“Sense and Sensibility,” the highly anticipated remake of the 1811 Jane Austen novel, was released in the United States on Oct.16, 2026. The romance film is Hollywood’s latest book-to-film adaptation. 

The 2-hour, 12-minute film fully immerses the audience into the time period and tells a story of love, sisterhood and heartbreak.  

The two main protagonists of the film are sisters, Elinor Dashwood (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Marianne Dashwood (Esmé Creed-Miles). The film follows their respective journeys in love and life after the passage of their father. Elinor and Marianne’s sisterhood is clearly cultivated in their home by their mother Mrs. Dashwood (Caitriona Balfe), alongside their younger sister Margaret Dashwood (Bodhi Rae Breathnach), and throughout the film, their relationship and support of one another is a beautiful thing to witness. 

The filmography and soundtrack for the film accompanied the star-studded cast extremely well, setting the scene visually and sonically. Each big moment was accompanied by perfectly curated music, and the imagery and scenery were complimentary to the time period that was portrayed. 

The film begins with the audience finding out that the Dashwood women were left very little by their late father, and their family home is to be given to their relatives. Hope seems lost for the Dashwoods, and the dismissive attitude from the incoming family creates a truly solemn feeling.  

However, the hope of the audience is revived when Edward Ferrars (George MacKay) is introduced as a housemate while the Dashwoods are moving out of their home, and their relatives are moving in. The chemistry between him and Elinor is immediately recognizable, perfectly encompassing a sweet and heartwarming friends-to-lovers arc. However, when Ferrars and Dashwood fail to confess their feelings when the Dashwoods are moving to live in the country, their future is left up in the air, and the audience is left feeling like they should shout at Ferrars to go after Elinor.  

When the Dashwoods move to the country alongside their family friend Mrs. Jennings (Fiona Shaw), Marianne has already been introduced to one of her two love interests. As the more free-spirited sister, she has a run-in with Mrs. Jennings’ close acquaintance, Colonel Brandon (Herbert Nordrum), in which he almost runs her over while riding horseback. There is clear interest between the two; however, Marianne has clear ideas about how interesting and similar her partner should be, and given that Colonel Brandon is a more brooding, quiet type, it’s clear that this romance is not something she is interested in.  

Marianne is eventually introduced to John Willoughby (Frank Dillane), who seemingly checks all of Marianne’s boxes (in terms of requirements for her perfect husband). From there, their romance grows and seems to be headed toward marriage.  

The film takes a turn when both Marianne and Elinor find that their loves are in London. Mrs. Jennings generously offers to sponsor their trip to stay in London for the winter social season.  

Both Marianne and Elinor are left feeling hopeless after their trips to London, when both love stories are at a crossroads that seem to have no resolution for either character. The stress and extreme emotions from the sisters’ heartbreaks take their toll, and both are left inconsolable. One is left feeling betrayed and the other with her love betrothed to another. 

A turn for the worse happens within the story, where the Dashwoods are left with a situation much more dire than a broken heart.  

Towards the end of the film, there are some scenes that any romance lover would enjoy and personally motivate me to put the movie into the category of legendary romance period-piece shows like “Bridgerton” and the 2005 adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice.” There are devastating love confessions, jealous suitors dueling over a common love, and, of course, yearning to the highest degree.  

While “Sense and Sensibility” is what many would consider a romance film for any of the above reasons, the film also showcases a beautiful sisterhood between Marianne and Elinor. While they can get under each other’s skin the most and know how to truly hurt one another, they also deeply love and understand each other. After all, according to the Jane Austen House, the novel was originally called “Elinor & Marianne.” 

Between Marianne’s budding love triangle between an unlikely suitor and her so-called love of her life, Elinor’s doomed star-crossed lovers’ trope, and their close sisterly bond throughout the entirety of the film, “Sense and Sensibility” solidified itself as a must-watch this year.  

Overall, “Sense and Sensibility” exceeded expectations for someone who had never read the novel but is a lover of period pieces.