The Importance of Being Earnest (2002): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
The Importance of Being Earnest is a 2002 comedy drama directed by Oliver Parker, starring Colin Firth and Rupert Everett. It is based on The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde and Richard Allen Cave. It runs 1 hour 37 minutes and earned $18 million worldwide. Critics gave it 60 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 37m (97 min)
- Director
- Oliver Parker
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Miramax Films
- After the credits
- Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
What Is The Importance of Being Earnest About?
The premise of The Importance of Being Earnest without spoilers, adapted from The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde and Richard Allen Cave. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Two carefree bachelors, John Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, invent alter egos to avoid their social obligations and pursue romantic interests. John creates the persona of "Ernest" to escape his responsibilities, while Algernon uses "Ernest" to charm his way into society. Their deceptions become increasingly complicated when both become engaged to women who are captivated by the name "Ernest," leading to hilarious misunderstandings and a tangled web of mistaken identities that threatens to expose their elaborate charade.
The Importance of Being Earnest Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- comedy of manners
- period drama
- false identity
- 1890s
- love
- mistaken identity
- remake
- title spoken by character
- surprise ending
- london england
- aunt nephew relationship
- searching for parents
+38 more Show fewer
- chorus hall
- posing as someone's brother
- personal diary
- playing guitar
- stolen handbag
- fake love letter
- english muffin
- playing piano and singing
- playing tuba
- hertfordshire
- mother daughter relationship
- country home
- romantic dream
- guardian ward relationship
- female tutor
- assumed identity
- pseudonym
- scrap book
- punting
- debt collector
- dog cart
- cousin cousin relationship
- christening
- former chorus girl
- blackmail
- fainting
- novel manuscript
- meeting relatives for the first time
- kneeling to propose marriage
- ends with a kiss
- scene during end credits
- story continues during end credits
- horse and carriage
- 19th century
- victorian era
- england
- united kingdom of great britain and ireland
- europe
The Importance of Being Earnest Cast
Colin Firth leads the cast, with Rupert Everett. Directed by Oliver Parker.
-
Director Oliver Parker
More from Oliver Parker
More films directed by Oliver Parker, best-rated first: The Great Escaper, The Great Escaper, An Ideal Husband and Johnny English Reborn.
The Importance of Being Earnest Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Importance of Being Earnest 60 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 60 Metascore
User score 7.2
See on Metacritic
The Importance of Being Earnest Plot Summary
What happens in The Importance of Being Earnest from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
John Worthing, a carefree and seemingly respectable young gentleman, has crafted a fictitious brother named “Ernest,” whose scandalous and wicked behaviors provide John with the perfect excuse to leave his peaceful country estate and travel to London whenever he pleases. In the city, John stays with his close friend, Algernon Moncrieff, who is equally mischievous and shares John’s fondness for bending social norms. While in London, John assumes the persona of Ernest, and under this guise, he has won the affections of Algernon’s beautiful cousin, Gwendolen Fairfax. Gwendolen, enamored with the name Ernest, declares that she could only love and marry a man with such a name.
Full summary
The whole story of The Importance of Being Earnest, scene by scene
The Importance of Being Earnest Box Office
The Importance of Being Earnest grossed $18 million worldwide. $8.4 million came from the US and Canada and $9.6 million (53%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$18M
- US & Canada
- $8.4M
- International
- $9.6M
The Importance of Being Earnest Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Importance of Being Earnest.
How Well Do You Know The Importance of Being Earnest?
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 is the name of John's fictitious brother?
Cars in The Importance of Being Earnest
1 car on screen: the 1904 Franklin Type B.
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1904 Franklin Type B Important role
The Importance of Being Earnest Also Known As
22 alternative titles, including “Tärkeintä on olla aito” and “不可儿戏”.
- Also known as
-
- Tärkeintä on olla aito
- 不可儿戏
- Η Σημασία του να Είναι Κανείς Σοβαρός
- Mister Ernest
- Ernst sein ist Alles
- L'importanza di chiamarsi Ernest
- La importancia de llamarse Ernesto
- Jak je důležité míti Filipa
- L'importance d'être constant
- Bądźmy poważni na serio
- Bunbury, avagy jó, ha szilárd az ember
- Armadilhas do Coração
+10 more Show fewer
- Как важно быть серьезным
- חשיבותה של רצינות
- Колко е важно да бъдеш сериозен
- 甜心大话王
- 임포턴스 오브 비잉 어니스트
- Важно је звати се Ернест
- Hvem er Earnest?, როგორი მნიშვნელოვანია, ვიყოთ სერიოზული
- Як важливо бути серйозним
- สุภาพบุ(หลุด) สะดุดรัก
- Aşkın Önemi
Seen The Importance of Being Earnest?
Movies Like The Importance of Being Earnest
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Importance of Being Earnest, The Importance of Being Earnest and Jak je důležité míti Filipa.
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The Importance of Being Earnest 1952 -
The Importance of Being Earnest 1988 -
Jak je důležité míti Filipa 1979 -
Much Ado About Nothing 1993 -
The Man in Possession 1931 -
An Ideal Husband 1999 -
A Damsel in Distress 1937 -
Easy Virtue 2009 -
Pride and Prejudice 2004 -
The Lady of Scandal 1930 -
Arthur 1981 -
Twelfth Night 1996
The Importance of Being Earnest FAQ: Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of The Importance of Being Earnest, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Importance of Being Earnest?
The Importance of Being Earnest runs 1 hour 37 minutes (97 minutes).
When was The Importance of Being Earnest released?
The Importance of Being Earnest was released on May 22, 2002.
Who directed The Importance of Being Earnest?
The Importance of Being Earnest was directed by Oliver Parker.
More films by Oliver Parker Who is in the cast of The Importance of Being Earnest?
The Importance of Being Earnest stars Colin Firth and Rupert Everett.
How much did The Importance of Being Earnest make at the box office?
The Importance of Being Earnest grossed $18 million worldwide ($8.4 million domestic, $9.6 million international).
How is The Importance of Being Earnest rated?
The Importance of Being Earnest has 60 on Metacritic.
Is The Importance of Being Earnest based on a book?
Yes. The Importance of Being Earnest is adapted from The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde and Richard Allen Cave.
Does The Importance of Being Earnest have a post-credit scene?
Yes. The Importance of Being Earnest has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.
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