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Hamlet

1948·Movie
2h 33min·NR
IMDb7.5Metacritic827.9Rotten Tomatoes96%80%

Where to watch

fuboTVHBO MaxThe RokuCriterionPluto TV

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

Hamlet fingerprint

Masterful craft, immersive world.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension7
  • Violence6
  • Adrenaline5

Heart

Deeply moving and melancholic

  • Pathos9
  • Melancholy8
  • Catharsis8

Humor

Some sharp wit

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay7
  • Dark Humor4
  • Satire & Parody3

World

History, the mind, and mystery

Lived-in and easy to get lost in. Holds up on a rewatch.

  • World Immersion9
  • Dialogue Centrality9
  • Rewatchability8

Craft

Standout performances, direction, and storytelling

Layered plot that rewards full attention.

  • Acting10
  • Direction9
  • Narrative Structure9

Style

Standout cinematography, editing, and score

  • Cinematography8
  • Editing8
  • Music Composition8

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensThought-Provoking

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Suspense moviesPsychological moviesMelancholic moviesMind-Bending movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

The motion picture of all time ... for all time!

Winner of four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor, Sir Laurence Olivier’s Hamlet continues to be the most compelling version of Shakespeare’s beloved tragedy. Olivier is at his most inspired—both as director and as the melancholy Dane himself—as he breathes new life into the words of one of the world’s greatest dramatists.
Shakespearean TragedyRevenge DramaRoyal IntrigueBrooding AtmospherePsychological DepthClassic LiteratureGothic ElementsStellar Performances

Crew

Directed by:
Laurence Olivier, Peter Bolton
Written by:
Laurence Olivier, William Shakespeare
Produced by:
Laurence Olivier, Anthony Bushell, Reginald Beck
Composed by:
John W. Mitchell, William Walton, Ken Rawkins

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Hamlet

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Hamlet legally?

fuboTVHBO MaxThe RokuCriterionPluto TVShout! Factory TVPlexTubi TV

Hamlet is included with a subscription to fuboTV and HBO Max in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Pluto TV, Shout! Factory TV, and YouTube Free. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Hamlet worth watching?

83
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 83/100 (IMDb 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes 96%, and Metacritic 82). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Hamlet rated?

NRViolenceSuicide themes

It's rated NR in the United States. Content advisories: violence and suicide themes.

How long is Hamlet?

2 h 33 min

Hamlet runs 2 h 33 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Hamlet?

Critics89
Audiences78

Not quite. Critics rate Hamlet higher (89) than audiences (78). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is Hamlet in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United Kingdom.

In how many countries can I watch Hamlet?

19AUCADKESFIGBGGHKIEITJPNONZRU+5

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Hamlet in 19 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Hamlet use?

Suicide by SeaKarma HoudiniKarma HoudiniKarma HoudiniVisual InnuendoMy Sister Is Off-LimitsEt Tu, Brute?Noodle IncidentKarmic DeathEverybody's Dead, DaveAuthor FilibusterPre-Mortem One-Linerand 285 more

TV Tropes lists 297 storytelling tropes for Hamlet, including Suicide by Sea, Karma Houdini, Karma Houdini.