Sense and Sensibility 2026 Movie Review Trailer Poster

All great love stories hinge on a simple question: head or heart? It seems like a simple matter, though the path to finding the answer rarely is. This maddening dichotomy drives great love stories like *Brokeback Mountain*, *Titanic*, and *Romeo and Juliet*; the recurring theme is always the same: should we heed the logic of the mind or the passion of the soul?

Georgia Oakley is no stranger to period dramas, having written and directed the indie film *Blue Jean*—about a lesbian PE teacher hiding her sexuality in the 1980s—while Diana Reid (better known as a novelist than a screenwriter) has several books to her name, all centering on female characters facing pivotal life experiences, ranging from love and childhood trauma to the strained bonds of friendship and sisterhood. Given their shared penchant for female-centric storytelling, it comes as no surprise that this new adaptation of Jane Austen’s *Sense and Sensibility* highlights the original work’s strong female characters; and, even if it doesn't pass the Bechdel test, at its core, it is first and foremost a story about sisterhood.

Director: Georgia Oakley
Writers: Diana Reid, Jane Austen
Stars: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Esmé Creed-Miles, Caitríona Balfe

When Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret Dashwood discover that their late father’s estate will pass to their half-brother John—rather than to their newly widowed mother—they are relegated to the status of unwelcome guests in the house where they grew up, becoming virtual strangers in their own home. As John and his wife Fanny—a woman of little charity—settle into Norwood as the new owners, the Dashwood women begin to feel like unwanted furniture. However, with the arrival of Edward—Fanny’s brother, played by the extraordinarily versatile George MacKay—Elinor (brought to life by the equally fantastic Daisy Edgar-Jones) is instantly captivated. 

When Marianne, the second of the Dashwood sisters, falls for the rake and seducer Willoughby, a moving and often painful story unfolds about how the bonds of sisterhood endure in the face of the vicissitudes of love, desire, and heartbreak. The 19th and 20th centuries saw the emergence of a wealth of literature centered on restrained, reserved women, told from a female perspective. This could be viewed as an early form of women's liberation from the shackles of patriarchy. 

Elinor is a woman who operates within the confines of the expectations of her time; Daisy Edgar-Jones portrays her level-headedness, as well as her profound maturity and wisdom, with great poise. She serves as the perfect counterpoint to Marianne—played by Esmé Creed-Miles—who is far more impulsive and emotionally transparent, thereby embodying the second half of the work's title. Yet, throughout the film, we witness the risks inherent in both attitudes when taken to the extreme: excessive caution and reserve appear just as dangerous to the heart as unbridled idealism and absolute frankness.

The filmmakers' slight departure from the original work appears to be a deliberate creative choice intended to highlight the bond of sisterhood over each sister's individual pursuit of love; this gives the adaptation a sharper focus on a specific aspect of the original narrative, rather than attempting a faithful, step-by-step translation. Do not misunderstand me: the events of the film are essentially the same as those in the book, and—thanks in large part to magnificent performances—the movie successfully conveys every emotional nuance. It is hard not to see oneself reflected in the emotions a character conveys when on the verge of tears during a passionate speech about love.

It is worth noting that the shadow of Ang Lee’s 1995 adaptation looms over any subsequent version of *Sense and Sensibility*; while Oakley’s work holds its own, at times it feels like a made-for-TV movie. Perhaps this is due to the desaturated color palette (in contrast to the luminosity and "golden hour" tones of Ang Lee’s version), or maybe Georgia Oakley’s vision simply isn't strong enough to justify this particular film adaptation. In reality, the film’s strengths seem to stem more from the source material, the beautiful landscapes, and the two lead actresses than anything else. 

Overall, however, it is a genuinely endearing and big-hearted film, offering the kind of familiar warmth found in works like *Little Women* and *Steel Magnolias*. Credit is due to the filmmakers for creating a movie that is essentially suitable for all audiences (with a "U" or universal rating), as a story like this—which has endured for so many years—is, and should always be, universal.

Watch Sense and Sensibility 2026 Movie Trailer