Editing Romeo and Juliet (1968 film) (section)

== Release and reception ==
[[File:Romeo and Juliet ad - 11 October 1968.jpg|thumb|upright|U.S. theatrical advertisement, 1968]]
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 ${{Inflation|US-GDP|14.5|1969|r=2}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}).<ref>"Big Rental Films of 1969", ''Variety'', 7 January 1970 p 15</ref>{{Inflation-fn|US-GDP|group-nb}} It was re-released in 1973 and earned US$1.7 million in rentals (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US-GDP|1.7|1973|r=2}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}).<ref>"Big Rental Films of 1973", ''Variety'', 9 January 1974 p 60</ref>{{Inflation-fn|US-GDP|group-nb}}

The [[Motion Picture Association|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.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

[[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."<ref>{{cite web|title=Romeo and Juliet (1968)|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1017834-romeo_and_juliet/|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=28 February 2023|archive-date=5 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205081920/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1017834-romeo_and_juliet|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[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."<ref name="Ebert">{{cite news|last=Ebert|first=Roger|author-link=Roger Ebert|title=Romeo and Juliet|url=http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/romeo-and-juliet-1968|newspaper=[[The Chicago Sun-Times]]|date=1968-10-15|access-date=2014-01-17|via=[[RogerEbert.com]]|archive-date=13 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713085443/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/romeo-and-juliet-1968|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Awards and nominations===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Award
! Category
! Nominee(s)
! Result
|-
| rowspan="4"| [[41st Academy Awards|Academy Awards]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]]
| [[John Brabourne]] and [[Anthony Havelock-Allan]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| [[Franco Zeffirelli]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]]
| [[Pasqualino De Santis]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]]
| [[Danilo Donati]]
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="7"| [[22nd British Academy Film Awards|British Academy Film Awards]]
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Direction|Best Direction]]
| Franco Zeffirelli
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role|Best Actor in a Supporting Role]]
| [[John McEnery]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role|Best Actress in a Supporting Role]]
| [[Pat Heywood]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Production Design|Best Art Direction]]
| [[Renzo Mongiardino]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]]
| Danilo Donati
| {{won}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Editing|Best Film Editing]]
| [[Reginald Mills]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Original Music|Best Film Music]]
| Nino Rota
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[David di Donatello|David di Donatello Awards]]
| [[David di Donatello for Best Director|Best Director]]
| Franco Zeffirelli
| {{won}}
|-
| Golden Plate Award
| [[Olivia Hussey]] and [[Leonard Whiting]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[21st Directors Guild of America Awards|Directors Guild of America Awards]]
| [[Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film|Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures]]
| Franco Zeffirelli
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="5"| [[26th Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Awards]]
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best English-Language Foreign Film|Best English-Language Foreign Film]]
| ''Romeo and Juliet''
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Director|Best Director – Motion Picture]]
| Franco Zeffirelli
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score – Motion Picture]]
| Nino Rota
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor|Most Promising Newcomer – Male]]
| Leonard Whiting
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress|Most Promising Newcomer – Female]]
| Olivia Hussey
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="4"| [[Laurel Awards]]
| Top Drama
| ''Romeo and Juliet''
| {{nom}}
|-
| Top Cinematographer
| Pasqualino De Santis
| {{nom}}
|-
| Top Male New Face
| [[Michael York]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Top Female New Face
| Olivia Hussey
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="5"| [[Nastro d'Argento]]
| [[Nastro d'Argento for Best Director|Best Director]]
| Franco Zeffirelli
| {{won}}
|-
| Best Cinematography – Color
| Pasqualino De Santis
| {{won}}
|-
| Best Costume Design
| Danilo Donati
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Nastro d'Argento for Best Score|Best Score]]
| Nino Rota
| {{won}}
|-
| Best Production Design
| [[Lorenzo Mongiardino]]
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[National Board of Review Awards 1968|National Board of Review Awards]]
| [[National Board of Review: Top Ten Films|Top Ten Films]]
| ''Romeo and Juliet''
| {{won}}
|-
| [[National Board of Review Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| rowspan="2"| Franco Zeffirelli
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Thessaloniki International Film Festival]]
| Honorary Award
| {{won}}
|}

