Netflix Has The Best Jane Austen Adaptation, Hands Down

Jane Austen is one of the most beloved authors of all time, and her six novels have been adapted into some amazing movies over the last few decades.

Upon first glance, it may seem difficult to raise up just one of these film adaptations as the “best.” After all, her novels have given us some gems like 1995’s Sense & Sensibility, written by and starring Emma Thompson, the 1995 made-for-TV adaptation of Pride & Prejudice starring Colin Firth, and, more recently, the 2020 adaptation of Emma starring Anya Taylor-Joy. Even Clueless of 1995 is a modern-day retelling of Emma. While all four are well worth the watch, you may already have a different film adaptation in mind to top the list–and you would be correct. That’s right, I’m talking about 2005’s Pride & Prejudice starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen.

This adaptation of Pride & Prejudice gets passed around the streaming services regularly and sometimes it’s on nothing at all. If you want to catch it now before it disappears again, you can find it on Netflix. But in the meantime, here’s why it’s the best Jane Austen adaptation.

The entire cast really shines.

It isn’t just the leads, Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen, that kill it in their roles. What about Tom Hollander as creepy Mr. Collins? Or Simon Woods as a breathtaking Mr. Bingley? And nothing beats Charlotte Lucas (played by Claudie Blakley) delivering this classic line:

I’m twenty-seven years old, I’ve no money and no prospects. I’m already a burden to my parents and I’m frightened.

That hand flex lives in our heads rent-free.

It’s wild how much a simple gesture like flexing your hand can rile up the viewers of a movie. Yet that’s how feral fans of this adaptation of Pride & Prejudice get when Mr. Darcy flexes his hand after helping Elizabeth Bennet into her carriage. And the world collectively swooned.

Darcy’s speech in the meadow at the end is top-tier.

If someone doesn’t shudder with longing as they tell me they love me like Mr. Darcy did with Lizzy in a dewy meadow, then I’m not interested. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, then it’s time to watch Pride & Prejudice on Netflix.