On March 4, 1968, Romeo and Juliet premiered during the Royal Film Performance, and was widely released in the United Kingdom the next day. It was released on 8 October 1968 in the United States and on 19 October in Italy. The film earned $14.5 million in North American box-office rentals during 1969 (equivalent to $92.44 million in 2023).[14][15] It was re-released in 1973 and earned US$1.7 million in rentals (equivalent to $8.91 million in 2023).[16][15]
The Motion Picture Association of America initially gave the film a G rating in the United States when it was first released, although they re-rated it to a PG rating in its 1973 re-release.
Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a "Fresh" score of 95% based on 41 reviews, with an average rating of 8/10, accompanied by a positive consensus: "The solid leads and arresting visuals make a case for Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet as the definitive cinematic adaptation of the play."[17]
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote: "I believe Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet is the most exciting film of Shakespeare ever made."[18]
Awards and nominations
| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | Best Picture | John Brabourne and Anthony Havelock-Allan | Nominated |
| Best Director | Franco Zeffirelli | Nominated | |
| Best Cinematography | Pasqualino De Santis | Won | |
| Best Costume Design | Danilo Donati | Won | |
| British Academy Film Awards | Best Direction | Franco Zeffirelli | Nominated |
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role | John McEnery | Nominated | |
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Pat Heywood | Nominated | |
| Best Art Direction | Renzo Mongiardino | Nominated | |
| Best Costume Design | Danilo Donati | Won | |
| Best Film Editing | Reginald Mills | Nominated | |
| Best Film Music | Nino Rota | Nominated | |
| David di Donatello Awards | Best Director | Franco Zeffirelli | Won |
| Golden Plate Award | Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting | Won | |
| Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | Franco Zeffirelli | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best English-Language Foreign Film | Romeo and Juliet | Won |
| Best Director – Motion Picture | Franco Zeffirelli | Nominated | |
| Best Original Score – Motion Picture | Nino Rota | Nominated | |
| Most Promising Newcomer – Male | Leonard Whiting | Won | |
| Most Promising Newcomer – Female | Olivia Hussey | Won | |
| Laurel Awards | Top Drama | Romeo and Juliet | Nominated |
| Top Cinematographer | Pasqualino De Santis | Nominated | |
| Top Male New Face | Michael York | Nominated | |
| Top Female New Face | Olivia Hussey | Nominated | |
| Nastro d'Argento | Best Director | Franco Zeffirelli | Won |
| Best Cinematography – Color | Pasqualino De Santis | Won | |
| Best Costume Design | Danilo Donati | Won | |
| Best Score | Nino Rota | Won | |
| Best Production Design | Lorenzo Mongiardino | Won | |
| National Board of Review Awards | Top Ten Films | Romeo and Juliet | Won |
| Best Director | Franco Zeffirelli | Won | |
| Thessaloniki International Film Festival | Honorary Award | Won |
