Hamnet (2025)

“Hamnet” stars Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, and Joe Alwyn.  Released on November 26, 2025, the film follows William Shakespeare and his wife as they grapple with the death of their son.

The film was directed by Chloé Zhao, who also directed “Songs My Brothers Taught Me”, “The Rider”, “Nomadland”, and “Eternals”.  It is based on the 2020 novel by Maggie O’Farrell, who co-wrote the screenplay with Zhao.  A specific tale possesses the power to captivate its audience through its timeless themes and story, whether presented as a book, film, or play.  However, there are instances where the journey of creating that narrative is just as impactful as the story itself.  One such case is the timeless masterpiece by the renowned playwright William Shakespeare, Hamlet, which has inspired numerous adaptations over the years. Celebrated as one of the greatest plays in history, Hamlet has touched and broken every viewer’s hearts, weaving a tale of revenge and betrayal while delivering some of the most unforgettable quotes of all time.  However, Shakespeare’s path to crafting this influential classic was marked by more tragedy than a son mourning his noble father.  Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 novel delved into the poignant backstory that influenced Hamlet, revealing Shakespeare and his wife’s personal grief over the sudden loss of his son, which ultimately sparked the creation of the playwright’s iconic work.  With such a heart-wrenching tale at its core, it seems only fitting to have filmmakers like Chloé Zhao, Steven Spielberg, and Sam Mendes tackle the challenge of adapting it for the silver screen.  But can they transform this emotionally charged premise into an awards contender, or would audiences be better off checking out Hamlet instead?  Let’s find out.

The story centers on William Shakespeare (Mescal), a celebrated playwright who meets and marries Agnes (Buckley), a woman who spends her days in the woods.  Despite facing disapproval from his family, William and Agnes nurture their three children, including their 11-year-old son, Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe).  Unfortunately, their family’s peace is shattered when Hamnet tragically succumbs to the plague.  Hamnet’s death profoundly affects the relationship between William and Agnes as they navigate the grief of losing their young son.  This heartbreaking experience also influences William to write a play based on his personal turmoil, leading to a work that would forever alter his life and those of many others, including Agnes.

I’m not usually a massive fan of William Shakespeare’s original works, yet I do find value in many adaptations inspired by his plays, such as “Romeo & Juliet”.  Notably, one such adaptation is “The Lion King”, which draws inspiration from Hamlet.  This connection piqued my interest in “Hamnet”, as it explores the creation of the play that influenced one of my favorite animated films.  Additionally, I have been impressed by Chloé Zhao’s recent films, particularly the surprisingly great “Nomadland”.  While “Eternals” struggled with mixed reception for her direction of the Marvel IP, I appreciated Zhao’s ability to merge character-driven storytelling with incredible wide-angle shots and visuals.  Although I don’t think it matched the brilliance of “Nomadland”, I recognize it as an underrated entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that provided a fresh perspective on the franchise’s superhero formula.  As a result, “Hamnet” was viewed as a pivotal project that could help Zhao regain her reputation after the limitations faced in the MCU.

I was hoping to see “Hamnet” at last month’s mystery movie event, but fate had other plans.  Although I wasn’t too upset at what I got instead, which was “Eternity”, I was disappointed that I had to wait a few more weeks to see if it’s worth the praise.  For those wondering why I can’t drive multiple miles to a different cinema to watch it early, I’m strictly limited regarding my transportation.  It also didn’t help that it earned numerous award nominations during my wait, including Best Picture, giving me another reason to watch it as soon as possible.  Thankfully, the opportunity arose when my closest cinema finally included it in their Christmas movie lineup.  Now that I have finally experienced this tragic family tale, was it worth the wait?  More importantly, did it merit the award recognition?  Absolutely to both of those questions!  It may be difficult for me to recommend it because of the subject matter's sentimentality.  But if you’re willing to navigate its sorrow, you’ll be treated with a beautifully crafted, subtle drama that forms, breaks, and heals your heart with passion and delicacy.

The film seems to explore Shakespeare’s creation of Hamlet, inspired by his own personal tragedy.  However, the central focus of “Hamnet” is actually on Agnes, who is internally grappling with her origins as her traditions are viewed as “inhumane” by others.  Not only that, but she also finds herself in a pit of despair when her herbal remedies fail to save Hamnet.  Over its two-hour duration, I was taken on an emotional roller coaster filled with grief and heartache that disrupts the family’s happiness.  Some might argue that the film can be emotionally manipulative like a Hallmark movie or even too somber for its own good.  Let’s face it, nobody wants to go out to the movies to cry their eyeballs out.  However, others like me don’t exactly see it that way.  Maybe I am just that sensitive to a child dying or eager to see the light heal people from the darkness.  Either way, this is another movie that tore me apart emotionally but also mended it back together without a tiny hole in sight.

