Hamnet Movie Review

Hamnet (2025)

Rent Hamnet on Amazon Video (paid link) // Buy the book (paid link) 
Written by: Chloé Zhao & Maggie O'Farrell (screenplay by), Maggie O'Farrell (based on the novel written by)
Directed by: Chloé Zhao
Starring: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Zac Wishart
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer

Plot
After losing their son Hamnet to plague, Agnes and William Shakespeare grapple with grief in 16th-century England. Agnes must find strength to care for her surviving children while processing her devastating loss.

Verdict
For the first half of the movie, I wondered why this was so popular. Is it because this is another Shakespeare movie with acclaimed actors which always seems to do well critically? It seems like awards bait, but the first half is the foundation and the second half is what makes this movie; art and grief against relationships fractured and repaired. Through his play Hamlet, Shakespeare gave his son a starring role and his wife closure. It's an excellent conclusion to a movie that desperately needed the boost.
Watch It.

Review
While Zhao garnered acclaim for The Rider (2017), she won the best director Oscar for her followup Nomadland (2020) which also won best picture.

Tutor William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) becomes enchanted by herbalist Agnes (Jessie Buckley), winning her over with a story. At least that's what we see. She soon becomes pregnant and kicked out of her home, moving in with William and his parents who aren't happy about the situation.

Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal play Agnes, William Shakespeare

William is the frustrated writer, and Agnes suggests he go to London though she is pregnant again. She's carrying twins, but she also had a prophecy that predicted only two children at her deathbed. One of the children is stillborn, but Agnes refuses to accept it and demands to see the child, despite tradition, which begins breathing as soon as Agnes touches her. It's ominous, Agnes has seemingly cheated death on behalf of her children Judith and Hamnet. Will death return to collect?

Shakespeare movies by default feel like awards bait. They generally feature an acclaimed director and actors as well as lavish settings and costumes. Shakespeare is such a renowned, mysterious figure, and that's part of the appeal with people desperate to find out more. His stories are often repeated because they're so timeless. A third of the way in, I expected more from this. Zhao's movies have always been about people. We're introduced to his wife and children, but while this features Shakespeare, it's not about him.

The movie frequently returns to the image of the cave in the woods. It has to be symbolic of Agnes being known as a witch and her connection to nature. It also represents life and death. It appeared with the birth of her kids and the death of her hawk.

Judith gets very sick, and Hamnet pleads with her to get better, offering to take her place. We know what that means. Agnes was predicted to have only two children. Either death will take Judith back or take Hamnet in her place. It was foretold.

Jessie Buckley plays Agnes

Shakespeare experiences success in London while Agnes suffers at home. She travels to see his latest play, but she's upset that he used her son's name. It's the co-mingling of grief and art. William's grief elevated his art, creating a play fit for his son Hamnet in Hamlet. As the movie tells us, Hamnet and Hamlet are basically the same name. As the play unfolds, Agnes's anger ebbs as she begins to appreciate what William did. This play is a tribute to Hamnet. His grief and coping has been imbued into the play. Through that, Agnes gets to see her son again. William was able to give Hamnet the role in a play he always wanted, and through the play Agnes was able to confront her grief and finally let go.

I couldn't understand why this movie was so highly regarded until I got to the final sequence. Watching that section of Hamlet is what makes this movie. It's art, grief, and acceptance. It elevates the rest of the movie, and it's the reason this movie is ranked so highly. While the rest of the movie isn't up to the same standard, it does set the stage for the final, amazing sequence. Shakespeare's famous play Hamlet is a tribute to his son, catharsis for him and his wife. We don't just see it, we experience it.