Much Ado About Nothing

PG-13

Released Jun 21, 2013

1 hr. 49 min.

Romance

Comedy

List

86%

177 Reviews

Tomatometer

77%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

After a successful campaign against his rebellious brother, Don John (Sean Maher), Don Pedro (Reed Diamond) visits the governor of Messina. With him are Benedick (Alexis Denisof) and Claudio (Fran Kranz). While there, Claudio falls for the governor's daughter, Hero (Jillian Morgese), while Benedick engages in a war of words with Beatrice (Amy Acker), the governor's niece. While Don Pedro tries to trick Benedick and Beatrice into falling in love, Don John tries to tear Claudio and Hero apart.

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Critics Consensus

Lighthearted to a fault, Much Ado About Nothing's giddy energy and intimate charm make for an entertaining romantic comedy -- and a Shakespearean adaptation that's hard to resist.

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Hannah S

not a single person in this film knows what meter is or who shakespeare is. awful.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

09/28/23

Full Review

TOMI D

Really good movie with a different take on friendship and loss.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

mark m

Fine, modernistic version of a Shakespearean Classic. Especially interesting was the making of Don John's henchman Conrade female, and played by the Excellent and Seductive Riki Lindhome, giving the character new aspect, where the female Conrade is a Don John's lover, and introducing "villain sex" which is nice and twisted, of dominance and submission, and much different than the other couples! It also subtle subverts the sexual power dynamics of Shakespeare's plays.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Mike J

Try not something to be like a man or something

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/29/22

Full Review

Audience Member

This was the worst movie I had ever seen for years. Until an extremely low budget movie called Powerbomb starring an independent pro wrestler came out and I watched that. It finally beat this out after decades, but this still remains by far #2 closely behind. It's atrociously boring and the way the people talk made me want to plug my ears. TERRIBLE movie.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Funny, intelligent and sensitive view on accepting goodbyes.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

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Joss Whedon

Director

Amy Acker

Beatrice

Alexis Denisof

Benedick

Nathan Fillion

Dogberry

Fran Kranz

Claudio

Jillian Morgese

Hero

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

5%

41%

Playing for Keeps

19%

59%

Just Go With It

TRAILER

for Just Go With It

40%

49%

Peeples

54%

79%

Think Like a Man

26%

57%

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Sophie Mayer

Sight & Sound

DP Jay Hunter's camera floats like a butterfly through doorways and windows, stinging as it catches characters in moments of eavesdropping-inspired stunned epiphany.

Apr 4, 2018

Full Review

Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

metro.co.uk

Fizzing with giddy energy, this is the freshest, finest Shakespeare movie version of the 21st century.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 5, 2017

Full Review

Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

Loose, enjoyable, and sparkling, it's a movie that lives for the sound of clinking wine glasses and snappy patter.

Jun 21, 2016

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Its playful and energetic melodrama is a blast.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 24, 2022

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

To keep Shakespeare timely is the task sought after by every new adaptation, and Much Ado About Nothing belongs on a short list of films to celebrate the relevance of Shakespeare in cinema.

Rated: 4/4

Aug 22, 2022

Full Review

David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

Four hundred years later, the playwright's powerful, beautiful, utterly sincere thoughts and emotions continue to affect us.

Feb 12, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

After a successful campaign against his rebellious brother, Don John (Sean Maher), Don Pedro (Reed Diamond) visits the governor of Messina. With him are Benedick (Alexis Denisof) and Claudio (Fran Kranz). While there, Claudio falls for the governor's daughter, Hero (Jillian Morgese), while Benedick engages in a war of words with Beatrice (Amy Acker), the governor's niece. While Don Pedro tries to trick Benedick and Beatrice into falling in love, Don John tries to tear Claudio and Hero apart.

Director: Joss Whedon
Executive Producer: Kai Cole
Screenwriter: Joss Whedon
Distributor: Lionsgate Films, Roadside Attractions
Production Co: Bellwether Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Some Sexuality|Brief Drug Use)
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 21, 2013, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 2, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.3M

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