critics consensus

Director Trevor Nunn makes some questionable choices, but his stellar cast -- which includes Helena Bonham-Carter, Ben Kingsley, and Nigel Hawthorne -- more than rises to the material. Read critic reviews

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Movie Info

A shipwreck separates Viola (Imogen Stubbs) from her twin brother, Sebastian (Steven Mackintosh). Believing him to be dead, Viola disguises herself as a boy and goes to work for Duke Orsino (Toby Stephens), whom she loves. The object of the duke's heart, Olivia (Helena Bonham Carter), does not reciprocate his feelings -- however, she falls madly for Viola, whose true gender she doesn't know. Meanwhile, Olivia's uncle, Sir Toby (Mel Smith), manipulates all of their entangled relationships.

Rating:

PG
Genre:

comedy, drama
Original Language:

English
Director:

Trevor Nunn
Producer:

Stephen Evans, David Parfitt
Release Date (Streaming):

Jun 13, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA):

$551.5K
Runtime:

2h 14m
Production Co:

Renaissance Films
Sound Mix:

Surround

Cast & Crew

Helena Bonham Carter
Olivia

Richard E. Grant
Sir Andrew Aguecheek

Nigel Hawthorne
Malvolio

Ben Kingsley
Feste

Mel Smith
Sir Toby Belch

Imelda Staunton
Maria

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Critic Reviews for Twelfth Night

All Critics (34) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (26) | Rotten (8)

A handsome, agreeably performed rendition that fails to ignite much laughter or any real emotion.

July 6, 2008

Todd McCarthy
Variety
The direction is assured, and the cast is masterly.

February 9, 2006 | Full Review…

Geoff Andrew
Time Out
A comic meditation on desire, disguise and inherent bisexuality.

May 20, 2003

Stephen Holden
New York Times
An entertaining movie. No more, no less.

April 12, 2002 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Rick Groen
Globe and Mail
Only fitfully do the actors actually seem to become the characters they are playing.

February 14, 2001 | Full Review…

Kevin Thomas
Los Angeles Times
Quote not available.

January 1, 2000 | Rating: 3/4

Susan Stark
Detroit News
Even if you don't know the play, or don't "speak Shakespeare," you're in for a lively, rewarding experience.

February 22, 2019 | Rating: A- | Full Review…

Adam Sandel
Santa Cruz Sentinel
Nunn's film succeeds beautifully in its chosen course.

August 16, 2018 | Full Review…

Geoffrey O'Brien
The New York Review of Books
Staring sardonically into the camera, Kingsley's cool fool gives this Victorian fantasy a modern edge, as a bitter commentator who dimly views romantic love as quite absurd.

April 25, 2018 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review…

Malcolm Johnson
Hartford Courant
I started watching the film by thinking, "They should film more of the comedies," and probably They still should, but I ended by thinking, "They really ought to hire movie directors to make movies."

January 8, 2012 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…

Nick Davis
Nick's Flick Picks
Where is Preston Sturges when we need him?

July 6, 2008 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

TV Guide
Why Nunn chose to set this version in the 1890s is a little baffling.

July 6, 2008 | Full Review…

Film4

View All Critic Reviews (34)

Audience Reviews for Twelfth Night

Oct 08, 2015

Twelfth Night is passable. While some of the performances are a bit silly, nothing about the film is terrible. Rather the problem is that the parts are not played with much harmony. However, Helena Bonham Carter's acting, as always, is delectable.

Robert B Super Reviewer
Dec 07, 2012

Okay passable Shakespeare like the type that you are usually forced to endure in a high school class but don't remember well beyond the exam on the subject.

John B Super Reviewer
Jan 11, 2009

I really enjoyied this adaptation. It was much more fun. I just really thought it was great!

Marion R Super Reviewer
Dec 21, 2007

Light-hearted Shakespeare just as it should be. Pretty much perfectly cast with each actor hitting all the right notes. Still like with most Shakespeare it will never match up to its source material but at least it goes for a fair balance between the theatrical and the cinematic.

Luke B Super Reviewer