Grand Theft Hamlet

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Grand Theft Hamlet

R

1h 29m

Documentary

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94%

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36 Reviews

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In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, two out-of-work actors, Sam and Mark, face a bleak future. Desperate for purpose, they stumble upon an idea: stage Shakespeare's Hamlet within the ultra-violent world of Grand Theft Auto Online. Shot entirely in-game, GRAND THEFT HAMLET explores their attempt to merge classical theatre with a chaotic digital landscape. With stunning visuals and unexpected moments of reflection, this engaging documentary examines how ancient cultural narratives can still resonate in new, virtual spaces, raising questions about art, isolation, and the digital world’s potential for storytelling.

Pinny Grylls

Director

Sam Crane

Director

Sam Crane

Self

Mark Oosterveen

Self

Jen Cohn

Self

Pinny Grylls

Writer

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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

At its best when incorporating text from the play with oddly appropriate gameplay. The intoning of Hamlet’s best-known soliloquy over footage of a bar in the game’s skid row really does look like something from a straight-up indie film of the play.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 12, 2024

Full Review

Marina Ashioti

Little White Lies

... What ultimately stays with you is the actor duo’s commendable ability to find inspiration and poetic gravitas in silliness, horseplay and tomfoolery, even (and especially) in the darkest of times.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 11, 2024

Full Review

Jordan King

Empire Magazine

Sam Crane and Pinny Grylls’ feature co-directorial debut is a riotously funny, unexpectedly poignant ode to gaming, Shakespeare, the indestructible nature of art, and the benefits of befriending bazooka wielding extraterrestrials.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 10, 2024

Full Review

Carmen Paddock

TAKE ONE Magazine

As it turns out, Hamlet and GTA are supremely well-matched, especially not amidst the emotional crises and sense of lost time engendered by the pandemic.

Dec 20, 2024

Full Review

Maria Lattila

Film Stories

Both Crane and Oosterveen aren’t afraid to expose their own imperfections, creating a memorable, moving documentary.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 19, 2024

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Alistair Harkness

Scotsman

The unpredictable chaos of GTA’s mega violent multiplayer world proves a surprisingly good fit for Shakespeare too.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 18, 2024

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Synopsis

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, two out-of-work actors, Sam and Mark, face a bleak future. Desperate for purpose, they stumble upon an idea: stage Shakespeare's Hamlet within the ultra-violent world of Grand Theft Auto Online. Shot entirely in-game, GRAND THEFT HAMLET explores their attempt to merge classical theatre with a chaotic digital landscape. With stunning visuals and unexpected moments of reflection, this engaging documentary examines how ancient cultural narratives can still resonate in new, virtual spaces, raising questions about art, isolation, and the digital world’s potential for storytelling.

Director: Pinny Grylls, Sam Crane
Producer: Rebecca Wolff, Julia Ton
Screenwriter: Pinny Grylls, Sam Crane, Pinny Grylls, Sam Crane
Distributor: MUBI
Production Co: Project 1961, Grasp The Nettle Films
Rating: R (Language and Some Violence)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 17, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 29m