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Sense and Sensibility

Play trailer 2:08 Poster for Sense and Sensibility PG Released Dec 13, 1995 2h 15m Comedy Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 68 Reviews 90% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
When Elinor Dashwood's (Emma Thompson) father dies, her family's finances are crippled. After the Dashwoods move to a cottage in Devonshire, Elinor's sister Marianne (Kate Winslet) is torn between the handsome John Willoughby (Greg Wise) and the older Colonel Brandon (Alan Rickman). Meanwhile, Elinor's romantic hopes with Edward Ferrars (Hugh Grant) are hindered due to his prior engagement. Both Elinor and Marianne strive for love while the circumstances in their lives constantly change.
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Sense and Sensibility

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Critics Consensus

Sense and Sensibility is an uncommonly deft, very funny Jane Austen adaptation, marked by Emma Thompson's finely tuned performance.

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Critics Reviews

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Peter Bradshaw Guardian Sense and Sensibility is a film stuffed with blue-chip British acting talent but, for me, Kate Winslet is the movie’s beating heart as the spirited and innocent Marianne Dashwood. Rated: 5/5 Aug 6, 2025 Full Review Wendy Ide The Times (UK) Ang Lee’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s first novel respects the timeless material while bringing a contemporary energy and humour to the tale. Jun 21, 2023 Full Review Michael Wilmington Chicago Tribune This movie, made with love and wit, reminds us how much charm, liveliness, passion, good sense--and sensibility--Jane Austen provides. Rated: 3.5/4 Nov 27, 2019 Full Review Jeff Beck The Blu Spot Sense and Sensibility may be a little simplistic when it comes to its matchmaking narrative of lovers eager to find their companions, but it more than makes up for it with its tremendous cast and its gorgeous visuals. Rated: 3.5/5 Aug 11, 2025 Full Review Quentin Crisp Christopher Street It is a gem. Miss Austen’s sly humor is everywhere present but never caricatured. Apr 25, 2022 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Spirited and luminous romantic film. Rated: A- Mar 15, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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YIYI X I heard about this film for a long time, with many famous English actors and a talented Chinese director. I was surprised that Marianne has the same name as a female scientist, Mary Ann. The complicated relationship between the young reminded me of the plots of Chinese drama. Money and love are comparable in personal life, from the perspective of a stable future. And the survival need seems to take the more important place. I thought that Mrs. Steele spoke lies about the private engagement with Edward, but it seems the truth. The rational comes before the emotion for the elder sister, while the emotion is expressed bravely for Marianne. She is too ideal and it is such lively that attracted to the Colonel. And it seems that she wants to die to prove the purity and fierceness of her love. So great actress Emma is. There is no need to punish ourselves for expressing our loyalty. The pain is only felt by the person who truly loves us. I really thought Mara would die when Elinor held her hand and said, ‘Don’t leave me alone’. Luckily, she survived. The happy ending for Miss Dashwoods are married to nice people. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/23/25 Full Review Jayden H. The yearning, the self control, by far one of my favorite movies ! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/20/25 Full Review Charles P Set in early nineteenth century England, Mrs. Dashwood (Gemma Jones) and her three daughters, Elinor (Emma Thompson), Marianne (Kate Winslet) and Margaret (Emilie François), find themselves at the risk of poverty after the death of the former’s husband, Henry (Tom Wilkinson). While staying at Norland Park, the house that has been passed down to Henry’s son from his first marriage, John (James Fleet), Elinor strikes up a close friendship with John’s wife’s brother, Edward Ferrars (Hugh Grant). However, circumstances revolving around moving to a new estate, helping out Marianne with her own love problems with Col. Brandon (Alan Rickman) and John Willoughby (Greg Wise), and numerous misunderstandings, will force Elinor to deal with her feelings as she tries to understand what love means… Regarded as the crown jewel of all Jane Austen adaptations, along with the 1990s Pride & Prejudice television series, Ang Lee’s 1995 version of Austen’s first novel, Sense and Sensibility, manages to be not only incredibly well made for the period drama subgenre, that had only been thriving on TV at that point in time, but also manages to be very entertaining as well. While some characters and events from the book are removed for pacing reasons, Lee and writer and star Emma Thompson, make the incredibly smart decision to further flesh out the characters, especially the two main sisters and their love interests, with the quartet of Thompson, a pre-Titanic Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant and a surprisingly sweet Alan Rickman, all giving fantastic performances. Another great change is Elinor being aged up to her early thirties, which gives her character a lot more depth, especially when having to look after her family and deal with long-delayed love. Overall, with fantastic production design and Patrick Doyle music, a hugely entertaining cast of British supporting characters, such as the late Robert Hardy, Imelda Staunton, Elizabeth Spriggs and the always hilarious Hugh Laurie, and a much needed update on Austen’s themes, the 1995 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility is a high point in period drama cinema, which the likes of the 2005 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice and Downton Abbey, owe a lot to. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/13/25 Full Review Stephen C LOL, 2.25 hours of comedy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring Alan Rickman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $42,000,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/01/25 Full Review Garrett B A heartwarming period drama Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/08/25 Full Review Cid K One of my favorite movies!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/06/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Sense and Sensibility

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Sense and Sensibility

Sense and Sensibility: Official Clip - Happy Tears Sense and Sensibility: Official Clip - Happy Tears 2:12 Sense and Sensibility: Official Clip - A Way With Kids Sense and Sensibility: Official Clip - A Way With Kids 2:06 Sense and Sensibility: Official Clip - Yes, No, Never Absolutely Sense and Sensibility: Official Clip - Yes, No, Never Absolutely 2:06 Sense and Sensibility: Official Clip - A Far More Pleasing Countenance Sense and Sensibility: Official Clip - A Far More Pleasing Countenance 1:31 Sense and Sensibility: Official Clip - John Willoughby at Your Service Sense and Sensibility: Official Clip - John Willoughby at Your Service 2:11 Sense and Sensibility: Official Clip - Marianne Falls Sense and Sensibility: Official Clip - Marianne Falls 2:07 Sense and Sensibility: Official Clip - Willoughby! Sense and Sensibility: Official Clip - Willoughby! 2:12 Sense and Sensibility: Official Clip - Edward and Elinor Sense and Sensibility: Official Clip - Edward and Elinor 2:13 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis When Elinor Dashwood's (Emma Thompson) father dies, her family's finances are crippled. After the Dashwoods move to a cottage in Devonshire, Elinor's sister Marianne (Kate Winslet) is torn between the handsome John Willoughby (Greg Wise) and the older Colonel Brandon (Alan Rickman). Meanwhile, Elinor's romantic hopes with Edward Ferrars (Hugh Grant) are hindered due to his prior engagement. Both Elinor and Marianne strive for love while the circumstances in their lives constantly change.
Director
Ang Lee
Producer
Lindsay Doran
Screenwriter
Jane Austen, Emma Thompson
Distributor
Columbia TriStar Home Video, Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Mirage Enterprises, Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating
PG
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 13, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$42.0M
Runtime
2h 15m
Sound Mix
Surround
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