It can be a real drag to read Shakespeare sometimes, even if you like to sit down with a good book. Well, fear not my friends, for this is the only time I'll ever invite you to watch the movie instead of reading the book! But wait, it's not just a movie with actors reading those flowery lines. These are movies with words you can understand! So, let's get right to it, and jump into seven movies you might not even know are Shakespeare.

1. Gnomeo and Juliet (2011)

I'll admit it, I instantly felt everyone's eyes go up. This just looked like another disastrous animated version of the classic "Romeo and Juliet," except no one dies.

And you're right.

But I think this movie automatically gets some points for a soundtrack created entirely by Elton John, including hits like "Crocodile Rock," "Hello Hello"and the ever beautiful "Your Song," which can be heard in the undercurrent of almost all other songs in the movie.

"Gnomeo and Juliet" is the exact same as the original, except it's told by garden gnomes and various statuary. While this may sound strange, consider this: when Gnomeo is banished from the garden and presumed dead, he strikes up a conversation with a bronze statue, explaining his dilemma. The statue seems quite amused by it. Why? Because the statue is none other than William Shakespeare himself.

Besides this hilarious irony, in all other respects, the movie is faithful to the original. The names stay almost the same for the characters, and they even manage to slip in several quotes from the text itself.

Perhaps best of all, similar to Pixar movies sneaking in Easter eggs from movie to movie, if you pay attention, you can see references to Shakespeare's other plays. Gnomeo is nearly killed by a truck called Tempest Teapots (*wink*), and during the Friar's (a pink flamingo, in this case) flashback, a movie ticket is seen with the show "Much Ado About Nothing" playing (*double wink*)

But...yes. No characters are killed. But don't worry. There's plenty of bloody "Romeo and Juliet" versions I'll get to with plenty of tragedy.

2. She's the Man (2006)

Words cannot express the smiles Shakespearean scholars must get when they watch this movie.

One of the most perfect movie adaptations of any work of literature, "She's the Man" is the story of a girl named Viola who poses as a man named Sebastian in order to keep playing soccer after the girl's team is cut. If this gender swap plot is reminiscent of "Mulan" to you, then good, you're learning. However, Viola finds herself falling in love with Duke Orsino, the team captain. Worse, Duke's crush Olivia began to fall in love with "Sebastian." This is the original love triangle.

This is an almost exact replica of Shakespeare "The Twelfth Night." The names are the same, the shenanigans, even the comic relief. The only thing that is needed to make it exact is to set this story in the Elizabethan era.

3. West Side Story (1961)

It doesn't take a genius to figure this one out. This famous musical is a direct copy of "Romeo and Juliet," but with music! And me, being a Broadway addict, couldn't pass up this little beauty.

"West Side Story," as you may know, is about two people from rival gangs falling in love. Tragically, one is killed in a gang fight and only over a girl sobbing for her lover can the gangs' hatred be evaporated.

Yes, yes, I promised you tragedy. But here's a question: isn't it more cruel that Maria has to continue life missing both her older brother and the love of her life?

On a less sad and overly philosophical note, the soundtrack is to die for. Also, remember "Teen Beach Movie," that Disney channel original with a horrible plot but half decent soundtrack? The movie that Brady and Mack get trapped in is called Wet Side Story. Take a guess at what that movie's plot was.

4. Lion King (1994)

Whaaaaaaat?! Yep, this is one of my favorites, because no one expects it!

I'm not going to give you a rundown of the plot of "Lion King," because if you haven't seen it, well...go watch it now. This article will still be here when you come back, I promise.

But as for what this glorious Disney movie is modeled after, I'll give you a hint that will shock you even more: it's one of bloodier plays.

Did you guess it?

It's "Hamlet!" "Hamlet" is the story of a man who goes on a quest to find his father's killer when the ghost of his father commands it, only to discover: it was his uncle!

Now close your mouths as I continue.

Having read "Hamlet," when I found out this little nugget of information, it was fun to re-watch "Lion King" and watch the pieces fall into place. Nala was Ophelia, Zazu was Plutonius and Timon and Pumba were Rosencratz and Guildenstein.

(Another movie to watch: "Rosencratz & Guildenstein Are Dead")

Obviously, there's less death in this version, but even so, Disney shocked million with the death of Mufasa. As the company expected to warm hearts, no one saw such a heartbreaking scene coming. I'm tearing up as I write this, remembering Simba's anguish cry as Mufasa fell to his death.

While this movie wasn't particularly faithful in it's story, I give it points for the pure creativity, and the clever way they managed to artfully merge "Hamlet" into something entirely new. I think Shakespeare's ghost is clapping.

Interesting fact: you know the voice of Scar? He played the main character in "The Merchant of Venice" movie, another Shakespeare play.

5. Ten Things I Hate About You (1999)

One of my least favorite plays, but done right.

As much as I like Shakespeare, it's difficult for me to dismiss his blatantly misogynistic play "The Taming of the Shrew," which presents a woman's complete lack of rights and defenselessness against her husband's will as a comedy.

But...modern interpretations have done a good job of fixing it to fit the modern code of equality.

One such adaptation is "Ten Things I Hate About You," which tells the story of the unlikable Kat as she is set up so her younger sister Bianca can date as well. The various shenanigans are presented as a true comedy, as opposed to one that makes me thank the Lord I wasn't born in Elizabethan times.

And in the end, we get an adorable reference to Shakespeare's Sonnet 141 (because sometimes Shakespeare had title blocks) when Kat professes her love to Patrick in an uncreepy fashion, because Patrick has not starved and sleep deprived Kat.

Ain't love beautiful, folks?

6. Men of Respect (1991)

The Mafia version of "Macbeth." Beautiful.

As much as I wish I could say more about this movie, I think it speaks for itself. Any fans of "Godfather" are absolutely going to adore this bloodbath of a play, with a modern twist. Be warned, however. This movie is pretty darn violent.

7. Strange Magic (2015)

At first glance, it looks like one of those Netflix cartoons that you might have once watched, but at 3 a.m., and you can't really remember it. But at second glance, its not quite that.

"Strange Magic" is a cartoon produced by George Lucas himself, based off Shakespeare's second most famous play, "A Midsummer's Night Dream." This cartoon has all the insane imagination its inspiration did, and it remains hectic but not enough to make you want to stop watching. The awesome soundtrack that's full of classic oldies songs doesn't hurt either.

While Shakespeare may seem intimidating to many, it doesn't take a scholar to see the impact his work has had on modern media. And while there are hundreds of Shakespeare movies, these are the ones that will go down in history. Happy watching!