Hamlet

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Hamlet

PG-13

Released Dec 25, 1996

4h 2m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

95%

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56 Reviews

89%

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25,000+ Ratings

In the only unabridged film version of the classic play, here updated to the 19th century, Prince Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh) is traumatized by the revelation that his father was murdered by the present king, Claudius (Derek Jacobi), with the aid of Hamlet's mother, Gertrude (Julie Christie). Hamlet considers a plot for revenge and mistakenly kills Polonius (Richard Briers), the father of his love, Ophelia (Kate Winslet), causing a chain reaction that leads to a climactic and tragic ending.

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Critics Consensus

Kenneth Branagh's sprawling, finely textured adaptation of Shakespeare's masterpiece lives up to its source material, using strong performances and a sharp cinematic focus to create a powerfully resonant film that wastes none of its 246 minutes.

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Rob Humanick

Slant Magazine

A work of tremendous personal ambition equipped with a budget nearly equal in magnitude.

Apr 20, 2011

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: 4/5

Sep 23, 2004

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Desson Thomson

Washington Post

There are many ... instances when you want to run screaming from Elsinore Castle.

Sep 25, 2002

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

This edition, directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh and released in 1996, is one of the most well regarded of such works.

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 12, 2022

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Geoffrey O'Brien

The New York Review of Books

For all the sometimes athletic action, this Hamlet is strung on its language. The words are the play, unfolding in a space open enough to give scope to its unruly energies.

Aug 16, 2018

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Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

It is a wholly new take on Hamlet, with a cast filled with entertaining cameos.

Rated: 3.5/5

Dec 10, 2012

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Michael H

The best Shakespeare adaptation of all time and the second greatest film ever. Epic, thrilling, exquisitely acted, Ken Branagh takes the greatest play ever written and creates a masterpiece of epic proportions. Stunning, magnificent, exquisite, mind blowing, a film everyone should see and then some. Masterpiece doesn't do it justice.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/24/24

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Nicholas L

Hamlet's madness is portrayed well.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/17/24

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Umatsu O

The best adaptation of the best play (including screenplay) ever penned to paper. Shakespeare's work is deeply profound, thought provoking, and timeless, speaking to subjects that are relevant to the human condition in all times and places, and doing so in ways that touch and rend the heart, and Kenneth Branagh absolutely does it justice. Contains SOME unfortunate casting choices (Marcellus definitely just reading straight off the script, for example), but it can't dull the accomplishment achieved here. I first watched this film at a mere 10 years old, and though Shakespeare's writing baffled me at the time, the sheer acting prowess and emotive delivery of the lines allowed me even then to understand most of what was happening and being discussed and found it compelling even for a child. Today as I watch it for the couple dozenth time with a nearly fluent grasp on the language, it moves me to tears. Hollywood has done wrong by Shakespeare for ages with adaptation after adaptation of stale, emotionless line deliveries from actors who very obviously don't understand what they're even saying, but Kenneth Branagh blows all other adaptations out of the water and delivers a performance that I believe even Shakespeare himself would have applauded.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/01/24

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Teddy B

Kenneth Branagh's masterwork, 'Hamlet' doesn't waste any time with its unique interpretation of the story that somehow manages to fit the entire playscript in it's lengthy runtime.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/01/24

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Mark M

The quality and character of this film is truly amazing. I don't know about comparing this production with other treatments, I simply felt like I was deep into Shakespeare's mind seeing a vision for this story that was outstanding. Top notch on every level.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/21/24

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Steve C

To be or not to be a good film adaptation? Yes, sweet prince, yes. Goodnight :) RIP Robin

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/14/23

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Synopsis

In the only unabridged film version of the classic play, here updated to the 19th century, Prince Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh) is traumatized by the revelation that his father was murdered by the present king, Claudius (Derek Jacobi), with the aid of Hamlet's mother, Gertrude (Julie Christie). Hamlet considers a plot for revenge and mistakenly kills Polonius (Richard Briers), the father of his love, Ophelia (Kate Winslet), causing a chain reaction that leads to a climactic and tragic ending.

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Producer: David Barron
Screenwriter: William Shakespeare, Kenneth Branagh
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Castle Rock Entertainment, Turner Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Fishmonger Films
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1996, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 7, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.4M
Runtime: 4h 2m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, Surround, Dolby SR, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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