The film was released on November 1, 1996, by 20th Century Fox to commercial success, and was met with generally positive reviews. American romantic crime tragedy film directed, co-produced, and co-written by Baz Luhrmann, co-produced by Gabriella Martinelli, and co-written by Craig Pearce.

It is an adaptation and modernization of William Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes in the title roles. They instantly fall in love when Romeo crashes a party and meets Juliet, despite their being members of feuding families.
Most of the film was shot in Mexico City and Boca del Rio, Veracruz. For instance, the Capulet mansion was set at Chapultepec Castle while the ballroom was built on Stage One of Churubusco Studios and the church is Immaculate Heart of Mary in the Del Valle neighborhood.