Hamlet (2025 film)
| Hamlet | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Aneil Karia |
| Screenplay by | Michael Lesslie |
| Based on | Hamlet by William Shakespeare |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Stuart Bentley |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Maxwell Sterling |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Focus Features (through Universal Pictures[1]) |
Release dates |
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Running time | 113 minutes[1] |
| Country | United Kingdom[2] |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $75,203[3] |
Hamlet is a 2025 British drama film based on William Shakespeare's Hamlet, reimagined in a contemporary London. Directed by Aneil Karia and written by Michael Lesslie, it stars Riz Ahmed, Morfydd Clark, Joe Alwyn, Sheeba Chaddha, Avijit Dutt, Art Malik, and Timothy Spall. The film had its premiere at the 52nd Telluride Film Festival on 30 August 2025 and was released in theatres in the United Kingdom on 6 February 2026.
Premise
Haunted by his father's ghost, Prince Hamlet descends from elite London society into the city's underground, moving between Hindu temples and homeless camps. In seeking to avenge his father's murder, he begins to question his own role in his family's corruption.[4]
Cast
- Riz Ahmed as Prince Hamlet[5]
- Art Malik as Claudius[6]
- Morfydd Clark as Ophelia[5]
- Joe Alwyn as Laertes[5]
- Sheeba Chaddha as Gertrude[6]
- Timothy Spall as Polonius[6]
- Avijit Dutt as the ghost of Hamlet's father[7]
Production
In October 2017, a Hamlet film adaptation written by Mike Lesslie and starring Riz Ahmed was announced, with Netflix in talks to finance and distribute.[8] After years in development, Aneil Karia was attached as director in May 2022. Ahmed stars and serves as a producer alongside Allie Moore for Left-Handed Films, Lesslie for Storyteller Films, and James Wilson. Tommy Oliver produced and co-financed through Confluential Films,[4] alongside BBC Film, BFI, and Ken Kao's Waypoint Entertainment.[9][10] Morfydd Clark and Joe Alwyn were cast as Ophelia and Laertes, respectively.[5] Additionally, Sheeba Chaddha, Art Malik, and Timothy Spall were cast.[11]
Principal photography took place in London, England from 8 November to 21 December 2023.[12][13]
Release
Hamlet had its world premiere at the 52nd Telluride Film Festival on 30 August 2025, followed by a screening at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival on 5 September.[14][15] In January 2024, Focus Features acquired the film's distribution rights.[4] Hamlet had a theatrical release on 6 February 2026.[16] In January 2026, Vertical acquired the North American rights, setting a release date of 10 April 2026 for the region.[17]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 82% of 39 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "Fueled by Riz Ahmed's electrifying turn, this gritty, streamlined Hamlet boldly reimagines the classic tragedy with ferocious emotion and intent."[18] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 65 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[19]
References
- ^ a b "Hamlet (15)". British Board of Film Classification. 2 October 2025. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
- ^ Grierson, Tim (5 September 2025). "Hamlet review: A powerful Riz Ahmed fuels unfussy Shakespeare adaptation set in modern London". Screen Daily. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ^ "Hamlet (2026)". The Numbers. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ a b c Keslassy, Elsa (18 May 2024). "Hamlet Starring Riz Ahmed Bought by Focus Features for International Rights". Variety. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d Wiseman, Andreas (11 May 2022). "Oscar Winners Riz Ahmed & Aneil Karia Team For Modern Hamlet With Morfydd Clark, Joe Alwyn & WME Independent; Duo Give Exclusive Interview About Their Timely Adaptation — Cannes Market Hot Package". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ a b c Pond, Steve (30 August 2025). "Hamlet Review: Riz Ahmed Is a Not-Very-Melancholy Dane in Revved-Up Adaptation". TheWrapS. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ^ Debruge, Peter (30 August 2025). "Hamlet Review: Riz Ahmed Can't Save a London-Set Take on Shakespeare's Tragedy With No Reason to Be". Variety. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ^ Busch, Anita (16 October 2017). "Emmy Winner Riz Ahmed In Negotiations With Netflix On Hamlet". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ Welk, Brian (19 March 2024). "Neon Gets More Financial Firepower with Help from Cuckoo Producers". IndieWire. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
- ^ "Hamlet". BFI. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
- ^ "British Council UK Films Database: Hamlet". British Council. 5 August 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
- ^ Daniels, Nia (8 November 2023). "Riz Ahmed's modern-day Hamlet adaptation begins filming in London". Screen Global Production. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ Geisinger, Gabriella (22 December 2023). "Riz Ahmed's Hamlet wraps production in London". Screen Global Production. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
- ^ Hammond, Pete (28 August 2025). "Telluride Film Festival Lineup: Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, Edward Berger's Ballad Of A Small Player, Chloé Zhao's Hamnet Among World Premieres". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (5 August 2025). "TIFF Centrepiece Section Counts 55 Titles Including Pics Starring Shailene Woodley, Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Samara Weaving, Stephen Graham & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (19 December 2025). "Watch the 1st Trailer for Hamlet, Starring Riz Ahmed". Playbill. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (16 January 2026). "Vertical Acquires Contemporary Hamlet Adaptation Starring Riz Ahmed". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ "Hamlet". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ "Hamlet". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 10 February 2026.