The play concerns a trusted general who secretly lusts for power. Encouraged by the prophecies of three witches and urged on by his ambitious wife Macbeth commits regicide. Left fearful and superstitious by this desperate act he is driven to a spiralling course of murder and outrage, almost inevitably culminating in his own death. One of Shakespeare’s most popular tragedies, Macbeth is ostensibly based on the Scottish king although the story represented in the play bears no relation to historical fact as the true King Macbeth was well respected by his contemporaries. This book includes the hero Macbeth becoming more and more evil after he gets told his "destiny" by the witches and becomes greedy with power.
Adaptations (24)
Macbeth has been adapted 24 times, across film and television film, from 1909 to 2021. The most recent is The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021).
Macbeth1909 · film · dir. Mario Caserini · IMDb ↗IMDb4.8The play opens with the scene on the wild heath where the three witches appear to Macbeth and Banquo, as they are returning from their victorious battle with the rebels. They predict the kingship of Macbeth with the words, "All Hail, King, that shall be hereafter."
- Macbeth1913 · film · 50 min · dir. Arthur Bourchier · IMDb ↗
An lost adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth.
Macbeth1916 · film · 80 min · dir. John Emerson · IMDb ↗IMDb6.7Shakespeare's tragedy of the Scots nobleman whose ambition leads him to betrayal, murder, and damnation.
- Macbeth1922 · film · dir. Harry B. Parkinson · IMDb ↗
Macbeth is a black and white 1922 film adaptation of the William Shakespeare play Macbeth. It was the last silent film version of that play produced, and the eighth film adaptation of the play. It was directed by H. B. Parkinson and produced by Frank Miller.
Macbeth1948 · film · 107 min · dir. Orson Welles · IMDb ↗IMDb7.486%Macbeth, the Thane of Glamis, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth commits a treasonous act and takes the throne for himself.
Throne of Blood1957 · film · 110 min · dir. Akira Kurosawa · IMDb ↗IMDb8.096%Returning to their lord's castle, samurai warriors Washizu and Miki are waylaid by a spirit who predicts their futures. When the first part of the spirit's prophecy comes true, Washizu's scheming wife, Asaji, presses him to speed up the rest of the spirit's prophecy by murdering his lord and usurping his place. Director Akira Kurosawa's resetting of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" in feudal Japan is one of his most acclaimed films.
Macbeth1960 · film · 90 min · dir. William Sterling · IMDb ↗Three witches tell the Scottish general Macbeth that he will be King of Scotland. Encouraged by his wife, Macbeth kills the king, becomes the new king. Civil war erupts to overthrow Macbeth, resulting in more death.
- Macbeth1960 · television film · 108 min · dir. George Schaefer · IMDb ↗IMDb8.5
Hallmark Hall of Fame's second version of Shakespeare's classic play, with the same two stars and the same director as its first version, but a different supporting cast.
Macbeth1961 · television film · 85 min · dir. Paul Almond · IMDb ↗IMDb5.9This is a very theatrical version, full of sound & fury, histrionics and big arm movements. Cynical audiences might not buy into it, but if you were to go back to the early 1600s this is probably the way you'd see it. The plot of Macbeth, if you were snoozing during high school English class, is about an 11th century Scottish warrior who hatches a dubious plan to steal the throne. Spurred on by his wife Lady Macbeth, who wears the pants in the household, he finds himself swiftly slipping down the path of evil.
- Macbeth1965 · film · 90 min · dir. Alan Burke · IMDb ↗
Another take on the 1960 version, with a different production team and some of the same cast.
Macbeth1971 · film · 140 min · dir. Roman Polanski · IMDb ↗IMDb7.478%Scotland, 11th century. Driven by the twisted prophecy of three witches and the ruthless ambition of his wife, warlord Macbeth, bold and brave, but also weak and hesitant, betrays his good king and his brothers in arms and sinks into the bloody mud of a path with no return, sown with crime and suspicion.
Macbeth1979 · television film · 145 min · dir. Philip Casson, Trevor Nunn · IMDb ↗IMDb7.6Macbeth is a 1978 videotaped version of Trevor Nunn's Royal Shakespeare Company production of the play by William Shakespeare. Produced by Thames Television, it features Ian McKellen as Macbeth and Judi Dench as Lady Macbeth. The TV version was directed by Philip Casson. The original stage production was performed at The Other Place, the RSC's small studio theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. It had been performed in the round before small audiences, with a bare stage and simple costuming. The recording preserves this style: the actors perform on a circular set and with a mostly black background changes of setting are indicated only by lighting changes.
- Macbeth1981 · television film · 148 min · dir. Kirk Browning · IMDb ↗IMDb6.4
A ruthlessly ambitious Scottish laird seizes the throne with the help of his scheming wife and a trio of witches.
Macbeth1982 · television film · 62 min · dir. Béla Tarr · IMDb ↗IMDb6.4Consistent of only two long shots, three witches predict that Macbeth will ascend to the throne of Scotland. To fulfill this prophecy, Lady Macbeth convinces her husband to murder King Duncan, who has come to spend the night at their home. This crime plunges the new ruler into a macabre spiral that will lead him to sink into guilt and madness.
Macbeth1987 · film · 66 min · dir. Pauli Pentti · IMDb ↗IMDb5.5A Finnish film version of Macbeth. Macbeth, the Thane of Glamis, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself.
Men of Respect1990 · film · 113 min · dir. William Reilly · IMDb ↗IMDb5.6In this modern day version of Shakespeare's Macbeth, a hitman heeds a spiritualist's prophesies that he will rise to the head of his family. He starts his ascension by clandestinely executing the heads of the family and casting the blame on others. However, with power comes consequences that are also predicted by the seer.
Macbeth2004 · film · 104 min · dir. Bo Landin, Alex Scherpf · IMDb ↗IMDb6.0Macbeth, the Thane of Glamis, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself.
Macbeth2006 · film · 109 min · dir. Geoffrey Wright · IMDb ↗Macbeth, loyal to his crime boss, Duncan, is told by witches that he will one day take over. Driven by their prophecy, he and his wife plot to kill Duncan, and takes the leadership of the gang for himself. Maintaining his power will require more murder and violence, finally driving his surviving enemies to unite and destroy him. A sexy, high octane retelling of this classic story.
Macbeth2015 · film · 113 min · dir. Justin Kurzel · IMDb ↗Feature film adaptation of Shakespeare's Scottish play about General Macbeth whose ambitious wife urges him to use wicked means in order to gain power of the throne over the sitting king, Duncan.
Veeram2016 · film · 100 min · dir. Jayaraj · IMDb ↗IMDb6.3Veeram is based on the ballads of North Malabar and narrates the tale of the brave and ambitious Kalarippayattu warrior, Chandu, whose story resembles that of William Shakespeare's Macbeth.
The Tragedy of Macbeth2021 · film · 105 min · dir. Joel Coen · IMDb ↗Macbeth, the Thane of Glamis, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself.
