning
+38 more Show fewer
- teenage girl
- tragic love
- famous score
- suicide
- tybalt character
- capulet character
- lady capulet character
- friar lawrence character
- lady montague character
- the nurse character
- romeo character
- juliet character
- italy
- name in title
- character names as title
- hair covering breasts
- lying on a bed
- three word title
- male and female protagonists
- female nudity
- male rear nudity
- female topless nudity
- secret marriage
- teenager
- cigarette smoking
- flatulence
- teenage protagonist
- teenage romance
- begins with voice over narration
- fatally poisoned
- based on a stage play
- ends with a funeral
- suicide of a teenage girl
- tragedy drama
- live action
- brief female frontal nudity
- teenage sexuality
- story continued during end credits
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Cast & crew
Romeo and Juliet Cast
Michael York leads the cast, with John McEnery and Robert Stephens. Directed by Franco Zeffirelli; 10 actors are credited in all.
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Director Franco Zeffirelli
Also Starring in Romeo and Juliet
· 6 more Ratings
Romeo and Juliet Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Romeo and Juliet 69 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.6/10.
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IMDb 7.6 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 69 Metascore
User score 7.5
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 74% User score
See on TMDB
Plot
Romeo and Juliet Plot Summary
What happens in Romeo and Juliet from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the vibrant yet tumultuous setting of Verona Beach, two powerful families, the Capulets and the Montagues, find themselves embroiled in a bitter rivalry that spans generations. This conflict is ignited by the animosity between the heads of the families—Fulgencio Capulet, Gloria Capulet, Ted Montague, and Caroline Montague—casting a long shadow over their younger relatives. The tension escalates when a violent shootout erupts between Benvolio, Michael York, cousin of Romeo, and Tybalt, John McEnery, Juliet’s cousin, throwing the city into chaos. The Chief of Police, Captain Prince, takes action by arresting both men and admonishing the families, warning that further disturbances will lead to severe consequences: “Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.”
Full summary
The whole story of Romeo and Juliet, scene by scene
Box office
Romeo and Juliet Box Office
Romeo and Juliet grossed $6,292 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$6.3K
- International
- $6.3K
Awards
Romeo and Juliet Awards & Nominations
Romeo and Juliet won 2 Oscars, including Cinematography and Costume Design, and 6 awards in all. Its biggest night was the Golden Globes 1969, with 3 wins from 5 nominations.
6 wins18 nominations5 ceremonies
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Golden Globes 1969 3 wins · 5 nominations- Won Best Foreign Film (English Language)
- Won New Star of the Year – Actor – Leonard Whiting
- Won New Star of the Year – Actress – Olivia Hussey
- Nominated Best Director – Franco Zeffirelli
- Nominated Best Original Score
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Oscars 1969 2 wins · 4 nominations- Won Cinematography
- Won Costume Design
- Nominated Best Picture
- Nominated Directing – Franco Zeffirelli
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BAFTA 1969 1 win · 7 nominations- Won Best Costume Design
- Nominated Best Actor in a Supporting Role – John McEnery
- Nominated Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Pat Heywood
- Nominated Best Direction – Franco Zeffirelli
- Nominated Best Editing
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DGA Awards 1969 1 nomination- Nominated Feature Film – Franco Zeffirelli
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- BAFTA 1967 1 nomination
- Nominated Best British Costume Design
Videos
Romeo and Juliet Trailers & Videos
3 videos: 3 trailers.
- Trailer A time for us Romeo and Juliet 1968
- Trailer ROMEO AND JULIET (1968) - OFICIAL TRAILER
Quiz
How Well Do You Know Romeo and Juliet?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What are the names of the two feuding families in the film?
Cars
Cars in Romeo and Juliet
8 cars on screen, including the 1964 Pontiac Tempest LeMans and the 1967 Plymouth Barracuda.
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1964 Pontiac Tempest LeMans Important role -
1967 Plymouth Barracuda Minor role -
1967 Plymouth Sedán Minor role -
Volkswagen Sedán Typ 1 Minor role
Details
Romeo and Juliet Also Known As
31 alternative titles, including “Romeo e Giulietta” and “Romeo y Julieta”.
- Also known as
-
- Romeo e Giulietta
- Romeo y Julieta
- Romeo & Juliet
- 殉情记
- Romeo and Juliet (1968)
- 罗米欧与茱丽叶
- Romeo a Julie
- Roméo et Juliette
- Ромео и Жулиета
- Romaios kai Ioulietta
- Rómeó és Júlia
- ロミオとジュリエット
+19 more Show fewer
- Romeo und Julia
- Ромео и Джульетта
- Romeu e Julieta
- 罗密欧与朱丽叶
- Ρωμαίος και Ιουλιέτα
- 로미오와 줄리엣
- רומיאו ויוליה
- Ромео і Джульєтта
- Romeo ve Juliet
- Romeo och Julia
- Romeo i Julieta
- Romeo și Julieta
- Romeo i Julia
- Romeu & Julieta
- 殉情記
- رومئو و ژولیت, რომეო და ჯულიეტა
- Romeo Và Juliet
- โรมีโอและจูเลียต
- Romeo i Julija
Seen Romeo and Juliet?
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Movies Like Romeo and Juliet
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Romeo and Juliet Get Married 2005 -
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Romeo 1990
From the blog
Articles About Romeo and Juliet
3 articles about Romeo and Juliet. The latest: “Exploring the Influence of Literature on Cinematic Storytelling”.
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CinemaThe Role of Costume Design in Character Building
Explore the transformative power of costume design in film and its crucial role in character building, as we delve into the artistry behind the scenes and its impact on storytelling. 14 min read -
CultureAdapting Literature for the Screen: Challenges and Triumphs
Explore the intricate process of adapting literature for film, highlighting the challenges and triumphs filmmakers face in bringing beloved books to the screen. 12 min read
FAQ
Romeo and Juliet FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of Romeo and Juliet, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Romeo and Juliet?
Romeo and Juliet runs 2 hours 18 minutes (138 minutes).
When was Romeo and Juliet released?
Romeo and Juliet was released on October 8, 1968.
Who directed Romeo and Juliet?
Romeo and Juliet was directed by Franco Zeffirelli.
More films by Franco Zeffirelli Who is in the cast of Romeo and Juliet?
Romeo and Juliet stars Michael York, John McEnery and Robert Stephens, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Romeo and Juliet make at the box office?
Romeo and Juliet grossed $6,292 worldwide.
How is Romeo and Juliet rated?
Romeo and Juliet has 7.6/10 on IMDb, 69 on Metacritic and 74% on TMDB.
Is Romeo and Juliet based on a book?
Yes. Romeo and Juliet is adapted from Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.
What awards did Romeo and Juliet win?
Romeo and Juliet won 6 awards from 18 nominations, including Best Foreign Film (English Language) at the Golden Globes 1969.
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