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ShakespeaRe-Told

ShakespeaRe-Told

2005Miniseries1 season4 episodes~360 min/epMidcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

Four of Shakespeare's plays are dramatically relocated to the modern day.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch ShakespeaRe-Told?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists ShakespeaRe-Told to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

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Highlights

What stands out about ShakespeaRe-Told?

ShakespeaRe-Told earns 2 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Preferred by Women.

Reception

Is ShakespeaRe-Told worth watching?

ShakespeaRe-Told's Midcredits score is the 82nd percentile of all shows, from 1.6K ratings across 2 sources. 84% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

82nd percentile

Better received than 82% of shows

80th percentile among Comedy77th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)78th
Approval (how many liked it)81st

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

77 /100

78th percentile of all shows

79th percentile among Comedy72nd percentile among 2000s

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

84% liked it

81st percentile of all shows

77th percentile among Comedy76th percentile among 2000s
84% rated it 7–1016% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

54th percentile

1.6K ratings across platforms

37th percentile among Comedy47th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 7% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the casting is excellent and the modern retellings are ambitious, but thick regional accents frequently hurt comprehension.

Fans praised

  • James McAvoy's intense Macbeth and Keeley Hawes's chilling Lady Macbeth
  • Clever translation of Shakespeare's language into modern British idiom
  • Charismatic comic chemistry between Sewell and Henderson in Shrew

Detractors panned

  • Impenetrable accents and no subtitles on the DVD
  • Macbeth's restaurant setting feels mismatched to the tragedy's power themes
  • Bottom's unintelligible delivery ruins Midsummer's comic centerpiece

What stands out

ActingDivisive85

McAvoy, Sewell, Henderson, and the British ensemble are lauded as standout; detractors cite unintelligible delivery

OriginalityDivisive80

Restaurant Macbeth and bin-men weird sisters are clever, but some find setting incongruous

Emotional impact75

Macbeth's guilt and transformation land powerfully for fans

CharactersDivisive70

Lady Macbeth's power behind the throne and Macbeth's internal change are praised; but Kate's shrew is too harsh

Plot and storyDivisive65

Much Ado's muddled subplot and Midsummer's weak final entertainment are criticized

HumorDivisive65

Shrew's wedding and Much Ado banter are hilarious, but Bottom's jokes fall flat

DialogueDivisive60

Modernized prose works well for fans, but thick accents make much dialogue incomprehensible

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Women

Women scored it 28 points higher than men.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • US vs non-US 5 points apart

Episodes

1 season

Season 1 · 2005 · 4 episodes

  • S1E1
    S1E1

    Much Ado About Nothing

    Nov 7, 200590 min
  • S1E2
    S1E2

    Macbeth

    Nov 14, 200590 min
  • S1E3
    S1E3

    The Taming of the Shrew

    Nov 21, 200590 min
  • S1E4
    S1E4

    A Midsummer Night's Dream

    Nov 28, 200590 minFinale

Watch experience

What is ShakespeaRe-Told like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, light and gentle — a slow-burn watch that leaves you thinking.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
ContemplativeWarm
Heaviest: throughout
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
WarmRomantic · 7% of shows
Told as
Anthology episodes · 6% of showsSingle-season story
ToneThe series adapts Shakespeare's stories to modern settings with earnest performances, playing the drama and comedy straight despite the anachronism.
The rideThe series likely maintains a reflective, warm mood with moderate intensity across its anthology format.
StructureEach episode follows a conventional three-act structure; no overarching narrative devices connect the anthology.
Episode formatEach episode adapts a different Shakespeare play with its own story and cast.
Season formatThe series is a limited series of one season telling four separate complete stories.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Thought-provokingBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayThe modern settings invite reflection on the timelessness of Shakespeare's themes, while the mix of comedic and tragic endings leaves a complex emotional residue.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40% (this title)

No archetype fits — true of 40% of shows: ensemble pieces, satire, slice-of-life.

Why this archetypeFour episodes retell distinct Shakespeare plays — tragedy, comedy, romance — with no single plot archetype dominating.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfIdentitySelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% (this title) · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27% (this title): Identity 20% (this title) · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% (this title) · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Self

IdentityRomantic love · 10% of showsPower · 5% of shows
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe series recontextualizes Shakespearean themes of selfhood, love, and ambition in modern settings.
StanceThe series likely examines its themes (love, ambition, identity) without settling on a single judgment.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanStylized realism
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score
SettingModern-day Britain, with settings varying per episode (e.g., a restaurant, a police station, a film set).

Cast and crew

Who is in ShakespeaRe-Told?

Cast

Nick Malinowski
as Bin Man
James McAvoy
as Joe Macbeth
Shirley Henderson
as Kate Minola
Sarah Parish
as Beatrice
Bill Paterson
as Theo
Damian Lewis
as Benedick
David Mitchell
as Tim Agnew
Keeley Hawes
as Ella Macbeth
Imelda Staunton
as Polly
Lennie James
as Oberon

Crew

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