New Hamlet Adaptation With Marvel Star Draws Regal RT Score Ahead of Release

The latest cinematic adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet has garnered mostly positive reviews from critics, leading to an amazing score on the review-aggregating site Rotten Tomatoes. Riz Ahmed, who previously played Carlton Drake and voiced Riot in 2018’s Venom, portrays the titular prince in the newer movie. Aneil Karia directed the feature. Additionally, the cast includes Art Malik as Claudius, Morfydd Clark as Ophelia, Joe Alwyn as Laertes, and Sheeba Chaddha as Gertrude.

What critics are saying about Hamlet in reviews

The critics have mostly good things to say about the Ahmed-led modern iteration of Hamlet. Tania Hussain of Collider shared, “This 2025 update from director Aneil Karia and Oscar-winner Riz Ahmed isn’t just another pass at Shakespeare. Instead, it’s a gritty South Asian reimagining that boldly rips the play out of its primary setting and slams it into modern-day London with a cultural charge you haven’t quite seen before.”

The Scotsman’s Alistair Harkness noted that the movie is “a gritty, bloody, pretty streamlined take on Shakespeare’s thematically evergreen, if very familiar, tale of familial treachery, revenge and madness.”

Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com praised Ahmed’s performance in the feature. “To say that Ahmed is the reason to see Hamlet would be an understatement,” Tallerico wrote. “At first, his near-tears vocal choices married to his practical shaking feel overdone, but one must remember that Hamlet is going mad with grief and rage.”

ScreenRant’s Mae Abdulbaki also lauded Ahmed’s performance, dubbing it “exceptional” and assured that “Hamlet is a journey worth taking.”

Hamlet draws a favorable score on Rotten Tomatoes

Hamlet currently has an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This number will likely change as the movie draws near to the theatrical release and more reviews come out. However, it’s safe to assume that it will maintain its “Certified Fresh” rating.

Hamlet premiered at the 52nd Telluride Film Festival on August 30, 2025. It will debut in US theaters on April 10, 2026.

Source: Comingsoon.net