British actor Stephen Fry stars in this biopic of the poet and playwright whose greatest downfall was himself. The movie brings Wilde's brilliant mind and tragic decline to life. Vanessa Redgrave stars as Wilde's flamboyant, domineering mother, and Jude Law is his love interest Bosie.
This is a film version of Wilde's haunting novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray. The plot is now a classic - a vain, amoral young man sells his soul in exchange for beauty, with chilling consequences. We think Wilde's suspenseful prose can't be beat, but if you really want to watch it onscreen try this film.
This social satire was one of Wilde's most successful plays. The movie adaptation features a cast of well-known actors (well, at least well-known in 1999) like Cate Blanchett, Minnie Driver and Rupert Everett. Watch if you like pretty costumes, English accents and Victorian-style intrigue.
This film is an adaptation of Lady Windermere's Fan, Wilde's first play. Thanks to the success of its 1892 run, Wilde was able to start a legitimate career as a playwright. It is a distinctly Victorian story about secret identity, scandal and the horror of the social faux pas. Scarlet Johansson stars as Meg Windermere.
This classic film is about the courtroom drama that led to Wilde's downfall. When Lord Queensberry made a rude comment about Wilde's sexuality, Wilde sued his lover's father for libel. The trial eventually turned around on Wilde, and he was arrested, convicted and imprisoned for "gross indecency." The proceedings are some of the most dramatic scenes to ever take place in a courtroom.
A television miniseries seems the perfect genre for Oscar Wilde's life. Where else could you adequately convey the drama and pathos of Wilde's rise and fall? This BBC miniseries from the 1980s does the job well.