Fans of period dramas and Jane Austen classics have a single opportunity to watch one of the most highly-regarded adaptations ever made, free of charge. The 2005 film version of Pride & Prejudice, starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen, will be broadcast on BBC Two this Sunday, July 12, at 4:25pm, having recently left Netflix.
Critical Acclaim and Fan Adoration
The film, directed by Joe Wright, has been hailed as an 'emotional masterpiece' by viewers. One IMDb reviewer wrote: 'Pride and Prejudice was the best movie I've seen in a very long time, if not the best I've ever seen. It captured the very essence of Jane Austen's brilliant novel. In fact, I enjoyed the movie more than the book itself.' Another fan described it as 'absolutely perfect,' adding that it 'perfectly captured the wit, the intelligence, the passion and the romance of Jane Austen's classic.'
Behind the Scenes
Screenwriter Deborah Moggach spent more than two years writing the script, producing around 10 different drafts. Knightley revealed on The Graham Norton Show that director Joe Wright initially thought she was 'too pretty' for the role of Elizabeth Bennet, making her an unexpected choice.
Enduring Legacy
Despite some initial backlash from critics, Austen fans have consistently ranked it among the best adaptations. In July 2025, the film was featured in the Readers' Choice edition of The New York Times' list of The 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century. Another fan commented on IMDb: 'The 1995 mini is fabulous, but this movie adaptation has captured what has before been missing.'
Don't miss this chance to see the film, which one viewer called 'simply excellent,' praising its 'simplicity that empowered every possibility for imagination.'
