Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” was first published in 1813 and despite being over 200 years old, it remains a beloved romance. The story follows Elizabeth Bennet as she watches her sisters fall in love and unexpectedly finds it herself. The novel highlights the importance of judging a person by the character of their actions rather than their outward appearances.
With a love story that transcends social class, societal expectations and time itself, “Pride and Prejudice” remains a literary classic, inspiring countless adaptations and interpretations. The film “Pride & Prejudice,” directed by Joe Wright, was released in 2005 and drew in $130 million in box office profits, approximately 4.7 times more than the production cost of the movie.
This past week, the film returned to theaters with limited showings. The re-release itself generated a box office revenue of around $2.7 million in the opening weekend, nearly matching the total of the original opening weekend in 2005. Not only did the re-release generate a high profit 20 years later, but the film also showed in more theaters and ranked in the No. 8 for the weekends’ box office, drawing in a younger audience.
The re-release gave fans from younger generations the opportunity to experience the film the way it was intended. Although the characters are now over 200 years old, the audience hasn’t aged. Senior Ayah Alsheikha is a fan of both the book and movie versions of “Pride and Prejudice” and attended a showing of the re-release in theaters. “Pride and Prejudice is such a classic movie, and since it came out before I was born, I never got to see it in the movie theaters until now,” Alsheikha explained.
The success of “Pride & Prejudice” is a far greater accomplishment than many realize. With the film being available for streaming on services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, it’s easy for viewers to watch from the comfort of their home without having to spend money on movie tickets. Despite the easy access, thousands of fans still flooded to the theaters instead. “Seeing such a classic movie the way it was meant to be seen is such a special experience that beats streaming it every time,” said Alsheikha.
The overall success of the novel and film can be attributed to the timeless quality of the plot. Though it’s human nature to make judgments about others, the story explores the best possible outcome of rushing to conclusions: finding love. The 2005 film merely amplified the beauty of the original novel. Junior Amelia Morgart is an avid reader and viewer of both versions of the story. “Pride & Prejudice is probably one of the best film adaptations of a book I’ve ever seen. It perfectly captures the essence of Jane Austen’s popular book, and I think that it is super well cast and the setting is gorgeous,” said Morgart.
The lasting charm of “Pride and Prejudice” proves some stories never grow old. Whether through the pages of Jane Austen’s novel or the cinematography of Joe Wright’s film, the tale of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy continues to touch audiences of all ages. As the re-release draws in a new wave of admirers, it’s clear that true love and great storytelling is timeless.
