If the phrase “hand flex” triggers an emotional response, you’re probably eagerly anticipating the release of Sense and Sensibility. That’s October 16, if you have no idea what I’m talking about.
The latest adaptation follows a long history of retellings of the Jane Austen classic. It tells the story of the Dashwood sisters, who, recently bereft of their fortune after the passing of their father, are forced to readjust to a new lifestyle. Throughout their tribulations, the two older sisters, sensible Elinor and passionate Marianne, encounter three charming suitors, at least on the surface – it turns out red flags were also a thing 200-something years ago, too. It’s a classic tale of love, loss and womanhood in Regency-era Britain.
But how does the 2026 release fare against the adaptations that came before it? Read on to see how they stack up.
The Original Classic: Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Ang Lee’s beloved 1995 film is a classic for a reason. Emma Thompson, who also plays Elinor, spent five years fine-tuning the script, and you can tell – the dialogue is quick-witted and the tension between the couples is palpable. Hugh Grant plays opposite Thompson as the charming, bumbling and altogether Hugh Grant-esque romantic lead, Edward Ferrars. Alan Rickman plays the brooding Colonel Brandon while Kate Winslet charms as the fervently romantic Marianne. The highly tuned performances, thoughtful screenplay, gorgeous costumes and sharp direction make this version one of the best.
The Latest: Sense and Sensibility (2026)
The latest version sees Daisy Edgar-Jones as Elinor and Esmé Creed-Miles as Marianne in a retelling that puts slightly more emphasis on sisterhood than romance. It’s a beautiful movie, which cuts between grassy landscapes bathed in golden light and the deep luscious greens of thick pine forests. The film takes slightly more liberties with Austen’s original novel, and there has been plenty of debate over the historical (in)accuracies of the sisters’ hair-down look. The result is a movie slightly more sobering than the 1995 version, but with plenty of moments of comedic relief (mostly from Fiona Shaw as the gossipy Mrs Jennings) that means it doesn’t teeter too far into Brontë-land.
An Underrated Miniseries: Sense and Sensibility (2008)
This highly underrated adaptation features Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens, Mamma Mia!’s Dominic Cooper and The Walking Dead’s David Morrissey as the three male leads. For Jane Austen die-hards, this three-part adaptation is probably the most faithful to the source material. With long shots of moody moorlands and rugged coastlines, and a deep undercurrent of yearning, this rendition also feels like the grittiest of the adaptations, as well as the most overtly sexual. It also features a period-drama classic: an emotionally repressed man trying to vent his frustrations in a wet shirt.
A Modern Retelling: From Prada to Nada (2011)
An honourable mention for the 2011 comedy romance, which is one of the few modern adaptations of the Austen classic. Instead of 18th-century England, we follow two spoiled sisters from modern-day Beverly Hills, who, left penniless after the passing of their father, are forced to move to East Los Angeles. It has a Letterboxd score of 2.6, if that tells you anything, along with reviews such as: “This film may be garbage, but it’s MY garbage”.
