'Masterpiece' Jane Austen drama 'better than the book' on BBC for one day only

Fans of period dramas and Jane Austen classics are urged to clear their diaries as a "simply excellent" Austen reimagining is airing for free. Pride & Prejudice is one of Austen's most talked-about novels and the 1813 masterpiece has been adapted numerous times. The story follows the turbulent relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy and the consequences of hasty judgments.

In 2005, a period romance film starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen in the lead roles was released and it received widespread critical acclaim from viewers at home. The 2005 Pride & Prejudice film is being broadcast on BBC Two this Sunday, July 12, having recently left Netflix.

Screenwriter Deborah Moggach spent more than two years writing the script, producing around 10 different drafts.

Actress Knightley also revealed on The Graham Norton Show that she had not been an obvious choice for the lead role, as director Joe Wright thought she was "too pretty".

Despite a lot of uncertainties around the film and some backlash from critics, Austen fans hailed it one of the best adaptations to date.

In July 2025, the film featured in the Readers' Choice edition of The New York Times' list of The 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century.

Fans took to IMDb reviews to share their thoughts, with one hailing it an "emotional masterpiece", explaining: "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. Everything about the movie was perfect.

"This movie is a work of art, an emotional masterpiece. Watching this movie was actually a life-changing experience."

Another viewer called it "absolutely perfect", sharing: "This Pride and Prejudice adaptation perfectly captured the wit, the intelligence, the passion and the romance of Jane Austen's classic.

"The 1995 mini is fabulous, and I have watched it many times, but I have always been frustrated that while it got so much of the dialogue and the detail right, it somehow fell flat on some of the more subtle dynamics of the novel. But this movie adaptation has captured what has before been missing!"

A final fan called it "simply excellent", sharing: "Loved this movie. It's simplicity that empowered every possibility for imagination. The music, the natural scenes, the arts, and every honest soul in the movie made this film alive."

Pride & Prejudice is being broadcast on BBC Two this Sunday, July 12, at 4.25pm