Hamlet

1996
PG-13
4h 2m

IMDb RATING

7.7/10

41K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer1:44

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, returns home to find his father murdered and his mother remarrying the murderer, his uncle. Meanwhile, war is brewing.Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, returns home to find his father murdered and his mother remarrying the murderer, his uncle. Meanwhile, war is brewing.Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, returns home to find his father murdered and his mother remarrying the murderer, his uncle. Meanwhile, war is brewing.

Director
- Kenneth Branagh
Writers
- William Shakespeare
- Kenneth Branagh
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.7/10

41K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

3,628

984

Director
- Kenneth Branagh
Writers
- William Shakespeare
- Kenneth Branagh
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 4 Oscars
- 9 wins & 25 nominations total

Videos2

Trailer 1:44

Watch Hamlet (1996)

Interview 3:42

Watch Kenneth Branagh on His IMDb Best-Known Movies

Photos279

+ 273

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Robin Williams and Billy Crystal were not allowed to be on the set at the same time during filming, for fear they would crack up the cast and crew, and cause major production delays.

Goofs
In the very long shot along the length of the throne room, the cameras are visible in the mirrors.

Quotes
Hamlet: 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 take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing, end them.

Alternate versions
Two versions should have been theatrically released at the same time: a complete 242-minutes director's cut shown only in selected venues (large key cities) and a shorter, wide-release version that ran about two-and-a-half hours. After some critical backlash, Castle Rock decided to release the complete 4 hours everywhere in the US and use the shorter version for some overseas territories.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Mars Attacks!/Marvin's Room/The Preacher's Wife/Hamlet/Citizen Ruth (1996)

Soundtracks
In Pace
Music by Patrick Doyle
Performed by Plácido Domingo
Text for The Book of Wisdom
Text researched and adapted by Russell Jackson
Recorded at Studio 33, Hamburg, Germany
Engineered by Ambrogio Crotte and Luis Rodriguez
Original soundtrack available on Sony Classical Records

User reviews282

Review

Featured review

10/10

Brilliant version

I must say that, looking at Hamlet from the perspective of a student, Brannagh's version of Hamlet is by far the best. His dedication to stay true to the original text should be applauded. It helps the play come to life on screen, and makes it easier for people holding the text while watching, as we did while studying it, to follow and analyze the text.

One of the things I have heard criticized many times is the casting of major Hollywood names in the play. I find that this helps viewers recognize the characters easier, as opposed to having actors that all look and sound the same that aid in the confusion normally associated with Shakespeare.

Also, his flashbacks help to clear up many ambiguities in the text. Such as how far the relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia really went and why Fortinbras just happened to be at the castle at the end. All in all, not only does this version contain some brilliant performances by actors both familiar and not familiar with Shakespeare. It is presented in a way that one does not have to be an English Literature Ph.D to understand and enjoy it.