Hamnet (2025)★ 8.0/10
- Drama
- History
- Romance
- Biography
Directed by: Chloé Zhao
Written by: Chloé Zhao, Maggie O'Farrell
Agnes raises Susanna, Judith and Hamnet while Will writes in their 16th-century village. Plague brings a loss that reshapes the family, seen through Agnes’s perspective.
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Jessie Buckley, Oscar winner for her performance in Hamnet
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Lara1March 16, 2026
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To Oscars or Not To Oscars
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Matthew Alan SchmidtMarch 15, 2026
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Lucas's Final Oscar Predictions
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Lucas.March 14, 2026
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My Oscars 2026 Predictions
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Carlos NorciaMarch 6, 2026
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Hamnet: a portrait of grief and unconditional love.
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Cinéfila ConsumidoraFebruary 13, 2026
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Do We Really Need To Know How Sad Shakespeare Is?
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SUNSFebruary 12, 2026
1Cast & crew
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Videos
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Awards · 6 wins, 21 nominations
See all ›- WinnerGolden Globes, USA 2026Golden Globe · Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
- WinnerGolden Globes, USA 2026Golden Globe · Best Motion Picture - Drama
- WinnerBAFTA Awards 2026BAFTA Film Award · Outstanding British Film of the Year
- WinnerBAFTA Awards 2026BAFTA Film Award · Best Leading Actress
- WinnerAcademy Awards, USA 2026Oscar · Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Reviews
F
Frantz CasillasMarch 1, 2026
Frantz CasillasMarch 1, 2026Say what you wanna say about this movie, it was all worth it for that one scene. Where she finds her son and lets him go in the same gesture. In that instant, the private wound stops belonging to one body and floods the room. You can feel the collective pain and catharsis. That scene lands with such force that it retroactively consecrates the film around it.
Having said that, it echoes the same malaise as Sentimental Value. Artists are often the most committed transgressors in the lives of those around them. Partners and children as collateral in the war for a masterpiece. Then, later, they pour their confession into the medium and place it in front of the world. The apology is brilliant, devastating, formally exquisite. It moves us. It earns respect. It may even receive awards. And in that glow, it risks becoming its own justification.
Art can be the envelope for an apology, and that is fine. But we need to stop venerating apologies that are carved with the same knife that did the damage. What deserves elevation is not the confession itself but the practice of reparation that should follow it.
Having said that, it echoes the same malaise as Sentimental Value. Artists are often the most committed transgressors in the lives of those around them. Partners and children as collateral in the war for a masterpiece. Then, later, they pour their confession into the medium and place it in front of the world. The apology is brilliant, devastating, formally exquisite. It moves us. It earns respect. It may even receive awards. And in that glow, it risks becoming its own justification.
Art can be the envelope for an apology, and that is fine. But we need to stop venerating apologies that are carved with the same knife that did the damage. What deserves elevation is not the confession itself but the practice of reparation that should follow it.
F
FlemishCatFebruary 28, 2026
FlemishCatFebruary 28, 2026I was fortunate enough to watch this film at a free screening during the 2026 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, followed by a Q&A with star Jessie Buckley.
While I understand the solid underlying story about William Shakespeare’s family, the film plot takes an awful long time to get going. It’s only when the Shakespeare children are a bit older (and tragedy occurs) that there is some schwung to it. The best part of the film is the finale: the Hamlet play seen from the POV of Shakespeare’s wife Agnes. That’s brilliantly directed and acted. However, the agony of childbirth and grief comes across as too theatrical (meaning, as if Buckley was acting on a theatre stage rather than in a movie.) But perhaps the interchange between life, theatre and movies is what Chloé Zhao’s film intended, in the end. 🎭
While I understand the solid underlying story about William Shakespeare’s family, the film plot takes an awful long time to get going. It’s only when the Shakespeare children are a bit older (and tragedy occurs) that there is some schwung to it. The best part of the film is the finale: the Hamlet play seen from the POV of Shakespeare’s wife Agnes. That’s brilliantly directed and acted. However, the agony of childbirth and grief comes across as too theatrical (meaning, as if Buckley was acting on a theatre stage rather than in a movie.) But perhaps the interchange between life, theatre and movies is what Chloé Zhao’s film intended, in the end. 🎭
A
Alex SoutheyFebruary 5, 2026
Alex SoutheyFebruary 5, 2026Contains spoilers
“Is it really him?” Judith asks about her twin, Hamnet, at a particularly heartbreaking moment.
The Shakespeare of it all may be what draws audiences into theatres to see writer-director Chloe Zhao’s adaptation of author Maggie O'Farrell’s Hamnet, but it is the performances by the actors who portray the Shakespeare’s children that will keep them talking long after they’re back home.
Any criticism for Zhao’s previous film, Eternals, falls away quickly as she beckons us into a well-crafted, and shot, forest imbued with myth and history, populated by committed actors Paul Mescal (William Shakespeare) and Jessie Buckley (Agnes Shakespeare). They give arresting, somewhat anachronistically styled performances.
Who cares about Eternals with ingredients this enticing?
The greatest pleasure, then, comes as a surprise, because it is not who we’d expect (the aforementioned breakout stars), it’s the kids. Jacobi Jupe plays the titular Hamnet, and Olivia Lynes plays Judith.
SPOILERS: The second half of the film concerns itself with how William and Agnes Shakespeare — and to a lesser extent Judith and the other supporting characters — react to losing Hamnet.
This is the hinge upon which, for some audiences, the emotions will swing. The second half will be what they feel in their bones as opposed to the joy in the first half, but losing Jupe means it loses its shining star. Should the second half be in darkness? Maybe that suits the story better, considering its events, but it doesn’t make it more enjoyable as a movie watching experience.
Is Hamnet a novel about how the real world impacts Shakespeare’s inner world, which comes out in his art, or is it about A Marriage Story, set against a Victorian, Shakespeare background? Both? Neither?
I haven’t read the novel upon which this film is based. If the film follows the book closely, then fair enough, but by attempting to be two things, it only almost achievs them, instead of sticking the landing to just one.
We know of Shakespeare’s passion for his writing not because of what this story tells us until it’s too late, but because we as a society are familiar with the general history of Shakespeare — at least that he is a famous playwright.
Is this just — by its end — a kind of overly maudlin, roundabout, Bohemian Rhapsody take on how Shakespeare wrote Hamlet? Or is it happy to be a little more abstract, a la At Eternity’s Gate? Zhao, presumably, would prefer the latter, but here and there Hamnet dips close to the former.
Its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses, but Hamnet disappoints because of how great it is on paper.
The Shakespeare of it all may be what draws audiences into theatres to see writer-director Chloe Zhao’s adaptation of author Maggie O'Farrell’s Hamnet, but it is the performances by the actors who portray the Shakespeare’s children that will keep them talking long after they’re back home.
Any criticism for Zhao’s previous film, Eternals, falls away quickly as she beckons us into a well-crafted, and shot, forest imbued with myth and history, populated by committed actors Paul Mescal (William Shakespeare) and Jessie Buckley (Agnes Shakespeare). They give arresting, somewhat anachronistically styled performances.
Who cares about Eternals with ingredients this enticing?
The greatest pleasure, then, comes as a surprise, because it is not who we’d expect (the aforementioned breakout stars), it’s the kids. Jacobi Jupe plays the titular Hamnet, and Olivia Lynes plays Judith.
SPOILERS: The second half of the film concerns itself with how William and Agnes Shakespeare — and to a lesser extent Judith and the other supporting characters — react to losing Hamnet.
This is the hinge upon which, for some audiences, the emotions will swing. The second half will be what they feel in their bones as opposed to the joy in the first half, but losing Jupe means it loses its shining star. Should the second half be in darkness? Maybe that suits the story better, considering its events, but it doesn’t make it more enjoyable as a movie watching experience.
Is Hamnet a novel about how the real world impacts Shakespeare’s inner world, which comes out in his art, or is it about A Marriage Story, set against a Victorian, Shakespeare background? Both? Neither?
I haven’t read the novel upon which this film is based. If the film follows the book closely, then fair enough, but by attempting to be two things, it only almost achievs them, instead of sticking the landing to just one.
We know of Shakespeare’s passion for his writing not because of what this story tells us until it’s too late, but because we as a society are familiar with the general history of Shakespeare — at least that he is a famous playwright.
Is this just — by its end — a kind of overly maudlin, roundabout, Bohemian Rhapsody take on how Shakespeare wrote Hamlet? Or is it happy to be a little more abstract, a la At Eternity’s Gate? Zhao, presumably, would prefer the latter, but here and there Hamnet dips close to the former.
Its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses, but Hamnet disappoints because of how great it is on paper.
S
StevenCsMoviesDecember 11, 2025
StevenCsMoviesDecember 11, 2025Here I thought a “hamnet” was some kind of trap for pigs. Boy was I wrong! HAMNET is actually the new movie directed by Academy Award winner Chloé Zhao. It is adapted from the 2020 historical fiction of the same name written by Maggie O’Farell, who cowrote the film with Zhao. It tells a story of William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) and what could have been his inspiration to create one of the most popular plays in the history of the Globe, Hamlet. He quickly falls in love with Agnes (Jessie Buckley), who like Will, sees things differently. As Will sees things through his words on the page, Agnes sees things through nature, both of them outcasts of society. When tragedy strikes their family, both deal with their grief in different ways. This movie has moments that are hard to watch, but it’s only because the acting doesn’t feel like a performance. Utilizing close-up shots, it feels like I was in the room. Not only is Buckley going to get an award, I believe 12-year-old Jacobi Jupe as the titular character deserves something. It’s a very clever bit of casting having his older brother Noah Jupe in this as well. There were a couple of shots that left me breathless. I don’t want to say too much more about this, but I will say that art can be an opportunity for healing, and the movie has a way of depicting the spiritual power of art as a means of processing trauma. It also has an amazing score, using a rendition of the song On the Nature of Daylight. There are a few critics that have said this movie just never clicked for them emotionally. I’ve tried wrapping my head around that, to no avail. Overall, HAMNET is an extremely beautiful tragedy, an emotional masterpiece that might not click with you. Remember, keep your heart open, and bring tissues.
LLucas.December 11, 2025
Lucas.December 11, 2025It's obviously heartfelt, but I felt the first two-thirds to be slog. The ending is gorgeous. Mescal is a wonder — gave me chills more than once. But he's in it less than I expected. It's very much carried by Jessie Buckley. I dunno, I was underwhelmed. It has its moments and people were SOBBING in the theatre, but it just lacked that little bit extra, that twist that would make it intriguing.
C
Carson LeighDecember 1, 2025
Carson LeighDecember 1, 2025"To be, or not to be, that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles
And by opposing end them."
Jessie Buckley has one of most punchable faces. Especially her smirk. So annoying. And if she could stop mumbling that would be great. When she was yelling out during the show? Infuriating. Kick her out. On another note, slutty earring Shakespeare is good.
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles
And by opposing end them."
Jessie Buckley has one of most punchable faces. Especially her smirk. So annoying. And if she could stop mumbling that would be great. When she was yelling out during the show? Infuriating. Kick her out. On another note, slutty earring Shakespeare is good.
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Lizbeth ZamoraAugust 21, 2026
Lizbeth ZamoraAugust 21, 2026super buena
E
Entertainment OverviewAugust 1, 2026
Entertainment OverviewAugust 1, 2026Es lenta, pero funciona perfectamente gracias a sus actuaciones. Toda la melancolía y los momentos de catarsis emocional son poderosos. El mensaje de cómo se puede abordar la pérdida y expresar las emociones esta bien escrito.
