Common Sense Media Review
Wonderful, but a little too mature for some kids.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Romeo and Juliet
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 8 parent reviews
Based on 25 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is a well-executed adaptation of the classic story, capturing the essence of Shakespeare's original work, although some scenes may be too mature for younger audiences due to brief nudity and sexual situations. Many viewers appreciated the faithful portrayal of the plot and the characters, but caution that it may be more suitable for mature teens rather than young children.
- faithful adaptation
- mature themes
- brief nudity
- good for teens
- well-acted
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Franco Zeffirelli's ambitious production of ROMEO AND JULIET brought Shakespeare to the masses in 1968. He did it not by dumbing the play down, but by casting two talented unknowns, Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey (ages seventeen and fifteen, respectively) as the leads. Much like Titanic would thirty years later, Romeo and Juliet struck a chord with teenagers, who found its beautiful young stars' urgency and tragic plight irresistible. Shot in Italy, Zeffirelli's faithful production of the tragedy also features a very young Michael York as Tybalt.
Is It Any Good?
Zefirelli's performers breathe understanding into every ornate phrase, translating the sixteenth-century prose into something fresh and modern. This stands in stark contrast to the peculiar travesty Romeo + Juliet, in which Leonardo DiCaprio and others spew Shakespeare's lines without understanding them,
When Romeo first spies Juliet, you believe--even before he speaks--that he's irreparably in love. Their balcony scene is wonderfully passionate, and the finale all the more potent for Laurence Olivier's uncredited narration. (But a cautionary note to parents: Teens may see the story as a glamorization of suicide and the subject is well worth discussing with them.)
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the movie's depiction of suicide.
Why do the two families hate one another?
How does the ending make you feel about love?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 8, 1968
- On DVD or streaming : January 7, 2002
- Cast : Leonard Whiting , Michael York , Olivia Hussey
- Director : Franco Zeffirelli
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters
- Run time : 138 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : brief nudity and mature themes
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate