10 Great Films About Forbidden Love

10. Romeo + Juliet (1996)

There have been many brilliant cinematic renditions of Shakespeare's most recognisable play, from the excellent faithfulness of Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 classic, to the inspired musical West Side Story (1961). But no adaptation is as equally faithful and innovative as Baz Luhrmann's 1996 modern-day tragedy.

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes as the star-crossed lovers, Romeo + Juliet tackles the Capulet-Montague feud almost as a gang war, fuelled by generational hatred. Amongst the friction, Romeo and Juliet fall in love, initially unaware of their family roots, and upon recognising their feelings for each other find their lives thrown into turmoil.

With an incredibly stylish aesthetic, vibrant action sequences and classic Shakespearian dialogue set against a modern backdrop, Luhrmann's adaptation of Shakespeare's play is a fast-paced, beautiful tale of forbidden love and the tragedies that come with it.

Some liberties may be taken with character and tone, but all told Romeo + Juliet is one of the most unique and heart wrenching interpretations of a story that has been maddeningly overdone through the years.