Kenneth Branagh is universally considered one of the most accomplished and versatile directors. Born in the UK in 1960, Branagh started his directing career when he was just 29 years old. His first movie,Henry V,in which he also portrayed the starring role, brought him Oscar nominations for Best Director and Best Actor.
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To this day, Branagh is closely linked to Shakespeare as he’s directed multiple movies inspired by the legendary bard’s work. However, his directing range is much wider, and includes superhero movies (such asThor) as well as historical dramas (Belfast). With so many successful movies under his belt, it’s no surprise that many of Kenneth Branagh’s movies have excellent ratings online.
6Thor (2011)
Thoris the one movie that even viewers otherwise unfamiliar with Branagh’s Shakespearean work could have seen. Even though it’s a superhero story, what makes it different is the almost Shakespearean conflict between Odin and his two sons, Loki and Thor.
In the whole movie, Loki and Thor struggle to find their way to each other, and as all fans of the MCU will know, it took them quite some time before they grew closer.Thorno longer feels as connected to the rest of the MCU as other movies from the same universe, but it was still an excellent way to introduce the new superhero and make the audience like him,so it works, even on a rewatch.
5A Midwinter’s Tale (1995)
In the competition of other Kenneth Branagh’s more high-profile movies,A Midwinter’s Taledidn’t draw as much attention to itself, as obvious by the number of its ratings on IMDb. That doesn’t mean the movie’s any worse than Branagh’s other work. Branagh focuses on an environment, activity and people he knows well — a group of actors who are preparing Hamlet in a small village andwant to premiere the play during Christmas.
Unsurprisingly, since the movie’s a comedy, things don’t go smoothly and the heroes have to face a lot of challenges before they can fulfill their goal. In the movie, Branagh captures the absurdity of the acting life in a subtle and intelligent way. Even though his fans don’t see him act inA Midwinter’s Tale, the movie still has a strong cast and the actors give excellent comedy performances despite the fact thatHamletis one of Shakespeare’s most iconic drama plays.
4Much Ado About Nothing (1993)
Another of Kenneth Branagh’s successful Shakespeare movies takes a detour from the drama ofHamletorHenry V, andis a comedy instead. Young lovers Hero (Kate Beckinsale) and Claudio (Robert Sean Leonard) love each other, butthe cunning Don John (Keanu Reeves) stands in their way. At 111 minutes, the movie is fast-paced and hilarious, full of witty banter and surprising moments — especially for the viewers who aren’t familiar with Shakespeare’s play.
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It helps that the movie has a strong cast. Other than Branagh himself, other actors who appear in it are Emma Thompson, Imelda Staunton, and Denzel Washington. An interesting fact is that, even though the play takes place in Sicily, the movie was actually filmed in Tuscany.
3Belfast (2021)
As one of Kenneth Branagh’s latest movies,Belfasthas already drawn a lot of attention to itself. Since Kenneth Branagh grew up in Belfast and the movie returns to the city as it was in the late 1960s, it’s one of Branagh’s most personal and autobiographical pictures. It captures what life was like back then for one three-generational family, and the movie’s beautiful black and white camera and the acting performances take the audience onan unforgettable trip back in time.
Unlike other Branagh movies, he doesn’t star in this one, and at 98 minutes,Belfastis also relatively short in comparison to much of his other work. However, the way Branagh creates his stories is still visible in the movie and its screenplay. The characters feel fleshed out, and it’s easy to become quickly invested in their every day lives.
2Henry V (1989)
Back in 1989, Kenneth Branagh achieved something close to a miracle in the world of cinema. He wrotethe screen adaptation of William Shakespeare’s famous play, directed the movie as his first major work, and also played the leading role. His hard work paid off, asHenry Vwas nominated for three Academy Awards and won an Oscar for the best costumes.
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Taking place in the 15th century, the movie chronicles Henry’s rise to power and the legendary battle at Agincourt. Branagh cast some of the most talented British actors in the movie, including the likes of Judi Dench, Emma Thompson, Ian Holm, and Robbie Coltrane, making it a must-watch for all fans of Shakespeare as well as British cinema in general.
1Hamlet (1996)
AlongsideRomeo and Juliet,Hamletis one of William Shakespeare’s best-known and most popular plays. It has been adapted many times, but Kenneth Branagh’s version remains one of the best. It’s close to the source material and, since it lasts four hours, has enough time to build all the intricacies of the plot and the changing relationships between the characters. Everybody who read the play or saw another movie adaptation will know that Hamlet’s story doesn’t end happily, but that only makes the movie more fascinating to watch.
It helps that it’s once again visually beautiful — camera and costumes included. Kenneth Branagh played the titular role again and, just like inHenry V, cast some of the greatest British actors, such as Kate Winslet, Derek Jacobi, and Judi Dench. The movie was a success and earned four Oscar nominations.
