William Shakespeare's 450th birthday: 10 films you never knew were based on his plays

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Today is the 450th anniversary of William Shakespeare's birth and celebrations are taking place around the world.

But if attending one of his plays or visiting Stratford-upon-Avon is a step too far for you, there are always the films based loosely on his work (see below).

While many of us know and love Shakespeare's canon, others are less keen on the likes of King Lear and Henry V.

What a lot of movie fans don't know is that some of their favourite films are directly inspired by Shakespeare's famous plays.

Simba's character in Disney's The Lion King bears strong similarities to Hamlet, while Heath Ledger in 10 Things I Hate About You has more than a hint of The Taming of the Shrew's Petruchio about him.

Predictably, Romeo and Juliet has been adapted numerous times for the big screen, but who knew Shakespeare's tragic tale of star-crossed lovers would morph into a romantic zombie flick?

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WILLIAM SHAKESPARE: WALK STRATFORD-UPON-AVON TO THE GLOBE