10 Shows & Movies Similar to Little Dorrit (1987)

Description: Another George Eliot adaptation sharing 'Little Dorrit's' exploration of morality, inheritance, and women's limited choices in Victorian society. Both feature complex romantic entanglements.

Fact: Features Hugh Dancy in his breakthrough role. The Jewish storyline was groundbreaking for Victorian literature. Shot on location in Venice and England.

Description: This Brontë adaptation shares 'Little Dorrit's' themes of poverty, resilience, and romantic love across class divides. Both heroines face hardship with quiet strength.

Fact: Ruth Wilson's first major acting role. The production used real candlelight for night scenes. The Thornfield Hall set was built inside a warehouse.

Description: This Austen adaptation shares 'Little Dorrit's' focus on sisters with contrasting personalities facing financial hardship. Both explore the precarious position of women without means.

Fact: Andrew Davies adapted this after his famous 'Pride and Prejudice'. Features early appearances by Dan Stevens and Dominic Cooper. Shot in various historic properties across England.

Description: While set later than 'Little Dorrit', it shares the upstairs-downstairs dynamic and examination of class structure. Both shows feature strong female characters navigating societal constraints.

Fact: Originally conceived as a three-part miniseries. The dining room scenes took longest to film due to intricate period etiquette. Maggie Smith ad-libbed many of her famous one-liners.

Description: This retail drama shares 'Little Dorrit's' focus on social mobility and the working poor in Victorian England. Both feature young women making their way in a male-dominated world.

Fact: Based on Émile Zola's novel 'Au Bonheur des Dames'. The department store set was built in a former car factory. Was BBC's answer to ITV's 'Mr Selfridge'.

Description: Like 'Little Dorrit', this series contrasts rural and urban Victorian life, with themes of community and social change. Both feature strong female leads and detailed period recreation.

Fact: Based on Flora Thompson's semi-autobiographical trilogy. Many outdoor scenes were shot in actual English countryside locations. The series was praised for its authentic depiction of rural dialects.

Description: This George Eliot adaptation shares 'Little Dorrit's' focus on social realism and moral dilemmas within a tightly-knit community. Both explore themes of marriage, money, and personal growth in Victorian England.

Fact: Considered one of the greatest British TV adaptations. Features a young Rufus Sewell in his breakthrough role. The production used authentic period locations in Lincolnshire.

Description: Like 'Little Dorrit', this Austen adaptation explores marriage, money, and social standing in Regency England. Both feature intelligent heroines navigating family pressures.

Fact: Colin Firth's wet shirt scene caused national excitement. The production used real historic houses for locations. Jennifer Ehle's mother wrote the screenplay.

Description: Like 'Little Dorrit', 'Bleak House' is a Charles Dickens adaptation, sharing themes of social injustice, complex family dynamics, and intricate plotting. Both series feature strong female protagonists navigating a rigid class system.

Fact: 'Bleak House' was the first BBC drama shot in high definition. The series features Gillian Anderson's first major British television role. It uses a unique 'soap opera' style with multiple storylines unfolding simultaneously.

Description: Like 'Little Dorrit', this Austen adaptation features a well-meaning but sometimes misguided heroine learning about herself and her society. Both showcase detailed period settings and manners.

Fact: Romola Garai prepared by reading Austen's letters. The production used real Regency-era musical instruments. Michael Gambon played Mr. Woodhouse at age 68, though the character was meant to be much older.