If there’s only one movie you watch this week, make it “Hamnet.” I know there are other options, from the new Elizabeth Olsen rom-com “Eternity” to all the new movies to stream this week, but none will be as good as this historical drama. That’s because “Hamnet” might be the best movie of the year so far, period.
At the moment, I still give Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” the edge in the Best Picture Oscar race, both objectively and in my subjective opinion. However, Jessie Buckley’s performance is the best acting performance of any I’ve seen in 2025 so far, and I’ve seen dozens of this year’s movies to date. As Agnes Shakespeare, wife of the Bard, she goes through an entire range of emotions, from stoicism to despair, from joy to anger.
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Spoilers for “Hamnet” ahead
‘Hamnet’ is a masterclass in storytelling
While Buckley’s performance is what makes “Hamnet” a transcendent film, I’d be remiss if I didn’t praise director/co-writer Chloé Zhao as well. Her storytelling in this movie is excellent, delivering multiple moments that almost brought me to tears.
Billed as a historical drama, “Hamnet” is really a historical fiction, adapted from a novel of the same name by Maggie O’Farrell (who co-wrote the screenplay with Zhao). It begins as a more typical romantic drama or even arguably a biopic. We’re immediately thrust into Agnes and William’s whirlwind romance, his first steps towards becoming the legendary playwright we know today, and the start of their family.
HAMNET – Official Trailer [HD] – Only In Theaters This Thanksgiving – YouTube
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But once the three Shakespeare children are born, the movie immediately leaps forward in time and becomes an emotionally gripping, even emotionally manipulative masterclass in dramatic storytelling. It delivers one heart-wrenching gut punch after another.
The focal point of this movie is a moment of profound loss for Agnes and William — the death of Hamnet. It’s a devastating moment for the viewer as well, equally liable to utterly silence a room as it is to bring grown men to tears, and driven by incredible performances from Buckley and Jupe.
But before you can recover from this climactic peak, you’re immediately thrust into the carnage this loss wreaks on Agnes and William’s relationship. Agnes has, up to this point, been the consummate partner for William, allowing him to run off to London and live out his dreams. After the loss of their son, though, she’s the embodiment of “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,” and essentially throws William out.
Then, just as you’re starting to regain your emotional footing, we get to see William’s grieving process: the play now known as “Hamlet.” We experience this largely through Agnes’ eyes, and it’s just as devastating as anything that’s come before. Buckley takes us through Agnes’ whole emotional journey, beginning with her rage at William using their dead son’s name, to her realization that this is the only way for him to talk to their son from beyond the grave.
(Image credit: Focus Features)
Admittedly, it’s the ending where “Hamnet” hits some bumps. There are things Agnes does in the crowd of the Globe Theater at the premiere of Shakespeare’s now iconic tragedy that strain credulity, even for a historical fiction. If the movie hadn’t already succeeded in emotionally manipulating you, it might be a serious flaw, but ultimately, I think you’ll find it easy to forgive Zhao’s tendency for poetic license in this final act of the story.
To be clear, even with its flaws, “Hamnet” is a masterpiece. The fact that I did not cry at least once can be chalked up entirely to sheer willpower and that I was in a public setting. I counted at least three times where I got misty-eyed and choked up regardless. This movie is a lock to get a Best Picture nominee and, once more people see it this weekend, might become the odds-on favorite for Hollywood’s top prize.
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