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Hamlet

Play trailer Poster for Hamlet PG-13 Released Dec 25, 1996 4h 2m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
95% Tomatometer 57 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 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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Hamlet

Hamlet

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review Nell Minow Movie Mom Rated: 4/5 Sep 23, 2004 Full Review Desson Thomson Washington Post There are many ... instances when you want to run screaming from Elsinore Castle. Sep 25, 2002 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy A highly charged interpretation that paints the great Dane not so much as a melancholy, morally confused prince but rather a jock with a rapier wit and an unquenchable thirst for revenge. Rated: 3.5/4 May 10, 2025 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Full Review Nicholas L Hamlet's madness is portrayed well. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/17/24 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews
Hamlet

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Cast & Crew

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Kenneth Branagh

Director

Kenneth Branagh

Hamlet

Julie Christie

Gertrude

Billy Crystal

First Gravedigger

Gérard Depardieu

Reynaldo

Charlton Heston

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Hamlet

Hamlet (1996) Billy Crystal (left) and Kenneth Branagh (right) on the set. Claudius (Derek Jacobi, left) and Gertrude (Julie Christie, right) are wed as Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh, center) looks on. Laertes (Michael Maloney, left) and Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh, right) square off in a duel. Kenneth Branagh (left) stars as Hamlet and Michael Maloney (right) as Laertes. Gerard Depardieu as Reynaldo. View more photos

Movie Info

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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