Hamlet

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1:34

Hamlet

R

Apr 2026

1h 53m

Drama

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Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

94 Reviews

55%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

Shakespeare's most enduring tragedy is reimagined in a bold, modern adaptation set within London's elite South Asian community. When Hamlet (Riz Ahmed) returns for his father's funeral, he is stunned to discover his uncle Claudius is marrying his newly widowed mother. Visited by his father's ghost, Hamlet learns his brutal murder was at the hands of Claudius -- and spirals into a quest for vengeance that exposes the rot at the heart of the family's empire and threatens his own sanity.

Critics Consensus

Fueled by Riz Ahmed's electrifying turn, this gritty, streamlined Hamlet boldly reimagines the classic tragedy with ferocious emotion and intent.

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Odie Henderson

Boston Globe

4d

2.5/4

I agree with Polonius that brevity is the soul of wit, but not if that brevity comes at the expense of undercutting the play’s central themes. Ahmed gives his all, but it’s not enough to elevate this version above near-miss status.

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Thelma Adams

AARP Movies for Grownups

Apr 13

3/5

hile Ahmed struggles (a bit too much) about whether to be or not to be, it may be worth a theater ticket to witness a tremendous character actor like Malik put his stamp on the coveted role of the murderous Claudius.

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Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

Apr 13

1/4

Beyond flashy but empty gestures, little or no thought went into making sense of the update.

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Laura Hiros

Rincón de cine

1d

2.5/5

Hamlet must coexist with classical language and the technology of the new millennium in an environment that, for the spectator, never quite fits, and distracts from the central point of the whole story. [Full Review in Spanish]

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Carla Hay

Culture Mix

1d

The main reason to watch director Aneil Karia's 2020s version of Hamlet is Riz Ahmed's compelling performance as the protagonist. This flawed movie, based on William Shakespeare's famous play, takes some bold artistic swings with more hits than misses.

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Steven Prokopy

Third Coast Review

1d

3/4

By its conclusion, Hamlet is more of a blunt instrument than a precise weapon used to take down a dynasty

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christopher b

6d

Ahmed is brilliant, as usual.

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Robert M

Apr 18

A "Hamlet" for our time on film.

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Elizabeth

Apr 16

A fresh, modern take on Shakespeare’s classic story. Riz Ahmed gives Hamlet new dimension.

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lu

Apr 15

The scene of "to be...", when Hamlet holds his hands up, barreling to certain death, in prayer is incredible!

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R R

Apr 15

Exceptional cast. Captivating cinematography. Clever re-telling of Hamlet set to modern environment. A bit slow to start, but really picks up the pace in the second half. Riz Ahmed is truly mesmerizing to watch from beginning to end. What a consummate artist/actor.

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Diana

Apr 15

Beautifully scripted fresh take on the play.

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Aneil Karia

Director

Riz Ahmed

Hamlet

Morfydd Clark

Ophelia

Joe Alwyn

Laertes

Sheeba Chadha

Gertrude

Avijit Dutt

Old Hamlet

Hamlet: Exclusive Movie Clip - Get Thee to a Nunnery

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Synopsis

Shakespeare's most enduring tragedy is reimagined in a bold, modern adaptation set within London's elite South Asian community. When Hamlet (Riz Ahmed) returns for his father's funeral, he is stunned to discover his uncle Claudius is marrying his newly widowed mother. Visited by his father's ghost, Hamlet learns his brutal murder was at the hands of Claudius -- and spirals into a quest for vengeance that exposes the rot at the heart of the family's empire and threatens his own sanity.

Director: Aneil Karia
Producer: James Wilson, Riz Ahmed, Michael Lesslie, Allie Moore, Tommy Oliver
Screenwriter: Michael Lesslie
Distributor: Vertical
Production Co: Left Handed Films, Storyteller Productions, JW Films, Confluential Films
Rating: R (Suicide|Brief Drug Use|Some Bloody Violence|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 10, 2026, Limited
Runtime: 1h 53m
Aspect Ratio: Digital 2.39:1