Directed by Baz Luhrmann • 1996 • United States
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, John Leguizamo

Baz Luhrmann’s dazzling and unconventional adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic love story retains the Bard’s original language while transplanting the story from its Elizabethan origins to the futuristic, postpunk urban backdrop of the fictional Verona Beach (played in part by Miami and Mexico City). Leonardo DiCaprio (completing his ascent to ’90s teen icon) and Claire Danes embody the young star-crossed lovers whose romance defies the animosity between their feuding families. Luhrmann’s kinetic pop style—enlivened by a soundtrack featuring indie heroes like Garbage, Radiohead, and the Cardigans—breathes electrifying new life into an oft-told tale.