I think it’s safe to say that we’re all familiar with William Shakespeare. He’s supposedly one of the greatest writers the world has ever seen and high school English is merely a succession of Shakespeare plays that we are forced to celebrate.
But upon closer inspection, it’s apparent that a lot of Shakespeare’s ‘greatest’ works are complete ripoffs of iconic movies that we know and love. His whole career is a lie!
I know it’s crazy – I’m as shocked as the next person. But the evidence speaks for itself and right now it’s shouting “SHAKESPEARE PLAGIARISED AN AMANDA BYNES TEEN ROMCOM” at the top of its lungs. Who are we not to listen?
So here they are – the cold, hard facts.
These are just some of the films that have fallen prey to Shakespeare’s roaming eyes and had their ingeniously unique plotlines appropriated into his plays.
It’s the scam to rule all scams, until now. We’re busting this thing wide open so watch your back Shakeyboy.
#1 Lion King
A word of advice: if you’re going to rip off someone else’s work maybe pick something that doesn’t already have mass-popularity and recognition. Absolute rookie move.
Shakespeare must have thought he was so clever taking the tale of a young lion prince whose father is murdered by an evil uncle after the crown, swapping Africa’s Pride Lands for Denmark, renaming the title character Hamlet and calling it a day. Nice try sweetie.
Shakespeare’s Hamlet is transparently a rip off of Disney’s animated musical movie down to the supporting characters Timon and Pumbaa who are merely rebranded as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
Except old mate is a total buzzkill and changed the ending to be morbid as hell. Should have just stuck with the original ending, Shakespeare. If you’re going to be a big copycat, commit.
#2 She’s The Man
Twelfth Night is just She’s The Man with no Amanda Bynes and no shirtless Channing Tatum. So it’s worse, in every way.
Amidst all the confusion of the gender disguises and the love triangles I guess Shakespeare thought that he could get away with basically copying and pasting this iconic teen film into his playbook, but the jig is up buddy.
This movie is art. Show some respect.
#3 Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Ok admittedly I haven’t seen this movie and after looking at a few clips I’m not sure I want to??
But word on the street is that Shakespeare shamelessly based Julius Caesar off this film and with his track record I 100% back that accusation. Sometimes on a case this big you’ve just gotta trust your gut, ya know?
So that’s settled. Planet of the Apes is the genesis of Julius Caesar and you heard it here first.
#4 Romeo And Juliet
Can you imagine plagiarising Baz Luhrmann’s work word for word and then not even bothering to change the damn title I mean the audacity. This one is a new low even for Shakespeare.
#5 10 Things I Hate About You
10 Things I Hate About You is one of the best films of all time so honestly Shakespeare’s copycat version Taming of the Shrew is comparatively stale. He should have known better than to compete with young Heath Ledger dancing to Frankie Valli.
Rumour has it Katarina Stratford’s emotional poetry reading actually inspired Shakespeare to try his hand at poems. And yet, not so much as a thank you. Classic dudebro move.
#6 Get Over It
For anyone that hasn’t seen Get Over It featuring young Kirsten Dunst AND Mila Kunis, do yourself a favour and get onto that ASAP. Of course Shakespeare has clearly already been there, done that and usurped it for his own profit.
The movie actually features teens performing a play called A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Did Shakespeare not think it would perhaps be suspicious that he has a play named the exact same thing? Wild.
Why he would copy the play but ditch this musical number though I’ll never understand.
#7 Shakespeare In Love
Shakespeare in Love. This is where Will got really sloppy. It’s hard to imagine exactly how it all went down but it looks like he spotted something with the name ‘Shakespeare’ in the title and ego took over.
If you look over Shakespeare’s entire career, you can actually pinpoint all the times he ripped off this fantastic movie starring an effervescent Gwyneth Paltrow. He’s tried to be subtle by sprinkling pieces throughout his plays from Romeo and Juliet to Twelfth Night to As You Like it, but we see right through his flagrant theft.
This is not a conspiracy. This is a scam. Don’t be a victim to William Shakespeare’s con any longer.
Just open your eyes.