 Baz Luhrmann 's 1996 Romeo + Juliet and its accompanying soundtrack successfully targeted the " MTV Generation " : a young audience of similar age to the story 's characters . Far darker than Zeffirelli 's version , the film is set in the " crass , violent and superficial society " of Verona Beach and Sycamore Grove . Leonardo DiCaprio was Romeo and Claire Danes was Juliet . 
