The Importance of Being Earnest is a 2002 romantic comedy-drama film directed by Oliver Parker, based on Oscar Wilde's classic 1895 comedy of manners of the same name.

Both women discover that they are engaged to men they believe to be named Ernest, resulting in a flurry of confusion and mistaken identities, compounded by the subsequent arrival of Lady Bracknell.

The production took place in several picturesque locations, including West Wycombe Park, where Jack's country home was depicted, with filmmakers paying £50,000 to use the stately property.

Dame Judi Dench reprised her role as Lady Bracknell for the third time in The Importance of Being Earnest, after having been cast in the 1982 National Theatre revival and the 1995 BBC Radio 4 adaptation.

The Importance of Being Earnest grossed $8,384,929 domestically and $8,906,041 internationally, for a worldwide total of $17,290,970, against a production budget of $15 million, making it a moderate commercial success at the box-office.

[5] On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, as of September 2012, The Importance of Being Earnest holds a 57% approval rating, with the consensus stating, "Oliver Parker's adaptation of Wilde's classic play is breezy entertainment, helped by an impressive cast, but it also suffers from some peculiar directorial choices that ultimately dampen the film's impact.

While praising Judi Dench’s performance, Bradshaw criticized the film for softening the play’s satirical edge and relying on broader humor, which diluted its critique of Victorian society.

[9] The Importance of Being Earnest won the 2003 Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists's Silver Ribbon award for Best Costume Design (for Maurizio Millenotti).