Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gritty version of classic play includes language, violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
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Where to Watch
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Hamlet
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In HAMLET, a young man (Riz Ahmed) returns home for his father's (Avijit Dutt) funeral to discover his mother (Sheeba Chaddha) has agreed to marry his uncle (Art Malik). While he's struggling to come to terms with the engagement, his father's ghost comes to him and reveals that he was murdered by the very same uncle. This sends Hamlet on a path of intense introspection and an increasingly urgent desire for revenge.
Is It Any Good?
Ahmed is really the selling point of this London-set adaptation of Shakespeare's classic play, stepping into the iconic role with a fitting intensity and sense of danger just barely under control. The quieter moments in particular make an impact in Hamlet, and the supporting cast do a great job of maintaining the taut atmosphere. The cinematography also makes a strong impact, the film's housing estates plunged into darkness and illuminated by security lights, and its city streets bathed in a menacing neon glow. The atmosphere is intense and claustrophobic, which reflects Hamlet's mental state. What the strong sense of mood loses is Hamlet's sardonic humor, but this is certainly still an inventive and entertaining take on the Bard's famous text. It will likely be an interesting adaptation for those familiar with the story, yet may lose a few due to lack of clarity in its plotting.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Hamlet fares as an adaptation. Do you think adapting a well-known text is easier or harder than a lesser-known one? What might be the positives and negatives of adapting a popular Shakespeare play? How does this compare to other Shakespeare adaptations you've seen?
Talk about the film's violence. Was it thrilling? Scary? Both? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
How is the topic of mental health portrayed in the movie? How do Hamlet and Ophelia each struggle with their mental health, and how does it affect them? Where might you turn if you or someone close to you was struggling in a similar way?
Discuss the strong language used in the movie. What did it contribute to the movie? Is a certain kind of language expected in a movie like this?
The film reimagines the classic text with mostly Asian actors. Why is it important to see different communities on-screen and why is it important to see actors of different ethnicities in central roles? Why representation matters in kids' media.
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 10, 2026
- Cast : Riz Ahmed , Morfydd Clark , Avijit Dutt
- Director : Aneil Karia
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Director(s) , Indian/South Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Vertical Entertainment
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters , Family Stories
- Run time : 114 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some bloody violence, suicide, brief drug use and language
- Last updated : April 20, 2026
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