Shakespeare’s work continues to seep into modern works proving just how impactful his work truly was. Check out these four romantic comedies that are loosely based on one of Willy’s plays.

Anyone But You (2023)

This romcom starring Glenn Powell and Sydney Sweeney is a classic Much Ado About Nothing retelling, complete with direct quotes and similar themes. In this enemies to lovers story, Ben and Bea find themselves at the same destination wedding in Australia. When both of their exes show up, they scheme up the idea to fake-date as a way to save face and stay away from their exes.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Ever wondered how The Taming of the Shrew would play out in a modern American high school setting? Well, now you can see exact how it would all go down in this movie starring Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger. This movie follows the same basic plot as the Shakespeare play, where the younger daughter, Bianca, is forbidden from dating until her older sister, Kat, also dates. Hijinks follow from their as Bianca tries to find someone wanting to date Kat–a girl known for her sharp wit and stubbornness.

She’s the Man (2006)

What’s not to love about this Twelfth Night inspired movie starring Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum? In this movie, Viola disguises herself as her bother Sebastian when the girls soccer team is cut. She isn’t allowed to join the boys team, so she decides she’ll join the team as her brother and prove that girls can play with the guys. What she doesn’t expect, though, is the feelings she develops for the boys team’s soccer star.

Warm Bodies (2013)

In this film, a plague has turned half the world into zombies. When a zombie named R, who doesn’t fit in with the other zombies, saves a human girl from an attack, the two begin to form a bond despite coming from different worlds. This zombie-style retelling of Romeo & Juliet may be a little cheesy, but it reminds viewers just how important love and empathy truly are.

Countless films use Shakespearean plots, themes, and plays as the jumping point for their new story. From the Lion King to West Side Story, Shakespeare’s stories live on, capturing modern audiences and introducing them to his work.