1. Pride and Prejudice

On ITunes at itunes.apple.com

I know there are people who disagree, but I feel the BBC series is a far better production of Pride and Prejudice than the 2005 movie. I agree that the movie starring Keira Knightley and Matthew McFadyen is one of the better Jane Austen adaptations overall, but the bbc jane austen adaptations trump them all. Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle are just so believable as Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. I also think that other than Keira and Matthew, some of the characters in the movie didn’t really come out as I saw them in the novel. Donald Sutherland didn’t do it for me as Mr. Bennet, nor did Dame Judi Dench as Lady Catherine de Bourgh, nor Rupert Friend as Mr. Wickham. Plus, I don’t think anything will ever top the iconic BBC scene of Mr. Darcy emerging from the lake. You can explore more about this classic adaptation on IMDb.

2. Sense and Sensibility

On iTunes at itunes.apple.com

If you put a luminary such as Ang Lee in charge of an adaptation of Jane Austen, you know you’re going to get something good. Although considered by some to be among her weaker novels, this film stands as one of the best Austen adaptations ever brought to the screen. An all-star British cast includes Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet as the Dashwood sisters, Tom Wilkinson as Mr. Dashwood, and Alan Rickman as Colonel Christopher Brandon. Emma Thompson picked up the 1996 Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, which underlines that this is one of the most enjoyable and watchable Jane Austen adaptations, even if it doesn’t stay entirely faithful to the original text. Much like the acclaimed BBC Pride and Prejudice series, it captures the emotional depth of Austen's world flawlessly. Check out the film details on IMDb.

3. Emma

On Amazon at amazon.com

As is so often the case with adaptations of Jane Austen novels, there is more than one to choose from – testament to how beloved the stories remain today. When looking at Jane Austen books adapted to movies, Emma offers several distinct takes. Did I pick Gwyneth Paltrow as the eponymous heroine or Kate Beckinsale? My feet are firmly planted in the Beckinsale camp. I thought Gwyneth overplayed the quivering lip when she didn’t get her way and came across as too bratty for my liking. I think Kate plays Emma how most readers imagine her to be, offering a performance that pairs wonderfully with other classic Sense and Sensibility adaptations.

4. Bride and Prejudice

On iTunes at itunes.apple.com

For people who argue that classic literature isn’t relatable today, I point them in the direction of this movie. It is one of those Jane Austen novel movies that proves her cultural relevance, whatever the century or setting. Adapted by Gurinder Chadha (of Bend It Like Beckham fame), the movie changes the story from one of class and social standings to a vibrant cross-cultural romance. It’s an interesting take and exceptionally well done.

5. Persuasion

On iTunes at itunes.apple.com

Again we have two movie versions to choose from (and a TV mini-series) of Jane Austen’s story of unconditional love. Neither got the grand Hollywood treatment, both being made with a British cast with names probably not recognizable beyond these shores (except if you have a very keen eye, you will spot that Ciarán Hinds is the actor who played Aberforth Dumbledore). If you want to hunker down on the couch with a bag of chips on a rainy day, this story of enduring love will endear itself to you.

6. Mansfield Park

On Amazon Prime at amazon.com

Likable or not, Jane Austen’s females are all very strong personalities. The least likeable is surely Fanny Price, who is preachy and moralistic. The problem is that I don’t think any of the adaptations have done this story full justice. Maybe there’s a producer out there looking for a new project for an upcoming starlet? I didn’t really like the way Patricia Rozema adapted the original in the 1999 version – Fanny (played by Frances O'Connor) was not feisty and spirited in the right way. Nor did I much like Billie Piper’s characterization in 2007. By virtue of it being closer to the original story, I have chosen the Billie Piper version for this Jane Austen movie adaptations list.

7. Northanger Abbey

On Amazon at amazon.com

This is one of my favorite Jane Austen book adaptations, which is no surprise because it was written by Andrew Davies, who also penned the legendary Pride and Prejudice miniseries. (Andrew Davies is incredible – check out his writing credits on IMDb.) Felicity Jones does a splendid job of carrying off Catherine Morland’s naivety as we enjoy a tale of social intrigue involving status, class, and money. The spooky abbey was probably a little more “gothic” than Jane Austen would have imagined, but it adds immensely to the atmosphere.

I don’t think we’ve seen the end of Jane Austen adaptations yet. There may only be a few books by Jane Austen made into movies, but the stories are timeless and costume drama heaven. So, when looking at all Jane Austen novels ranked and adapted, did you agree with my choices? Share your favorites with us!