===Lawsuit===
Despite her previous defense of the film's [[nudity]], asserting that it was done "tastefully" and was "needed for the film",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/romeo-and-juliet-child-abuse-nude-scene-lawsuit-1235477837/|title='Romeo and Juliet' Stars Sue Paramount for Child Abuse Over Nude Scene in 1968 Film|work=Variety|first=Gene|last=Maddaus|date=3 January 2023|access-date=23 January 2023|archive-date=3 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103235234/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/romeo-and-juliet-child-abuse-nude-scene-lawsuit-1235477837/|url-status=live}}</ref> Hussey, along with Whiting, filed a lawsuit on 3 January 2023 in the Los Angeles County Superior Court against Paramount Pictures for US$500 million, alleging sexual abuse, sexual harassment and fraud, and for allowing Zeffirelli to film them in the nude without their knowledge.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Romeo And Juliet Lawsuit: Judge Rules Nude Scene Not Classified As Child Pornography |url=https://www.kcgmckarnal.org/romeo-and-juliet-lawsuit-judge-rules-nude-scene-not-classified-as-child-pornography/ |date=May 27, 2023 |work=[[Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College]] |language=en |access-date=27 May 2023 |archive-date=27 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527065713/https://www.kcgmckarnal.org/romeo-and-juliet-lawsuit-judge-rules-nude-scene-not-classified-as-child-pornography/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The suit alleges that the actors feel this caused them to suffer through emotional damage and mental anguish for decades after the film's success, and left them with careers that failed to reflect that success.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-10-09|title=Archive footage of the filming in Tuscania|url=https://romeo-juliet-1968.com/archive-footage-of-the-filming-in-tuscania/|access-date=2023-01-04|website=The Romeo and Juliet 1968 Movie Database|language=en-US|archive-date=4 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104194344/https://romeo-juliet-1968.com/archive-footage-of-the-filming-in-tuscania/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-movies-franco-zeffirelli-lawsuits-legal-proceedings-f62cad4b78eec5d0486eef8a20ce35d5| title='Romeo & Juliet' stars sue over 1968 film's teen nude scene|first=Andrew|last=Dalton|date=3 January 2023|url-status=live| website=AP News| archive-date=4 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104015511/https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-movies-franco-zeffirelli-lawsuits-legal-proceedings-f62cad4b78eec5d0486eef8a20ce35d5}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/01/sexual-abuse-lawsuit-paramount-romeo-amp-juliet-stars-movie-1235210875/|title=Paramount Hit With $100M Sexual Abuse Suit By Stars Of 1968's 'Romeo & Juliet' Movie|work=Deadline Hollywood|first=Dominic|last=Patten|date=3 January 2023|access-date=4 January 2023|archive-date=4 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104015517/https://deadline.com/2023/01/sexual-abuse-lawsuit-paramount-romeo-amp-juliet-stars-movie-1235210875/|url-status=live}}</ref> Zeffirelli's son responded to the lawsuit critically, calling it "embarrassing" that Hussey and Whiting filed the suit "55 years after filming" and that they owe their entire careers to the success of the film.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://screenrant.com/romeo-juliet-sexual-abuse-lawsuit-director-son-response/ | title=Romeo and Juliet Director's Son Slams Actors' Sexual Abuse Lawsuit | website=[[Screen Rant]] | date=8 January 2023 | access-date=3 March 2023 | archive-date=3 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230303215357/https://screenrant.com/romeo-juliet-sexual-abuse-lawsuit-director-son-response/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2023/jan/06/franco-zeffirelli-son-criticises-romeo-juliet-actors-olivia-hussey-leonard-whiting-nudity-lawsuit | title=Franco Zeffirelli's son criticises Romeo and Juliet actors for nudity lawsuit | newspaper=The Guardian | date=6 January 2023 | last1=Giuffrida | first1=Angela | access-date=3 March 2023 | archive-date=3 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230303215355/https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2023/jan/06/franco-zeffirelli-son-criticises-romeo-juliet-actors-olivia-hussey-leonard-whiting-nudity-lawsuit | url-status=live }}</ref>

The lawsuit was later dismissed on 25 May 2023, by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Alison Mackenzie, who stated that the case did not meet the requirements for suspending the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse. Mackenzie also criticized the plaintiffs for "cherry picking" which statutes applied to their case.<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526143749/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-65725714|archivedate=May 26, 2023|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-65725714|title=Actors lose Romeo & Juliet nude scene lawsuit|work=BBC News|date=May 26, 2023|accessdate=June 2, 2023}}</ref> Hussey and Whiting are allegedly planning to appeal the ruling, as well as file a separate lawsuit based on a much more "recent [[The Criterion Collection|Criterion]] DVD release of the film which would not be affected by the statute of limitations."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/may/25/romeo-juliet-movie-franco-zeffirelli-child-abuse-lawsuit|title=Romeo and Juliet movie child abuse lawsuit to be thrown out by judge|author=Benjamin Lee|work=The Guardian|date=May 25, 2023|accessdate=June 2, 2023|archive-date=2 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602143317/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/may/25/romeo-juliet-movie-franco-zeffirelli-child-abuse-lawsuit|url-status=live}}</ref>

A second lawsuit was dismissed on 21 October 2024, by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Holly J. Fujie, in which Hussey and Whiting claimed that the Criterion physical media release triggered a new statute of limitations. The new lawsuit was filed under state and federal laws intended to combat "revenge pornography", which prohibit non-consensual distribution of intimate images. Judge Fujie stated in full, "A comparison of the 2023 release with the prior versions shows no significant visible improvement in the film, particularly in the bedroom scene, to the naked eye. Even in the absence of express consent, however, Plaintiffs' subsequent conduct in the decades that followed since the film's original 1968 release speaks to Plaintiffs' implied ratification and approval of the film, including the bedroom scene. This includes, among others, appearances and statements made by Plaintiffs during interviews and attendance at film festivals, during which Plaintiffs did not object to the continuing release and distribution of the successive releases of the film."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maddaus |first=Gene |date=2024-10-21 |title=Judge Again Dismisses ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Lawsuit Over Underage Nude Scene |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/romeo-juliet-lawsuit-dismissed-again-olivia-hussey-leonard-whiting-1236184850/ |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>