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Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

Play trailer Poster for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead PG 1990 1h 58m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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60% Tomatometer 30 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Rosencrantz (Gary Oldman) and Guildenstern (Tim Roth) ramble obliviously through Elsinore Castle and its environs as the events of William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" unfold around them. While visiting their old friend Hamlet (Iain Glen), the pair engage in an ongoing philosophical debate about free will versus predestination, each trying to prove absurd positions through misbegotten experiments. Meanwhile, the clueless friends attempt to make sense of the peculiar goings-on in the castle.
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Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

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Critics Consensus

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead struggles in its journey from stage to screen, but a well-chosen trio of veteran talents keep things consistently watchable.

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Critics Reviews

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Geoff Andrew Time Out 02/09/2006
Both Oldman and Roth turn in flat and uninspiring performances. Go to Full Review Vincent Canby New York Times 05/20/2003
As happens at the opera, one usually laughs (if one laughs at all) not because something is funny, but because one has successfully recognized that it is supposed to be funny. Go to Full Review Hal Hinson Washington Post 01/01/2000
Staged as they are here, the jokes and the fourth-wall gamesmanship don't seem as funny as they did on the page. Go to Full Review Matthew Rozsa matthewrozsa.com 12/19/2020
4/4
If you are familiar with "Hamlet" and can appreciate subtle jokes about the possibility that your entire life is pointless, this movie is a hoot. Go to Full Review Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com 10/13/2020
2.5/5
Fans of the original stage play will most likely enjoy Stoppard's film version, but this treatment feels far less dynamic or lively. Go to Full Review Nathanael Hood The Retro Set 12/28/2018
4/10
...the film is a failure. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ari V @RT59419633 Feb 6 Some Who's On First type wordplay gags, a little good old fashioned british gayetry, some weak philosophy and 50s avante garde imitations, but feels relatively thin all in all. Even with the solid acting delivery. See more James A @RT45126165 02/21/2025 A bit intellectual and dry, but had many moments that show the love for the source material (both sources). It is certainly not a lazy watch. See more Alec B @Alec97 04/25/2024 I think it is a good adaptation of the play (likely the best we will ever get) as the cast is pretty great, especially Oldman and Roth, and Stoppard actually does a good job translating the material to film. It is a shame he never tried directing a movie again. See more Joel H @RT47793553 02/13/2024 It is obvious that the creators of Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead have a thorough appreciation of William Shakespeare's play, Hamlet. That being said, it's also necessary that the viewer have the same type of understanding or much of this movie will be lost on them. I'm glad I quickly brushed up on Hamlet before watching this adaptation. Additionally, the absurdist style is so bizarre that it's hard to keep up with what's going on. However, I did enjoy the witty wordplay. And both Gary Oldman & Tim Roth seem to relish in their respective roles. I'd like to see this production on stage one day. See more Shioka O @RT54204327 11/19/2022 If you are familiar with Hamlet, this might be more fun, but I'm not. Thoroughly dry and subtle. Absurdism and existentialism dialogs are fascinating so maybe I would love to read as book. I see Roth and Oldman's friendship. See more William L @RT77267842 09/03/2020 As a first-time viewer, the premise is certainly clever, but the final product is of a very distinct flavor that continues virtually unchanged throughout the entire runtime - a series of relatively dry observations of physical phenomena and philosophy with the occasional bit of wordplay or joke based around the source material. What results is in all likelihood a polarization of the audience - some will find the material consistent and engaging, while others will think it monotonous. (3/5) See more Read all reviews
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

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Cast & Crew

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Tom Stoppard

Director

Gary Oldman

Rosencrantz

Tim Roth

Guildenstern

Richard Dreyfuss

The Player

Iain Glen

Hamlet

Joanna Roth

Ophelia

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Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1990) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1990) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Rosencrantz (Gary Oldman) and Guildenstern (Tim Roth) ramble obliviously through Elsinore Castle and its environs as the events of William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" unfold around them. While visiting their old friend Hamlet (Iain Glen), the pair engage in an ongoing philosophical debate about free will versus predestination, each trying to prove absurd positions through misbegotten experiments. Meanwhile, the clueless friends attempt to make sense of the peculiar goings-on in the castle.
Director
Tom Stoppard
Producer
Emanuel Azenberg, Michael Brandman
Screenwriter
Tom Stoppard
Production Co
Brandenburg Productions, Inc.
Rating
PG
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 22, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$55.0K
Runtime
1h 58m
Sound Mix
Surround
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