Hamlet

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Hamlet

R,

2000,

1h 51m,

Drama

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Watchlist

Watchlist

59%

93 Reviews

Tomatometer

46%

10,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

59%

Tomatometer

93 Reviews

46%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

This is a modern retelling of the classic tale of a young filmmaker in New York City (Ethan Hawke) struggling with the weight of a production company called Denmark Corp. following the death of his father, including dealing with those who would deprive him of his "crown."

Critics Consensus

Stiff performances fail to produce any tension onscreen.

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Roxana Hadadi

Crooked Marquee

Jun 5, 2020

Almereyda's details actually give the core story an additional layer of power. The cyclical decay of Hamlet still resonates, even as its '90s flourishes have become increasingly irrelevant.

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Gavin Smith

Film Comment Magazine

Apr 10, 2018

Ingeniously and divertingly updating Shakespeare to corporate New York, Michael Almereyda's Hamlet benefits from playfully iconographic casting.

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Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

Jun 21, 2016

Too often, the gimmick of modern-dress Shakespeare is undone by the sheer visual incongruity of people in business suits speaking in 17th-century vernacular. Hawke (and those surrounding him) somehow make it play.

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Susan Sontag

Artforum

May 2, 2024

Witty, intelligent, and most convincing when it’s altogether over the top.

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Cary Wong

Out Magazine

May 25, 2022

Despite some interesting set pieces... Almereyda could have infused the proceedings with more energy and less brooding.

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A.S. Hamrah

The Baffler

Sep 16, 2020

The films pops off the screen in brilliant color and striking arrangements of actors.

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Finn G

Oct 15, 2018

this is the most early 2000s thing i have ever seen in my life? on boxxy software

Rey P

Oct 15, 2017

I created a rotten tomatoes account specifically to give this the minimum number of stars. I never thought I could so entirely hate any production of Hamlet. They make Hamlet into a melodramatic manchild. He has no sense of humor to speak of. Hell, they even manage to make POLONIUS almost boring despite casting him well? like? how is this even POSSIBLE? The only praise I can give this movie is that they cut Hamlet's speech to the actors, and so made the movie that much shorter. (I'm sure they would have found a way to make it boring anyway.)

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Michael Almereyda

Director

Ethan Hawke

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Kyle MacLachlan

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Sam Shepard

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Diane Venora

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Synopsis

This is a modern retelling of the classic tale of a young filmmaker in New York City (Ethan Hawke) struggling with the weight of a production company called Denmark Corp. following the death of his father, including dealing with those who would deprive him of his "crown."

Director: Michael Almereyda
Producer: Andrew Fierberg, Amy Hobby
Screenwriter: William Shakespeare, Michael Almereyda
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Double A Films
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 24, 2000, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 8, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.6M
Runtime: 1h 51m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround

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