It’s Valentine’s Day and love is in the air. What better way to celebrate than taking a look at the best adaptation of one of the most tragic love stories ever written: William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet.

Being a teenager in the late 90s, there is no way you’ll ever convince me (or other teen girls from this era), that the 1996 Romeo + Juliet movie isn’t the best adaptation of this tale of star-crossed lovers.

There were so many things happening in the lives of teenage girls in the 90s. Crop tops and baggy jeans. Chokers and butterfly hair clips. And let’s not forget alternative grunge rock and the classic heartthrobs being thrown at us from every direction.

When the movie trailer first came out for Romeo + Juliet in 1996, my girlfriends and I instantly had tickets to see the movie and had our parents drop us off out front of the movie theater so we could go swoon over one of the many teen heartthrobs at the time, Leonardo DiCaprio. We hadn’t seen this kid since What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. Say what??! Now we’re into this guy? And he’s starring in an adaptation of the very play we are studying in our school’s drama class right now? You had our undivided attention.

So not only do you have a perfect blend of modern times, albeit pretty gangster, and the language of Shakespearean English, you also had a sensational cast. Which today, is far more impressive than it was back then. Especially since Paul Rudd doesn’t age.

Yes, Paul Rudd was also in this movie, as Dave (Count) Paris. Then there were the stars, Leo DiCaprio as Romeo and Claire Danes as Juliet.

There was also Harold Perrineau as Mercutio. Such a fun, vibrant character! Could have easily stolen the movie.

But then of course, John Leguizamo as Tybalt. He hands down made this film as criminal as it was.

Then you had the soundtrack, which this thing… I remember listening to this CD on repeat at sleepovers with my girlfriends. Pretty sure we choreographed dances to some of the songs too. Definitely “Lovefool” by The Cardigans. That happened. The soundtrack was so 90s but so fun listening to even today. Although it’s hard to find an official soundtrack nowadays, you can find several user-generated playlists on Spotify and YouTube.

There were also mainstream bands like Garbage, Radiohead, and Everclear who all appeared on the soundtrack. But you mustn’t miss the small tribute to Prince. “When Doves Cry” made a cameo in the movie, sung by the late Quindon Tarver (who also appears in the movie a few times as a church choir boy).

The 1996 adaptation of William Shakespeare’s tale of star-crossed lovers will forever be known as a classic, and the best telling of this timeless tragedy. Right now it’s available to stream on Prime Video (purchase) or Hulu.

Now that I have officially teen-fangirled out on the greatness which is Romeo + Juliet, I wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day!