Movie

The Importance of Being Earnest

2002 · 97 min

A sparkling, witty romp full of elegant banter and farcical misunderstandings that keeps you smiling throughout.

Tagline: Everybody Loves Ernest... But Nobody's Quite Sure Who He Really Is.
Overview: Two young gentlemen living in 1890s England use the same pseudonym ('Ernest') on the sly, which is fine until they both fall in love with women using that name, which leads to a comedy of mistaken identities.

Search YouTube for the trailer

Rent in the UK

Apple TV Store
JustWatch TV Store
Amazon Video

More options Data from JustWatch

In your watch list

How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone: whimsicalstrength 3 of 3
satiricalstrength 2 of 3
romanticstrength 2 of 3
lightstrength 2 of 3
Pacing: brisk, 3 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention: engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes: identity
love
deception
class
family
Places: big city
countryside
single country house
Era: period
Audience: teen
Form: ensemble
Content intensity: Gore none
Language mild
Violence none
Sex mild

All scales, 0 to 10

Scales, 0 to 10
Scale	Value	0 to 10
Action	1
Horror	0
Humour	8
Realism	4
Romance	6
Tension	3
Darkness	1
Complexity	5
Emotional weight	3

Titles like The Importance of Being Earnest

Movie

The Importance of Being Earnest

1976

A brisk, talky drawing-room romp where elegant wordplay and silly deceptions keep the mood light and theatrical.

Whimsical, satirical, brisk · about identity and love

Via: whimsical
satirical
identity
love
Pacing: brisk
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 85 min

Details In your watch list

The Importance of Being EarnestHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Shakespeare in Love

1998

A lush, witty backstage romance that sweeps you up in theatrical bustle and bittersweet longing, leaving a warm ache.

Whimsical, romantic · about identity and love · ensemble

Via: whimsical
romantic
identity
love
ensemble
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 124 min

Details In your watch list

Shakespeare in LoveHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

The Importance of Being Earnest

1952

A sparkling drawing-room comedy of verbal wit and elegant absurdity, performed with theatrical relish and never in a hurry.

Whimsical, satirical · about identity and love · ensemble

Via: whimsical
satirical
identity
love
ensemble
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 95 min

Details In your watch list

The Importance of Being EarnestHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

An Ideal Husband

1999

A witty, elegant drawing-room comedy of manners where sparkling dialogue and moral dilemmas keep you delightfully engaged.

Same director: Oliver Parker · Satirical, romantic · about love

Also: Same director: Oliver Parker
Via: satirical
romantic
love
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 97 min

Details In your watch list

An Ideal HusbandHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

A Room with a View

1986

A sunlit, gently satirical romance that savours repressed longing, lush period detail and the quiet thrill of a first, improper kiss.

Same cinematographer: Tony Pierce-Roberts · Satirical, romantic · about identity and love · ensemble

Also: Same cinematographer: Tony Pierce-Roberts
Via: satirical
romantic
identity
love
ensemble
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 117 min

Details In your watch list

A Room with a ViewHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

National Theatre Live: The Importance of Being Earnest

2025

A sparkling, theatrical confection of witty wordplay and exuberant performances that keeps you grinning through its leisurely staged run.

Whimsical, satirical, brisk · about identity and love · ensemble

Via: whimsical
satirical
identity
love
ensemble
Pacing: brisk
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 182 min

Details In your watch list

National Theatre Live: The Importance of Being EarnestHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

The Proposal

2009

A breezy, feel-good romantic comedy with playful banter, warm family moments, and a predictable but charming plot.

Romantic, light, brisk · about identity and love · ensemble

Via: romantic
light
identity
love
ensemble
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 108 min

Details In your watch list

The ProposalHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Her Grace Commands

1931

A frothy, charming romantic comedy of mistaken identities and playful class-crossed courtship, light as air and easy to enjoy.

Whimsical, romantic, brisk · about identity and love · ensemble

Via: whimsical
romantic
identity
love
ensemble
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 96 min

Details In your watch list

Her Grace CommandsHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Much Ado About Nothing

1993

A sun-drenched, playful romantic comedy with sparkling wordplay and farcical misunderstandings, performed with infectious energy.

Whimsical, romantic, brisk · about love and deception · ensemble

Via: whimsical
romantic
love
deception
ensemble
Pacing: brisk
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 111 min

Details In your watch list

Much Ado About NothingHidden from your suggestions.

TV series

Oh! My Sweet Liar!

2020

A frothy, brightly costumed romp of mistaken identity and slow-blossoming romance that breezes by with playful charm and little demand on the viewer.

Whimsical, romantic, brisk · about identity and love

Via: whimsical
romantic
identity
love
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Seasons: 1

Details In your watch list

Oh! My Sweet Liar!Hidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Love & Friendship

2016

A sparkling, witty drawing-room game of manners where every charming smile hides a scheme, delivered with dry relish and brisk verbal delight.

Satirical, romantic, brisk · about love and deception · ensemble

Via: satirical
romantic
love
deception
ensemble
Pacing: brisk
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 94 min

Details In your watch list

Love & FriendshipHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Ernest in Love

2005

A sparkling, playful stage confection full of wit, charm and romantic silliness that breezes by with a smile.

Whimsical, satirical, brisk · about identity and love

Via: whimsical
satirical
identity
love
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch

Details In your watch list

Ernest in LoveHidden from your suggestions.

Where to watch in the UK

Rent

Apple TV Store
JustWatch TV Store
Amazon Video
Sky Store

Buy

Apple TV Store
Amazon Video
Sky Store

Streaming data from JustWatch.All options on TMDB

Details

Genres: comedy, drama, history, romance
Directed by: Oliver Parker
Written by: Oliver Parker
Starring: Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon, Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, Frances O'Connor, Anna Massey, Edward Fox
Music: Charlie Mole
Cinematography: Tony Pierce-Roberts
Runtime: 97 min
Country: France, United Kingdom, United States of America
Languages: German, English

TMDB IMDb Letterboxd Wikipedia Wikidata

Something wrong on this page? Tell us.

The Importance of Being Earnest

How it feels

More like this

Titles like The Importance of Being Earnest

Where to watch in the UK

Details