The Best Cinematic Versions Of Hamlet (Including Riz Ahmed), Ranked

Hamlet is one of the most famous characters in all of entertainment, with William Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy inspiring countless adaptations over the years. The character has lived for centuries on stage, with films like Hamnet (2025) highlighting the immortality that can be afforded to a character like Hamlet. The Danish prince has been on screen countless times in the age of cinema, with plenty of great and compelling takes on the character in everything from straight adaptations to out-of-the-box reimaginings like The Lion King (1994).

The latest example is Hamlet (2026), Riz Ahmed’s Hindu-infused take on the character. Each performance of the titular character brings their own take to the somber prince’s quest for vengeance, playing up different elements to fit their respective movies. The best are the ones that can play with all those elements while making the part feel very much their own. Across the history of cinema, here are the nine best versions of Hamlet. Watch them on Hoopla, Prime Video, and more.  

9. Mel Gibson in ‘Hamlet’ (1990)

As one of the more high-profile adaptations of the Shakespeare play in the latter part of the 20th century, Mel Gibson’s version of Hamlet isn’t bad, but it doesn’t compare to the other best adaptations of the story. A largely faithful adaptation that makes certain cuts to the play for the sake of the feature-length runtime, director Franco Zeffirelli, who had previously directed The Taming of the Shrew (1967) and Romeo and Juliet (1968), adds a more overtly sensual element that creates interesting (if somewhat queasy) aspects to the dynamic between Hamlet and his mother.

Gibson works best in the broader moments of Hamlet (1990). His experience as an action star bolsters scenes, like his final duel with Laertes. However, Gibson doesn’t have as much success with the quieter moments. While his performance isn’t necessarily bad, his failure to find those complex motivations and internal strife makes him stand out as an entertaining but surface-level take on Hamlet, which is why he comes in at the bottom of this list. 

8. Ethan Hawke in ‘Hamlet’ (2000)

A reimagining of Hamlet that recasts the Danish prince as the son of a powerful CEO in the modern day, Ethan Hawke’s Hamlet (2000) has interesting elements and some clever touches that don’t quite elevate it to the heights of other adaptations. Hawke plays up Hamlet’s relative youth as a disaffected film student whose use of technology updates the story in some creative ways.

The film as a whole stumbles repeatedly in its attempts to portray the timeless tale at the turn of the century, which ends up tripping up Hawke more than anything else. Still, there’s something oddly compelling about his Hamlet, wearing a beanie and stalking the aisles of a video rental store, quietly reciting the “To be, or not to be” speech with the disaffected but compelling aura that Hawke brought to other low-key films of the era like Reality Bites (1994).

7. Iain Glen in ‘Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead’ (1990)

A rare instance of Hamlet being more on the sidelines than in the spotlight, Iain Glen’s performance in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead doesn’t quite have the depth of the other entries on this list, but it benefits the production around him. An adaptation of Tom Stoppard’s legendary play that reimagines the story from the perspective of the titular minor characters, Iain Glen’s Hamlet purposefully acts mad without much internal complexity, playing up the comedy of the original story.

Glen, who is better known now for his work in Game of Thrones (2011), makes good use of that opening to lean into an overly dramatic performance. He doesn’t get the full room that many of his fellow actors did to explore the character, hurting his ranking on this list. Still, Glen does well enough that he stands out as a memorable take on the character.

6. George MacKay in ‘Ophelia’ (2019)

By shifting the focus of the classic play to Hamlet’s typically doomed love interest, Ophelia finds a way to play with the typical presentation of the character. The film positions Hamlet as more of a troubled love interest to Ophelia, who is the primary focus of the film. The decision to play up Hamlet as a troubled heartthrob is an interesting one, and MacKay has enough chemistry with Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) star Daisy Ridley to make the dynamic sing.

As a result of the focus shift and changes to the plot, the actual character of Hamlet is less compelling than usual. Still, MacKay creates a memorable part, delivering a unique performance that can’t outshine the best cinematic examples of the Danish prince but earns its place among them.

