Hamnet, a historic tragedy exploring the household lifetime of William Shakespeare and his spouse, has been nominated for eight Oscars for the 98th Academy Awards. The film is in competition for finest image, finest actress, finest director, finest tailored screenplay, finest authentic rating, finest costume design, finest manufacturing design and finest casting.
Hamnet is screening in Ster-Kinekor cinemas, Nu Metro theatres, and at The Bioscope from right this moment (30 January 2026). The fictional account follows the loss of life of the couple’s 11-year-old son, Hamnet, and examines how the loss shapes the lives of these left behind. Set in late sixteenth-century England, the movie focuses on grief, reminiscence, and household relationships slightly than Shakespeare’s public life.
It is tailored from Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 novel and directed by Chloé Zhao, who co-wrote the screenplay with O’Farrell. Notably, Zhao has now made Academy Awards historical past as the primary lady of color to obtain two finest director nominations, following her win for Nomadland (2020). Her earlier movies embody Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015), The Rider (2017), and Eternals (2021).
Jessie Buckley, who performs Shakespeare’s spouse, gained the 2026 Critics’ Choice Award for Best Actress. At the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, She gained Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, with Hamnet receiving the Best Motion Picture – Drama award.
The film attracts on actual historic occasions. William Shakespeare, the English playwright and poet thought to be some of the influential figures in literary historical past, and his spouse Agnes Hathaway had a son named Hamnet, who died in 1596. Little is thought concerning the circumstances of his loss of life.
The loss occurred throughout a formative interval in Shakespeare’s life and profession. The plot makes use of this historic context as a basis, mixing documented details with fictionalised interpretation to discover the private impression of the tragedy on the household.
Hamnet stars Paul Mescal (Gladiator II) as William. The solid contains Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn, Noah Jupe, Zac Wishart, James Lintern, Justine Mitchell, Eva Wishart, Effie Linnen, David Wilmot, Freya Hannan-Mills, and Dainton Anderson.