Transporting me to England in the 1700s, the 2026 remake of “Sense and Sensibility” tells the story of two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, after the death of their father and loss of their generational wealth.
The movie opens directly on Marianne, laying in a field of grass, playing with a caterpillar as horse hooves sound in the background, bringing change into their estate. Beginning in Norland, their family’s passed down estate, Elinor, the older of the sisters, falls for Edward Ferrars, as her family is forced to move away.
In typical Jane Austen style, many tropes appear in this story that are similar to one of my favorites, the 2005 remake of “Pride and Prejudice.” Similarities such as picking between two pining men and making moves at a ball never fail to entertain me. Both movies contrast the differences and similarities between sisters; Elinor who has sense and tends to offer wisdom, while Marianne is more headstrong and opinionated.
While I understood the role of Elinor’s character was to be “sensible,” at times I found her a bit boring and wished that she would take more initiative in her life. Contrary to this however, Marianne’s spontaneity contributes to her hardships throughout, which was hard for me to relate to as an overthinker.
A notable factor of this film was the intricate settings throughout. From the purple flowers surrounding the pond at the Norland Estate to the greenery and ocean background near their cottage in Devonshire, I never felt that the characters were within a movie set.
Having seen the 1995 version of “Sense and Sensibility” prior to the 2026 remake,yet only vaguely remembering it, I will say that portions of the plot were highly predictable but that this version is still fully worth watching if you have seen the first. Differences in composition, casting and camera graininess were clear and make this watch worthwhile.
One of the reasons I love period dramas is the fact that their main focus in life typically seems simple, marriage. However, as these movies follow women in their pursuit for this, it reveals universal truths about love and the concept of being chosen. While today, many of the tactics of chasing men would be frowned upon, there is something relatable and unifying about girls gathering and supporting each other in sight of finding love. It is as though in looking for love, they also find that in one another.
Not only did this film have depth but it was genuinely funny and I did not expect the amount of times I laughed out loud. Although the accents made me wish there were subtitles during certain portions, I think that not fully understanding everything is a compelling part of watching movies like this one.
Overall, I enjoyed every aspect of this movie and found it peaceful yet moving to watch. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a wholesome watch and will be adding it to my list of favorites.
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