5. Stellan Skarsgård in ‘Hamlet’ (1985)

One of the more underseen takes on Hamlet quietly benefits from one of the better performances of the title character. While Stellan Skarsgård has found global recognition in recent years thanks to his work in broader material like Thor (2011) and Andor (2022), the actor shines as the Danish prince, giving the character a stoic depth and hinting at a darker side that livens up the low-key execution.

While his son Alexander would also do great with another take on the archetypal role in The Northman (2022), Stellan delivers understated but memorable dramatic work in Hamlet (1985). The low-key aspects of the performance make it less instantly memorable than other takes on the character. However, Skarsgård’s Hamlet has enough compelling aspects that it works.

4. Riz Ahmed in ‘Hamlet’ (2026)

Riz Ahmed’s Hamlet is an intriguing reinvention of the classic play, with Ahmed, in particular, doing very good work with a fresh reimagining of the character. This take on Hamlet blends the more somber approach with the bigger bursts of vengeance, and Ahmed leans hard into both qualities of the character. Soft-spoken on most occasions but volatile and eager to play into his “madness” for the sake of tricking the court, Ahmed’s Hamlet has a layer of rage that makes for a compelling central performance.

The film also takes some interesting diversions from the source material, which doesn’t pay off in the end as much as audiences might be hoping for. While Ahmed does great work with the part and finds that right balance between grief, fury, and determination to make Hamlet a compelling figure, the other three entries on this list get the benefit of fully realized adaptations instead of a clever tweak. Still, any Shakespeare fan should make sure to check out this take on the material.

3. Kenneth Branagh in ‘Hamlet’ (1996)

As one of the more traditional takes on the character to ever hit the big screen, Kenneth Branagh’s version of the character in Hamlet (1996) is handsomely shot and ambitiously classical. The director’s performance in the lead role is similar, a showy and effective take on the material that benefits from Branagh’s clear reverence for the character and story.

Branagh’s Hamlet goes big in a way few others do, with a flourish to his performance that does wonders for portraying the character’s madness while still keeping him grounded enough to make those quieter moments land. The only reason Branagh isn’t in the top spot is that he can’t quite match the somber intensity of the other two performances that best personify Hamlet off the stage, but it’s not for a lack of trying. If you’re a Shakespearean nerd, this loving recreation of the play for the big screen is a must-see.

2. Laurence Olivier in ‘Hamlet’ (1948)

As one of the most iconic portrayals of the character of Hamlet on the big screen, Laurence Olivier’s Hamlet (1948) remains the benchmark by which all other adaptations are judged. The film makes some serious cuts to the material to make room for a more in-depth look at Hamlet’s personality and character. Olivier embraces that more somber approach, adding a layer of maudlin interiority to the performance that makes for a truly bleak take on the character.

There’s also a layer of grandiose to Olivier’s performance that is befitting for one of the most iconic actors of all time. Laurence Olivier is considered the Hamlet by which all others are compared, and revisiting this Academy Award-winning film showcases exactly why. The only reason this isn't in the top spot is because of the strength of the performance that overtook it, rather than any notable flaw in this take.

1. David Tennant in ‘Hamlet’ (2009)

The best on-screen performance of Hamlet to date, David Tennant’s turn in the BBC production of Hamlet (2009) is a masterclass in acting. Tennant does terrific work across the performance, imbuing the character with shades of every version that has come before it without overshadowing his own theatricality. The actor has always been great at blending tones and tenors, as evidenced by his beloved leading turn in Doctor Who (2005). However, his Hamlet is something else entirely; he’s funny, romantic, somber, furious, and ultimately truly tragic, all with a touch of uniquely showy eccentricity that never distracts from the character or feels unnatural to either Tennant or Hamlet.

There’s a real sense of loss to Tennant’s performance that underscores his rage at the world and his desire to fix what is forever broken. There’s also a quietness that gives way naturally to showboating, a fury that is always undercut with sadness. There’s never been a performance of Hamlet quite like what Tennant brought to the character, which is why it is at the top of this list.