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Hamlet

Play trailer Poster for Hamlet PG-13 1996 4h 2m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
94% Tomatometer 54 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
In the only unabridged film version of the classic play, here updated to the 19th century, Prince Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh) is traumatized by the revelation that his father was murdered by the present king, Claudius (Derek Jacobi), with the aid of Hamlet's mother, Gertrude (Julie Christie). Hamlet considers a plot for revenge and mistakenly kills Polonius (Richard Briers), the father of his love, Ophelia (Kate Winslet), causing a chain reaction that leads to a climactic and tragic ending.
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Hamlet

Hamlet

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Critics Consensus

Kenneth Branagh's sprawling, finely textured adaptation of Shakespeare's masterpiece lives up to its source material, using strong performances and a sharp cinematic focus to create a powerfully resonant film that wastes none of its 246 minutes.

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Critics Reviews

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Bernard Zuel Sydney Morning Herald Apr 29, 2026
This is not a Hamlet to redefine the play for this generation. It is flawed. But it also gives us more than the essence of one of the great plays. Go to Full Review Rob Humanick Slant Magazine Apr 20, 2011
A work of tremendous personal ambition equipped with a budget nearly equal in magnitude. Go to Full Review Desson Thomson Washington Post Sep 25, 2002
There are many ... instances when you want to run screaming from Elsinore Castle. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy May 10, 2025
3.5/4
A highly charged interpretation that paints the great Dane not so much as a melancholy, morally confused prince but rather a jock with a rapier wit and an unquenchable thirst for revenge. Go to Full Review Wesley Lovell Cinema Sight Feb 12, 2022
3.5/4
This edition, directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh and released in 1996, is one of the most well regarded of such works. Go to Full Review Geoffrey O'Brien The New York Review of Books Aug 16, 2018
For all the sometimes athletic action, this Hamlet is strung on its language. The words are the play, unfolding in a space open enough to give scope to its unruly energies. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad Sep 6, 2026 Hamlet equal a *4.5* star Movie See more Ben W @Username618 Mar 21, 2026 Remember not enjoying this. See more Wayne B @DougAngstrom Jul 5, 2025 Positives: Full text; beautiful people, costumes and sets; fairly clear delivery. Derek Jacobi is excellent as Claudius, as is Julie Christie as Gertrude. Negatives: Frenetic to point of being exhausting, probably necessary to come in at 4 hours. Some in the "all star cast" were never considered "Shakespearean actors" (and never should be, e.g., Jack Lemmon, Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, bless them). Judy Dench and Sir John Gilgud who helped make the cast list sound really fancy simply did a pantomime. See more Julian Rex M @Julian_M Jun 20, 2025 Valiantly striving for the epic scope, characters, and emotion of Shakespeare's iconic source material, Kenneth Branagh brings Hamlet together into a grand cinematic masterwork due to the massive talent of his combined cast, crew, and own assured performance. See more Michael H @RT40858993 Aug 25, 2024 The best Shakespeare adaptation of all time and the second greatest film ever. Epic, thrilling, exquisitely acted, Ken Branagh takes the greatest play ever written and creates a masterpiece of epic proportions. Stunning, magnificent, exquisite, mind blowing, a film everyone should see and then some. Masterpiece doesn't do it justice. See more Nicholas L @RT91745991 Jun 17, 2024 Hamlet's madness is portrayed well. See more Read all reviews
Hamlet

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Cast & Crew

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Kenneth Branagh

Director

Kenneth Branagh

Hamlet

Julie Christie

Gertrude

Billy Crystal

First Gravedigger

Gérard Depardieu

Reynaldo

Charlton Heston

Player King

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Hamlet

Hamlet (1996) Billy Crystal (left) and Kenneth Branagh (right) on the set. Claudius (Derek Jacobi, left) and Gertrude (Julie Christie, right) are wed as Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh, center) looks on. Laertes (Michael Maloney, left) and Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh, right) square off in a duel. Kenneth Branagh (left) stars as Hamlet and Michael Maloney (right) as Laertes. Gerard Depardieu as Reynaldo. Kenneth Branagh (left) stars as Hamlet and Nicholas Farrell (right) as Horatio. Jack Lemmon as Marcellus. Billy Crystal as the First Gravedigger. Kenneth Branagh (left) stars as Hamlet and Julie Christie (right) stars as Gertrude. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In the only unabridged film version of the classic play, here updated to the 19th century, Prince Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh) is traumatized by the revelation that his father was murdered by the present king, Claudius (Derek Jacobi), with the aid of Hamlet's mother, Gertrude (Julie Christie). Hamlet considers a plot for revenge and mistakenly kills Polonius (Richard Briers), the father of his love, Ophelia (Kate Winslet), causing a chain reaction that leads to a climactic and tragic ending.
Director
Kenneth Branagh
Producer
David Barron
Screenwriter
William Shakespeare, Kenneth Branagh
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Castle Rock Entertainment, Turner Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Fishmonger Films
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 25, 1996, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 7, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$4.4M
Runtime
4h 2m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital, Surround, Dolby SR, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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