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Hamlet

  • 19961996
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 4h 2m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
38K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,904
34
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Kenneth Branagh in Hamlet (1996)
Trailer 1
Play trailer1:44
2 Videos
55 Photos
  • Drama

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.

IMDb RATING
7.8/10
38K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,904
34
  • Director
    • Kenneth Branagh
  • Writers
    • William Shakespeare(play "The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark")
    • Kenneth Branagh(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Kenneth Branagh
    • Julie Christie
    • Derek Jacobi
Top credits
  • Director
    • Kenneth Branagh
  • Writers
    • William Shakespeare(play "The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark")
    • Kenneth Branagh(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Kenneth Branagh
    • Julie Christie
    • Derek Jacobi
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 271User reviews
    • 78Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 4 Oscars
      • 9 wins & 25 nominations total

    Videos2

    Hamlet (1996)
    Trailer 1:44
    Hamlet (1996)
    Kenneth Branagh on His IMDb Best-Known Movies
    Interview 3:42
    Kenneth Branagh on His IMDb Best-Known Movies

    Photos55

    Kenneth Branagh in Hamlet (1996)
    Kate Winslet in Hamlet (1996)
    Kenneth Branagh, Julie Christie, Derek Jacobi, and Michael Maloney in Hamlet (1996)
    Kate Winslet and Michael Maloney in Hamlet (1996)
    Kenneth Branagh and Kate Winslet in Hamlet (1996)
    Gérard Depardieu in Hamlet (1996)
    Derek Jacobi in Hamlet (1996)
    Nicholas Farrell in Hamlet (1996)
    Kenneth Branagh, Julie Christie, and Derek Jacobi in Hamlet (1996)
    Kate Winslet in Hamlet (1996)
    Kenneth Branagh and Julie Christie in Hamlet (1996)
    Kenneth Branagh and Julie Christie in Hamlet (1996)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kenneth Branagh
    Kenneth Branagh
    • Hamletas Hamlet
    Julie Christie
    Julie Christie
    • Gertrudeas Gertrude
    Derek Jacobi
    Derek Jacobi
    • Claudiusas Claudius
    Kate Winslet
    Kate Winslet
    • Opheliaas Ophelia
    Rizz Abbasi
    Rizz Abbasi
    • Attendant to Claudiusas Attendant to Claudius
    • (as Riz Abbasi)
    Richard Attenborough
    Richard Attenborough
    • English Ambassadoras English Ambassador
    David Blair
    • Attendant to Claudiusas Attendant to Claudius
    Brian Blessed
    Brian Blessed
    • Ghost of Hamlet's Fatheras Ghost of Hamlet's Father
    Richard Briers
    Richard Briers
    • Poloniusas Polonius
    Michael Bryant
    Michael Bryant
    • Priestas Priest
    Peter Bygott
    • Attendant to Claudiusas Attendant to Claudius
    Billy Crystal
    Billy Crystal
    • First Gravediggeras First Gravedigger
    Charles Daish
    • Stage Manageras Stage Manager
    Judi Dench
    Judi Dench
    • Hecubaas Hecuba
    Gérard Depardieu
    Gérard Depardieu
    • Reynaldoas Reynaldo
    Reece Dinsdale
    Reece Dinsdale
    • Guildensternas Guildenstern
    Ken Dodd
    Ken Dodd
    • Yorickas Yorick
    Angela Douglas
    Angela Douglas
    • Attendant to Gertrudeas Attendant to Gertrude
    • Director
      • Kenneth Branagh
    • Writers
      • William Shakespeare(play "The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark")
      • Kenneth Branagh(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Hamlet (Sir Kenneth Branagh), son of the King of Denmark (Brian Blessed), is summoned home for his father's funeral and his mother Gertrude's (Julie Christie's) wedding to his uncle Claudius (Sir Derek Jacobi). In a supernatural episode, he discovers that his uncle, who he hates anyway, murdered his father. In an incredibly convoluted plot, the most complicated and most interesting in all literature, he manages to (impossible to put this in exact order) feign (or perhaps not to feign) madness, murder the "Prime Minister", love and then unlove an innocent who he drives to madness, plot and then unplot against the uncle, direct a play within a play, successfully conspire against the lives of two well-meaning friends, and finally take his revenge on the uncle, but only at the cost of almost every life on-stage, including his own and his mother's. —John Brosseau <brossj5683@aol.com>
    • ghost
    • revenge
    • shakespeare's hamlet
    • tragedy
    • gertrude character
    • 95 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for some violent images and sexuality
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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: A little more than kin and less than kind.

    • 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 At the Movies: Mars Attacks!/Marvin's Room/The Preacher's Wife/Hamlet/Citizen Ruth (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      In Pace
      Performed by Plácido Domingo

      Text researched and adapted by Russell Jackson

    User reviews271

    Review
    Top 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.
    helpful•84
    22
    • tbone_4ever
    • Feb 5, 2005

    FAQ4

    • Why did Hamlet treat his mother and Ophelia badly?
    • Is it true that Hamlet faked his madness?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 25, 1996 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • William Shakespeare's Hamlet
    • Filming locations
      • Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Castle Rock Entertainment
      • Turner Pictures (I)
      • Fishmonger Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $18,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,708,156
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $90,684
      • Dec 29, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,770,222
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      4 hours 2 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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