Common Sense Media Review
By Stefan Pape
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Grief-driven drama inspired by death of Shakespeare's son.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Hamnet
What's the Story?
HAMNET follows Agnes (Jessie Buckley) and Will (Paul Mescal), a married couple raising their three children in a small English village. Will, a writer, travels to London for work, often away for weeks at a time. During one of his absences, their son Hamnet falls seriously ill and dies. His death devastates the family but inspires Will—William Shakespeare—to write his masterpiece, Hamlet.
Is It Any Good?
Directed and co-written by Chloé Zhao (Nomadland), this masterful period drama is one of 2025's most deeply affecting films. Hamnet tugs at the heartstrings with its exploration of a child's death. This difficult subject matter is handled with delicate care while never shying away from the heartrending devastation of such loss—particularly in scenes depicting the child's death and a stillbirth. That this personal tragedy inspired Shakespeare's Hamlet only adds to the dramatic impact. Zhao's brilliant filmmaking is elevated by exceptional turns from Buckley and Mescal. Buckley, especially, delivers a career-best performance, and both actors handle raw, intense emotions with remarkable skill, bringing this story of grief and resilience powerfully to life.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how grief and loss were portrayed in Hamnet. How did Agnes and Will each process their son's death differently? What are healthy ways to express grief? How can families support each other?
Did you find any scenes particularly upsetting? Were these scenes handled sensitively? Why does that matter? How to talk to kids about difficult subjects.
Discuss the film's depiction of 17th century family life. How did gender roles and Will's long absences affect the family during crisis? Do you think parenting expectations have changed since then? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 26, 2025
- On DVD or streaming : February 3, 2026
- Cast : Jessie Buckley , Paul Mescal , Joe Alwyn
- Director : Chloé Zhao
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Asian Movie Director(s) , Chinese Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s) , Asian Movie Writer(s) , Chinese Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Focus Features
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Arts , Book Characters , Family Stories ( Dads , Moms ) , History ( Biopic )
- Character Strengths : Perseverance
- Run time : 125 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : thematic content, some strong sexuality, and partial nudity
- Awards : Academy Award - Best Picture Nominee , Academy Award - Other Category Nominee , BAFTA - BAFTA Winner , BAFTA - BAFTA Nominee , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Winner , NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : January 23, 2026
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