Emma

Emma Woodhouse is a bright and confident young woman who loves playing matchmaker in a small community. She takes delight in arranging romances, often pairing people who aren’t right for each other and watching the results unfold. Although she treats romance as a puzzle to solve, she misses what matters most about her own feelings and the honest bond she shares with Mr. Knightley. The film follows her social circle through gatherings, conversations, and delicate misread signals, showing how good intentions can misfire and how clever notes of humor illuminate character. There are no big shocks, only a steady accumulation of social wit and quiet heart. The story unfolds in social threads rather than a single plotline.

Directed by Diarmuid Lawrence, this 1996 adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma was written for the screen by Andrew Davies. Kate Beckinsale stars as Emma, with Mark Strong as Mr Knightley, Samantha Morton as Harriet, and Olivia Williams as Jane Fairfax. The project was produced to bring Austen to television with a poised, readable pace.

Critics welcomed the adaptation for its crisp dialogue, lively performances, and light touch with social satire. The film probes Emma's self confidence, her misread signals, and the evolving bond with Knightley, balancing humor with an affectionate portrait of class, manners, and growing maturity, and a steady sense of humor.

Among Austen fans this version is remembered for Kate Beckinsale's early screen presence and the way it brought a classic to television with a modern energy. It helped sustain interest in Austen adaptations during the 1990s and reinforced that period drama can feel contemporary.

Box office data is not publicly reported for this television film. Released to television audiences in 1996, its impact is measured through viewership and critical response rather than grosses, with repeats and home video extending its reach.