33 years later, Denzel still shines in this star-studded Shakespeare adaptation — and you can stream it for free right now

The Denzel Watchathon is going back in time this week, with a romantic comedy that would seem outside the legendary actor's wheelhouse to the untrained eye. That's because this week, I'm revisiting "Much Ado About Nothing," a 1993 Shakespeare adaptation, complete with period-appropriate costumes and Elizabethan dialogue.

If you were only to look through Denzel's filmography, a Shakespearean romantic comedy would certainly feel out of place. The closest he's come to doing a romantic comedy is probably "Mississippi Masala," which is definitely a romance drama. In fact, a lack of romantic lead roles is a glaring hole in his resume that Washington has even commented on.

In a "60 Minutes" interview from 2000 that didn't air until 2024, Washington declared that this didn't bother him, but that it likely came down to Hollywood executives not wanting to offer up romantic roles to Black actors in mainstream romance movies (h/t IndieWire). To support that point, it's worth noting that in "Much Ado About Nothing," Kenneth Branagh and Robert Sean Leonard both get to turn on their romantic charms, while Denzel is relegated to being a matchmaker for his two compatriots.

But while romantic roles are outside the norm for Denzel, Shakespeare is something the actor is quite familiar with. A Tony-winning stage actor, he's performed in several productions of Shakespeare's work, starting with Coriolanus in 1979. Nearly half of his theatrical resume is Shakespeare performances. He doesn't limit retelling the Bard's work to the stage either; in 2021, he was nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal of Lord Macbeth in Joel Coen's "The Tragedy of Macbeth."

In short, we shouldn't be shocked to see Denzel in a period-accurate Shakespearean adaptation. In fact, I'd bet anything his stage-acting skills are what got him the role as much as his star power.

If you want to watch this movie before you read on, I have great news. "Much Ado About Nothing" is streaming on several of the best free streaming services. I streamed it on Pluto TV, but you can also watch it on Tubi or The Roku Channel. No need to pay a penny to watch this movie.

Malcolm McMillan

Malcolm has been with the Streaming team at Tom's Guide since 2023, reviewing dozens of movies each year so you don't have to watch the bad ones.

Denzel shines while surrounded by familiar faces in this Shakespeare adaptation

If you are new to this ongoing series, I'm currently going through every one of Denzel's 52 movies in his filmography, one per week, throughout 2026. I'm starting with 1981's "Carbon Copy" and ending with last year's "Highest 2 Lowest." I've already seen 12 of the 52 movies before viewing "Much Ado About Nothing," and there's one thing that you can't help but notice when watching this film: it's the most star power surrounding Denzel up to this point in his career.

That's not to say Denzel hasn't been in a big ensemble before. In "Glory," he's alongside Matthew Broderick, Cary Elwes, Andre Braugher and the legendary Morgan Freeman. But even with Freeman in that cast, it's nothing compared to this rom-com, which stars Sir Kenneth Branagh, Dame Emma Thompson, Michael Keaton, Keanu Reeves, Kate Beckinsale and Robert Sean Leonard alongside Washington. That's two people knighted because they're so good at acting, as well as Batman, John Wick, the lead of the "Underworld" franchise and the second male lead in "House." That's about as loaded a cast as you can get.

And yet, Denzel still shines through. While his Don Pedro is arguably the third-most prominent male character in this film, his performance instantly stands out. Branagh and Thompson both benefit from getting the better lines, and their chemistry and wit are undeniable. But Denzel is so smooth as the bachelor Prince of Aragon. The dialogue and performance feel effortless, especially when juxtaposed against Robert Sean Leonard, who at times feels like he's struggling through his lines.

Verdict: If you can handle Shakespeare, this movie is a delightful rom-com

Much Ado About Nothing (1993) | Official Trailer | MGM Studios - YouTube

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I'll freely admit that, if you don't like Shakespeare, "Much Ado About Nothing" probably isn't going to ado much for you. Especially given that the first act of the story is a bit of a slog, and the Elizabethan dialogue that Branagh opts for in this movie is at its most dense and unengaging.

But if you can get through to the courtship of Benedick (Branagh) and Beatrice (Thompson), digesting the Bard's dialogue shifts from arduous to enjoyable.

Then, when the drama arrives to derail Claudio (Robert Sean Leonard) and Hero's (Beckinsale) impending marriage, you're rewarded with a truly unhinged performance by Keaton as the local constable, Dogberry. It's a performance that was disliked at the time, but I firmly place it in the camp of being so bad it's actually good. I couldn't stop laughing at the over-the-top acting choices he made. If that sounds like your idea of a fun time, then this movie is a no-brainer to stream while it's available on numerous free streaming services.

Stream "Much Ado About Nothing" for free on Pluto TV

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