The Importance of Being Earnest
2002 · Movie · PG · 97 min · ★ 6.8 · 59% critics
In late-19th-century England, two friends juggle double lives by using the same made-up name to dodge obligations and chase romance. When both women they’re courting insist they can only love someone with that name, the mix-up spirals into a fast-moving comedy of manners, social rules, and tangled engagements.
Based on The Importance of Being Earnest
Where to watch
Streaming on Paramount+ and MGM+.
2 hours to watch.
Stream (included)
Streaming availability and prices may be inaccurate or change — verify with the provider before subscribing.
unSUB's subscription recommendations are informational only, not financial advice.
More value for your money
Similar titles, ranked by watch-hours per subscription dollar.
Details
- Years
- 2002
- Release date
- 2002-05-17
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Critic score
- 59/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.8/10 (507 votes)
- Box office
- $17,290,970
- Budget
- $15,000,000
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a light, witty comedy of manners with romantic mix-ups and Victorian social satire, similar to An Ideal Husband; Not for you if you dislike farce, name-based misunderstandings, or leisurely pacing.
Pros: witty mistaken-identity farce; charming period atmosphere; strong ensemble energy | Cons: pacing can feel slow; modernized bits may distract; humor sometimes uneven
Themes
- new love
- beguilement
- country house
- country estate
- fake identity
- relatives
- victorian england
- pleasure
Cast & crew
Rupert Everett
as Algernon “Algy” Moncrieff
Colin Firth
as John “Jack” Worthing
Reese Witherspoon
as Cecily Cardew
Judi Dench
as Lady Bracknell
Tom Wilkinson
as Dr. Chasuble
Frances O'Connor
as Gwendolen Fairfax
Anna Massey
as Miss Laetitia Prism
Edward Fox
as Lane
Patrick Godfrey
as Merriman
Charles Kay
as Gribsby
Directed by Oliver Parker