Lo mejor es la actuación de Jessie Buckley; su personaje es el corazón de la película.
Lo mejor es la actuación de Jessie Buckley; su personaje es el corazón de la película.
C
cinefisisJuly 13, 2026
cinefisisJuly 13, 2026Esta pelicula la fui a ver al cine, y la sensación tan desgarradora que me dejo no me la voy a olvidar, retrato un amor y un dolor que tal vez nunca llegue a sentir, pero durante esas dos horas las sufri como si fuera mio. Los actores en esta pelicula son espectaculares, merecido ese oscar a mejor actriz, pero aqui el niño también merecia ser mas reconocido por su trabajo, fue algo inexplicable lo que transmitió con su actuación, realmente llore y no deje de llorar.
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Lee RosalJune 1, 2026
Lee RosalJune 1, 2026Verdadeiramente belo, daqueles que muito se diz em gestos e sutilezas também, mas é muito visceral, gosto da assinatura de Zhao e sinto nela uma verdade. O elenco está tão bem entrosado que se nota, principalmente a relação de Jessie Buckley com as crianças. Vai perdurar, espero que perdure.
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Esteban EordoghMay 10, 2026
Esteban EordoghMay 10, 2026Hablar de Hamnet no es hablar de una película de época más; es sentarse frente a una herida abierta que, curiosamente, te hace sentir menos solo. Chloé Zhao ha logrado algo casi imposible: filmar el silencio, el peso del aire en una habitación vacía y ese amor feroz que sobrevive incluso cuando la vida se empeña en romperse.
Aquí te comparto mis impresiones desde las entrañas:
El latido de la historia
La película se aleja de los escenarios brillantes de Londres y del bardo famoso para quedarse en el barro y las hierbas medicinales de Warwickshire. Lo que más duele —y a la vez maravilla— es cómo retrata la maternidad de Agnes (interpretada por una Jessie Buckley que parece tener fuego en las venas). No es la "esposa de Shakespeare"; es una mujer que ve el mundo de otra forma, que siente el bosque y que tiene que enfrentar el terror más absoluto de cualquier padre: la pérdida.
Lo que te rompe y te cura
La atmósfera: La fotografía no busca ser "bonita", busca ser real. Sientes el frío de las piedras, el olor a lavanda y el agobio de la peste que se acerca como una sombra inevitable.
Paul Mescal: Su interpretación de William es sutil. No vemos al genio de los libros, sino a un hombre sobrepasado por el duelo, que huye hacia la ficción porque la realidad es demasiado pesada para cargarla sobre los hombros.
El vínculo: La conexión entre los gemelos, Hamnet y Judith, está filmada con una delicadeza que te hace sentir que estás invadiendo un espacio sagrado.
El arte de transformar el dolor
El tramo final es, posiblemente, de lo más potente que se ha visto en el cine reciente. Ver cómo ese dolor privado y asfixiante se transforma en la obra de teatro más famosa de la historia (Hamlet) no se siente como un truco de guion, sino como un acto de supervivencia. Es el recordatorio de que el arte es, a veces, la única forma que tenemos de mantener vivos a los que ya no están.
"A veces el amor no es suficiente para salvar una vida, pero es lo único que nos queda para reconstruirnos sobre las cenizas."
Conclusión
Salí del cine con el pecho apretado y una extraña urgencia de abrazar a los míos. Hamnet no es una película para "entretenerse", es una experiencia para recordar qué nos hace humanos: la fragilidad, el duelo y esa terca esperanza de que nada se olvida del todo si se cuenta con el corazón.
Evaluación
💫💫💫💫💫
5 de 5 estrellas. Una obra maestra necesaria que te desarma y te vuelve a armar, pieza por pieza. No hace falta ser un experto en literatura para que esta película te atraviese; solo hace falta haber amado a alguien.
