The award winning and Oscar tipped, Hamnet bursts onto screens as a heart-wrenching historical drama that’s as visually stunning as it is deeply moving. Directed by the visionary Chloé Zhao (Nomadland), this period piece reimagines the life of William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes in 16th-century England, focusing on how the tragic death of their young son, Hamnet, reshapes their lives and fuels Shakespeare’s creative spirit, the emotional inspiration behind Hamlet.
This beautifully crafted story blends wonderfully powerful performances, immersive stylistics and rich thematic depth. Zhao’s direction brings an intimate, poetic feel to each scene, with lush period detail and a haunting, evocative score that draws you into the raw emotional journey of love, loss, resilience and the transformative power of art.
At the heart of the film are the ever excellent Jessie Buckley (The Lost Daughter) as Agnes, delivering an award-worthy performance, and Paul Mescal (Aftersun) as William, whose portrayal of grief and creativity is mesmerizing. Supporting roles from Emily Watson (Chernobyl) add further gravitas.
Critics and audiences have responded with high praise, Hamnet holds strong scores with reviewers, and has been listed among the top films of the year by the American Film Institute. It also clinched Best Motion Picture for Drama and Best Female Actor in a Drama for Jessie Buckley at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards. It is also hotly tipped for Oscar success so catch it at the Empire to see what the fuss is all about!
You might enjoy Hamnet, if you enjoyed Atonement (2007) and The Favourite (2018.
