Hamnet (2025)

My Review

“Hamnet” tells the story of William Shakespeare and his wife dealing with the death of their eleven-year-old son. Director Chloe Zhao (“Eternals” 2021) put together an engrossing movie of historical fiction and speculation, with marvelous performances and an outstanding screenplay she co-wrote with Maggie O’Farrell, the author of the 2020 novel of the same name upon which the film is based.

The cast includes Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley as Bill and Agnes Shakespeare, Jacobi Jupe as Hamnet Shakespeare, Emily Watson and David Wilmot as Bill’s mother and father, Joe Alwyn as Agnes’ brother, and Noah Jupe as Hamlet in the “Hamlet” play within the movie. The watchable “Hamnet” was successful at the box office for producer Steven Spielberg, Amblin Entertainment, Neal Street Productions, and Universal Pictures.

“Hamnet” was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning one for Best Actress (Buckley). The non-winners were Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Casting, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, and Best Original Score (Max Richter).