Aquí te comparto mis impresiones desde las entrañas:
El latido de la historia
La película se aleja de los escenarios brillantes de Londres y del bardo famoso para quedarse en el barro y las hierbas medicinales de Warwickshire. Lo que más duele —y a la vez maravilla— es cómo retrata la maternidad de Agnes (interpretada por una Jessie Buckley que parece tener fuego en las venas). No es la "esposa de Shakespeare"; es una mujer que ve el mundo de otra forma, que siente el bosque y que tiene que enfrentar el terror más absoluto de cualquier padre: la pérdida.
Lo que te rompe y te cura
La atmósfera: La fotografía no busca ser "bonita", busca ser real. Sientes el frío de las piedras, el olor a lavanda y el agobio de la peste que se acerca como una sombra inevitable.
Paul Mescal: Su interpretación de William es sutil. No vemos al genio de los libros, sino a un hombre sobrepasado por el duelo, que huye hacia la ficción porque la realidad es demasiado pesada para cargarla sobre los hombros.
El vínculo: La conexión entre los gemelos, Hamnet y Judith, está filmada con una delicadeza que te hace sentir que estás invadiendo un espacio sagrado.
El arte de transformar el dolor
El tramo final es, posiblemente, de lo más potente que se ha visto en el cine reciente. Ver cómo ese dolor privado y asfixiante se transforma en la obra de teatro más famosa de la historia (Hamlet) no se siente como un truco de guion, sino como un acto de supervivencia. Es el recordatorio de que el arte es, a veces, la única forma que tenemos de mantener vivos a los que ya no están.
"A veces el amor no es suficiente para salvar una vida, pero es lo único que nos queda para reconstruirnos sobre las cenizas."
Conclusión
Salí del cine con el pecho apretado y una extraña urgencia de abrazar a los míos. Hamnet no es una película para "entretenerse", es una experiencia para recordar qué nos hace humanos: la fragilidad, el duelo y esa terca esperanza de que nada se olvida del todo si se cuenta con el corazón.
Evaluación
💫💫💫💫💫
5 de 5 estrellas. Una obra maestra necesaria que te desarma y te vuelve a armar, pieza por pieza. No hace falta ser un experto en literatura para que esta película te atraviese; solo hace falta haber amado a alguien.
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Oscar FridmanMarch 9, 2026
Oscar FridmanMarch 9, 2026Me dejo sin aliento. Hermosa
Talk about this
LLucas.January 23, 2026
Lucas.January 23, 2026Oscar Nomination Thoughts?
They're here, the nominations for the Academy Awards! Here are some of the big ones: Best Picture Best Director Hamnet — Chloé Zhao Marty Supreme — Josh Safdie One Battle After Another — Paul Thomas Anderson Sentimental…
7G
Gwen PemOctober 18, 2025
Gwen PemOctober 18, 2025So far, what movie do you think is going to win Best Picture?
I haven't seen a lot of the heavy hitters that have come out, a but my money is on Hamnet for now.
3A
Alma Raquel Alonso LucenaJanuary 6, 2026
Alma Raquel Alonso LucenaJanuary 6, 2026Pronóstico: nominaciones oscares 2026
¡Hola, Peliplaters! ¡Arrancamos el 2026 con la temporada de premios! Las nominaciones a los Oscars 2026 (la 98ª edición) se anuncian el 22 de enero (un día antes de mi cumple :p) , y la ceremonia será el 15 de marzo…
11F
Franchesca A. Herrera PiñaJanuary 9, 2026
Franchesca A. Herrera PiñaJanuary 9, 2026Oscares 2026
Mejor película Mejor Director Paul Thomas Anderson con: Mejor Actor Timothée Chalamet en: Mejor actriz Jessie Buckley en: Película animada: Película internacional:
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