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Hamnet poster
8.9
Focus Features Acclaimed

Hamnet

Chloé Zhao's devastating adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's novel — Jessie Buckley won the Best Actress Oscar as Shakespeare's grieving wife in this transcendent story of love and loss.

2025 126 min PG-13
Critic8.9
Drama Romance History
Peacock Fandango at Home Focus Features (Theatrical)
Trailer Where to Watch

Overview

In Renaissance Stratford, the free-spirited Agnes and a young Latin tutor named William fall passionately in love and build a family — until the death of their 11-year-old son Hamnet shatters them, and grief is transfigured into the play that becomes Hamlet.
Story 8.7
Acting 9.7
Direction 9.3
Cinematography 9.5
Music 9.2
Pacing 8.0
Originality 8.0
Emotional Impact 9.8
Overall 8.9

Editorial Review

By FindEdition Cinema Desk

8.9 /10

Buckley is astonishing

Jessie Buckley delivers one of the performances of the decade as Agnes — raw, wild and utterly devastating.

Zhao's return to form

After Eternals, Zhao returns to the elemental, nature-soaked intimacy that made Nomadland sing, aided by Łukasz Żal's ravishing images and Max Richter's score.

Pros

  • Jessie Buckley's Oscar-winning performance
  • Chloé Zhao's luminous direction
  • Łukasz Żal's stunning cinematography
  • Max Richter's aching score
  • Profound emotional impact

Cons

  • Almost unbearably sad
  • Conventional chronological structure
  • Deliberate, slow pacing
Verdict A shattering, exquisitely crafted tragedy: Chloé Zhao transforms Maggie O'Farrell's novel into a transcendent meditation on love and grief, powered by Jessie Buckley's career-defining, Oscar-winning performance.

AI Review

Chloé Zhao's devastating adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's novel — Jessie Buckley won the Best Actress Oscar as Shakespeare's grieving wife in this transcendent story of love and loss.

A shattering, exquisitely crafted tragedy: Chloé Zhao transforms Maggie O'Farrell's novel into a transcendent meditation on love and grief, powered by Jessie Buckley's career-defining, Oscar-winning performance.

Set aside the evening and bring tissues — one of the great screen tragedies of the decade.

Awards

Academy Awards

Best Actress in a Leading Role (Jessie Buckley) · Won

Academy Awards

Best Picture · Nominated

Academy Awards

Best Director (Chloé Zhao) · Nominated

Golden Globe Awards

Best Motion Picture – Drama · Won

Golden Globe Awards

Best Actress – Drama (Jessie Buckley) · Won

BAFTA Awards

Best Actress (Jessie Buckley) · Won

Toronto International Film Festival

People's Choice Award · Won

Timeline

Release Date
Theatrical Date
Premiere
Festival
Status
Development

Chloé Zhao adapted Maggie O'Farrell's 2020 novel, co-writing the screenplay with the author; produced by Hera Pictures, Neal Street, Amblin and Book of Shadows.

Casting

Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal cast as Agnes and William Shakespeare, with Emily Watson and Joe Alwyn in support.

Festival premiere

Premiered at Telluride on August 29, 2025 and won the People's Choice Award at TIFF.

Release

Focus Features opened it in US limited release November 26, 2025 (wide December 12); UK release January 9, 2026 via Universal.

Academy Awards

Best Actress in a Leading Role (Jessie Buckley) Won

Academy Awards

Best Picture Nominated

Academy Awards

Best Director (Chloé Zhao) Nominated

Golden Globe Awards

Best Motion Picture – Drama Won

Golden Globe Awards

Best Actress – Drama (Jessie Buckley) Won

BAFTA Awards

Best Actress (Jessie Buckley) Won

Toronto International Film Festival

People's Choice Award Won

Production

Development

Chloé Zhao adapted Maggie O'Farrell's 2020 novel, co-writing the screenplay with the author; produced by Hera Pictures, Neal Street, Amblin and Book of Shadows.

Casting

Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal cast as Agnes and William Shakespeare, with Emily Watson and Joe Alwyn in support.

Festival premiere

Premiered at Telluride on August 29, 2025 and won the People's Choice Award at TIFF.

Release

Focus Features opened it in US limited release November 26, 2025 (wide December 12); UK release January 9, 2026 via Universal.

Streaming

Peacock Fandango at Home Focus Features (Theatrical)

Cast

Jessie Buckley Agnes
Paul Mescal William Shakespeare
Jacobi Jupe Hamnet
Emily Watson Mary
Joe Alwyn Bartholomew
Noah Jupe Hamlet (stage)
Justine Mitchell
David Wilmot
Olivia Lynes
Bodhi Rae Breathnach

Characters

Agnes Jessie Buckley
William Shakespeare Paul Mescal
Hamnet Jacobi Jupe
Mary Emily Watson
Bartholomew Joe Alwyn
Hamlet (stage) Noah Jupe

Crew

Chloé Zhao Director
Chloé Zhao Screenwriter
Maggie O'Farrell Screenwriter
Łukasz Żal Cinematographer
Chloé Zhao Editor
Affonso Gonçalves Editor
Max Richter Composer
Liza Marshall Producer
Pippa Harris Producer
Nicolas Gonda Producer
Steven Spielberg Producer
Sam Mendes Producer

Videos

Official Trailer

Soundtrack

  1. Hamnet (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) — Max Richter

Trivia

  • Marks Chloé Zhao's first feature since Marvel's Eternals (2021) and a return to her intimate, naturalistic style.
  • Jessie Buckley swept Best Actress across the Golden Globes, Critics' Choice, BAFTA, SAG Actor Awards and the Oscars for her performance.
  • Buckley became the first Irish woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress.
  • The film received eight Academy Award nominations in total, including Best Picture and Best Director.
  • Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes served as producers on the film.
  • It won the People's Choice Award at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, a strong Oscar bellwether.

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AI Recommendation Insight

Chloé Zhao's devastating adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's novel — Jessie Buckley won the Best Actress Oscar as Shakespeare's grieving wife in this transcendent story of love and loss. Similar picks: Highly Rated Drama

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