For a film like “Hamnet”, it’s crucial that the emotional connection feels genuine, especially when addressing themes of grief and loss.  If quality storytelling goes hand in hand with sincere emotions, you've got yourself a worthy piece of art that’ll resonate with audiences for generations.  If done improperly, it’ll come across as manipulative and sour, like a television movie from Hallmark or Lifetime.  Fortunately, Chloé Zhao managed to avoid the “Hallmark manipulation” pitfall, both with her vision and the screenplay she co-wrote with the book’s author, Maggie O’Farrell.  Zhao is another filmmaker who possesses a delicate touch in human connections, which is sublimely combined with her visionary style.  It’s subtle in the drama, yet it contains a magnetic presence in the scenery and characters that refuses to leave one’s mind, even when a movie, or in this case, a play, is finished.  While it may seem like a slow burn at first, its pacing is surprisingly attention-grabbing, thanks to its two-hour-and-six-minute runtime, which helps keep the narrative constrained.

Zhao is also renowned for envisioning how the cinematography captures the characters and settings through wide-angle shots and slow pans.  Łukasz Żal, the cinematographer behind movies like “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” and “The Zone of Interest”, brings out the nuanced and raw nature of the characters’ anguish.  Żal’s cinematography remarkably complements Zhao’s intended vision, achieving a balance of heartache and beauty through wide-angle shots and bleak color palettes.  Additionally, Zhao deserves some bonus points for making me cry not once, but twice, particularly for its brilliantly moving third act, which I hadn’t done since “The Long Walk”.  While I loved “The Long Walk” for its emotion and tragic essence, I think “Hamnet” has a better narrative that warrants these elements.  

This is evident in Zhao and O’Farrell’s screenplay, which honors both the novel and Shakespeare’s inspiration for Hamlet from Agnes's perspective.  In addition to its Old English dialogue, the screenplay retains its focus without diverging far from its intended purpose.  It may result in some plot elements that could’ve been further explored, but given its depressing nature, it’s for the best that the writers didn’t overstay their welcome with these explorations.  Amid its themes of grief and death, I also see “Hamnet” as a testament to the healing power of art.  Whether in film, painting, or even theatre, art can bring joy and solace to its viewers, even aid its creators in processing their own tragedies.  Who would have thought a movie like this could be cheaper than seeing an actual therapist?  I would also give the movie props for its costume design by Malgosia Turzanska, which authentically reflects Old English lore and Shakespearean aesthetics.  I also thought Max Richter’s score complements the film’s tone seamlessly, shifting from joy to melancholy and ultimately to uplifting without being too overwhelming.

The film’s cast was also exceptional, with Jessie Buckley standing out as Agnes.  Buckley has been on my radar since her roles in “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” and “Men”, due to her impressive talent.  When I heard about her performance in “Hamnet”, my interest piqued in whether she actually found herself a role that truly warranted her skills in my eyes.  After watching Buckley’s portrayal of a grieving mother, I can conclude that her praise was well-deserved.  She was absolutely incredible at conveying the sentiment and raw heartache stemming from Agnes’s inner pain.  The scene involving her reaction to Hamnet’s death was immensely heartbreaking, with her performance adding a realistic distraught that feels more authentic than exploitative.  As a result, her portrayal of Agnes is the best performance I’ve seen from Buckley so far, which is enough to get me interested in her upcoming role in “The Bride”.  Paul Mescal was also terrific as William Shakespeare, notably for capturing the character’s guilt over his absence during Hamnet’s death and his involvement in the play he created.  Obviously, his role was enough for me to forgive Mescal for his participation in “Gladiator II” last year.  I would also credit young Jacobi Jupe, known for playing Michael Darling in “Peter Pan & Wendy”, for his heart-aching performance as Hamnet, with his older brother, Noah Jupe, following suit as an actor playing Hamlet.  Emily Watson also did a great job playing Mary Shakespeare, William’s mother, who harbors resentment towards Agnes for her background.

Overall, “Hamnet” highlights the inspiration behind Shakespeare’s tragedy through a remarkable fusion of heartache and cinematic beauty.  While it may seem emotionally draining at first, it’s emotionally draining for all the right reasons.  Chloé Zhao draws on the subtlety and empathetic human connections from her earlier works to craft a poignant, delicately restrained tragedy that explores themes of love, loss, and healing.  It is a gut-punching roller coaster that may challenge viewers with its tone and premise, yet remains engaging thanks to its award-worthy leads and rewarding emotional depth.  With a vision rich in genuine sadness and a script that underscores the healing power of art, “Hamnet” is another fantastic testament to Zhao’s talent as one of today’s most empathetic filmmakers.  As mentioned earlier, it would be hard for me to recommend it to those who don’t like to cry.  However, I can recommend it to fans of Zhao’s previous works, as it retains the humane, sentimental essence for which she is celebrated. ​

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