Movie
Where to Watch Shakespeare in Love (1998) in the US
- 1998
- R
- 2h 3m
- 7.1IMDb
- 93%Rotten Tomatoes
- 87Metascore
Shakespeare in Love is available with a subscription, free with a participating library card, to rent, or to buy in the United States.
Subscription
Free with a library card
Rent
- Spectrum On DemandSD124 minR$3.99Opens in a new tab.
- Spectrum On DemandHD124 minR$3.99Opens in a new tab.
- Apple TV StoreSD124 minRAudioEnglish$5.99Opens in a new tab.
- Apple TV StoreHD124 minRAudioEnglish$5.99Opens in a new tab.
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Availability last checked Oct 9, 2026.
Report a wrong listingAvailability
- Watch the movie with a subscription on fuboTV (HD) and Paramount+ (HD).
- Watch the movie free with a participating library card on Kanopy (HD).
- Rent the movie on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Spectrum On Demand.
- Buy the movie on Prime Video.
What it's about
William Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) is a known but struggling poet, playwright, and actor, who not only has sold his next play to both Philip Henslowe (Geoffrey Rush) and Richard Burbage (Martin Clunes), but now faces a far more difficult problem: he is bereft of ideas and has yet to begin writing. He is in search of his muse, the woman who will inspire him but all attempts fail him until he meets the beautiful Viola De Lesseps (Gwyneth Paltrow). She loves the theatre and would like nothing more than to take to the stage, but is forbidden from doing so as only men can be actors. She is also a great admirer of Shakespeare's works. Dressing as a man, and going by the name of "Thomas Kent", she auditions and is ideal for a part in his next play. Shakespeare soon sees through her disguise and they begin a love affair, one they know cannot end happily for them as he is already married and she has been promised to the dour Lord Wessex (Colin Firth). As the company rehearses his new play, William and Viola's love is transferred to the written page leading to the masterpiece that is Romeo and Juliet.
Cast and crew
- Director
- John Madden
- Writer
- Marc Norman, Tom Stoppard
- Starring
- Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush
Details
- Release date
- Jan 8, 1999
- Language
- English
- Country
- United Kingdom, United States
- Box office
- $100,317,794
- Awards
- Won 7 Oscars. 65 wins & 87 nominations total
Where to Watch Shakespeare in Love (1998) in the US — common questions
- Where to watch Shakespeare in Love in the United States?
- Shakespeare in Love is available with a subscription, free with a participating library card, to rent, or to buy in the United States. Watch the movie with a subscription on fuboTV (HD) and Paramount+ (HD). Watch the movie free with a participating library card on Kanopy (HD). Rent the movie on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Spectrum On Demand. Buy the movie on Prime Video.
- Can I stream Shakespeare in Love or do I have to rent it in the United States?
- Watch the movie with a subscription on fuboTV (HD) and Paramount+ (HD). Rent the movie on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Spectrum On Demand. Buy the movie on Prime Video.
- Can I watch Shakespeare in Love for free in the United States?
- Watch the movie free with a participating library card on Kanopy (HD).
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