Did The Tragedy of Julius Caesar leave you thinking about Ancient Rome long after the final scene? If you’re eager to spend a little more time in the world of Caesar, Brutus, and Antony, here are some of our favorite film adaptations—and works inspired by Shakespeare’s play. It’s fascinating to see how each interpretation brings its own perspective while remaining rooted in one of history’s most enduring stories.

1. Julius Caesar (1953)

For a modern yet structurally accurate take on Shakespeare’s work, look no further than this Academy Award-winning adaptation starring Marlon Brando and James Mason as Marc Antony and Brutus, respectively. Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, the film is praised by critics for maintaining an aesthetic that feels authentic to Caesar’s Roman Republic, despite being a large-scale Hollywood production. From the costume and set design to the veteran classical theatre actors featured in the cast, Mankiewicz’s adaptation is considered by many to be the most faithful film adaptation of Julius Caesar to date. It is available to stream on Apple TV and Amazon Prime.

2. The Ides of March (2011)

Stephen Miller (Ryan Gosling) is a campaign staffer for presidential candidate Mike Morris (George Clooney), who is faced with the choice of whether to take a job with rival candidate Ted Pullman after learning some incriminating information on Morris. Betrayal, scandal, and corruption are at the forefront of this film, whose title is an explicit reference to the eerie warning issued to Caesar shortly before his assasination by his supposed allies. The Ides of March is available to stream on Apple TV and Amazon Prime, as well as YouTube.

3. Caesar (1937, Mercury Theatre)

In case The Bard’s own words weren’t enough, the visuals of this theatrical adaptation by Orson Welles will surely get you thinking about the political themes in Julius Caesar as they relate to our more recent history. The play was the first production by the Mercury Theatre in New York City. Intended to be a direct warning against European fascism, productions of Welles’ Caesar featured a set meant to imitate the setting of the Nazis’ Nuremberg Rallies, as well as costumes styled after the uniforms of fascist Italian officials such as Benito Mussolini. Audio recordings of Caesar can be accessed through the Internet Archive.

4. Mean Girls (2004)

Miniskirts, Burn Books, Louis Vuitton—what’s more Shakespearian than that? On a serious note, though, Mean Girls is essentially a retelling of the plot of Julius Caesar set in a 21st-century high school, featuring teenage girls in place of politicians. Cady (or Brutus, perhaps?) is chosen by Janis (Cassius) to infiltrate The Plastics and topple Regina George’s “mean girl” dynasty by befriending and ultimately betraying Regina George (or Julius Caesar). Who knew that there was such insightful political commentary underneath all the ruthless high-school drama of your favorite comfort movie? Mean Girls is available for streaming on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Paramount+.

5. Caesar Must Die (2012)

This Italian documentary examines the profound impact that engaging with Shakespeare can have on anyone, including convicted felons. It follows inmates in an Italian prison who put on a production of Julius Caesar. Throughout rehearsals and character studies, the inmates begin to recognize the ways in which they are similar to their characters and how the play’s messages about justice and guilt allow them to better understand the course of their own lives. The inmates’ lived experiences translate into a beautifully honest performance that yields triumphant applause before they return to their normal lives. Caesar Must Die is available on Apple TV.