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Hamlet

Play trailer Poster for Hamlet R Released Jan 24, 2000 1h 51m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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59% Tomatometer 95 Reviews 46% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
This is a modern retelling of the classic tale of a young fimmaker in New York City (Ethan Hawke) struggling with the weight of a production company called Denmark Corp. following the death of his father, including dealing with those who would deprive him of his "crown."

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Hamlet

Hamlet

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Critics Consensus

Stiff performances fail to produce any tension onscreen.

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Critics Reviews

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Roxana Hadadi Crooked Marquee Almereyda's details actually give the core story an additional layer of power. The cyclical decay of Hamlet still resonates, even as its '90s flourishes have become increasingly irrelevant. Jun 5, 2020 Full Review Gavin Smith Film Comment Magazine Ingeniously and divertingly updating Shakespeare to corporate New York, Michael Almereyda's Hamlet benefits from playfully iconographic casting. Apr 10, 2018 Full Review Jason Bailey Flavorwire Too often, the gimmick of modern-dress Shakespeare is undone by the sheer visual incongruity of people in business suits speaking in 17th-century vernacular. Hawke (and those surrounding him) somehow make it play. Jun 21, 2016 Full Review Susan Sontag Artforum Witty, intelligent, and most convincing when it’s altogether over the top. May 2, 2024 Full Review Cary Wong Out Magazine Despite some interesting set pieces... Almereyda could have infused the proceedings with more energy and less brooding. May 25, 2022 Full Review A.S. Hamrah The Baffler The films pops off the screen in brilliant color and striking arrangements of actors. Sep 16, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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S R An ambitious attempt to bring Hamlet to the modern day, but sadly it didn't last that long and became a chore despite some original ideas. I saw it since it was on the NYT 1000 movies list, but I don't think it should be. It was fun seeing Bill Murray in Shakespeare. SLC DVD. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 05/31/25 Full Review MikesReviewsArt n *Rough Thoughts* 50% It’s an odd film. It’s going along with the Romeo and Juliet, the Leonardo DiCaprio in that same vein taking Shakespeare in a modern day. It was goofy seeing the Pepsi vending machine(product placement) as they’re spouting Shakespeare. Ethan Hawk great actor, but with the stupid winter hat that just seems goofy and out of place in one scene, he’s psycho babbling in a blockbuster Shakespeare with his stupid winter It’s so goofy.🤪 Ophelia putting a rubber ducky on top of letters just randomly Rubber Ducky you’re the one! Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/22/25 Full Review Kyle M Followed after Baz Luhrman's stylishly modern take "Romeo + Juliet", Michael Almereyda's "Hamlet" didn't overdo in power within decent strikes but then again it didn't do much. It's packed with a nice cast at expected caliber in their script delivery through a disjointedly bland modernization that initially compelled till concluded it was done in the wrong place at the wrong time. (B-) Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/15/23 Full Review steve d In the long history of Hamlet on film, this might be the worst. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member this is the most early 2000s thing i have ever seen in my life? on boxxy software Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member I created a rotten tomatoes account specifically to give this the minimum number of stars. I never thought I could so entirely hate any production of Hamlet. They make Hamlet into a melodramatic manchild. He has no sense of humor to speak of. Hell, they even manage to make POLONIUS almost boring despite casting him well? like? how is this even POSSIBLE? The only praise I can give this movie is that they cut Hamlet's speech to the actors, and so made the movie that much shorter. (I'm sure they would have found a way to make it boring anyway.) Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Hamlet

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Cast & Crew

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Michael Almereyda

Director

Ethan Hawke

Hamlet

Kyle MacLachlan

Claudius

Sam Shepard

Ghost

Diane Venora

Gertrude

Bill Murray

Polonius

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Hamlet

A scene from the movie "Hamlet" Ethan Hawke as Hamlet, Diane Venora as Gertrude and Kyle MacLachlan as Claudius in Miramax's Hamlet Bill Murray as Polonius and Julia Stiles as Ophelia in Miramax's Hamlet Ethan Hawke as Hamlet and Liev Schreiber as Laertes in Miramax's Hamlet Sam Shepard and Director Michael Almereyda on the set of Miramax's Hamlet Ethan Hawke as Hamlet in Miramax's Hamlet Steve Zahn as Rosencrantz and Dechen Thurman as Guildenstern in Miramax's Hamlet Julia Stiles as Ophelia in Miramax's Hamlet Hamlet (2000) Hamlet (2000) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis This is a modern retelling of the classic tale of a young fimmaker in New York City (Ethan Hawke) struggling with the weight of a production company called Denmark Corp. following the death of his father, including dealing with those who would deprive him of his "crown."
Director
Michael Almereyda
Producer
Andrew Fierberg, Amy Hobby
Screenwriter
William Shakespeare, Michael Almereyda
Distributor
Miramax Films
Production Co
Double A Films
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 24, 2000, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 8, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.6M
Runtime
1h 51m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround
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