Hamlet
Shakespeare's Hamlet updated to modern London's South Asian business elite
The brief
Aneil Karia transplants Shakespeare's prince into London's South Asian elite with surprising authenticity, letting Riz Ahmed's coiled intensity carry the familiar beats without feeling like a stunt casting exercise. The modern setting actually sharpens the original's themes about power and family rot, while Morfydd Clark brings genuine complexity to Gertrude that most adaptations miss entirely. At under two hours, it moves with the urgency of a thriller rather than dragging like prestige Shakespeare often does. Perfect for anyone who loved The White Lotus's family dysfunction or thinks most Hamlet adaptations are too stuffy and reverential.
The verdict
If you're drawn to fresh takes on classic stories and appreciate when modern adaptations actually enhance the source material rather than just updating it, this is a sharp, fast-moving Hamlet that earns its contemporary setting. If you're a Shakespeare purist who prefers traditional interpretations or need higher production values to engage with drama, the modest budget and cultural transplant will likely leave you cold.
Watch with
- 👤 Solo viewing for maximum psychological impact
- ⚠️ Shakespeare newcomers might need plot primer
Heads up
- Murder and revenge violence (moderate)
- Psychological breakdown and madness (moderate)
- Family betrayal and manipulation (frequent)
Credits
- Director
- Aneil Karia
- Cast
- Riz Ahmed, Morfydd Clark, Timothy Spall, Art Malik, Jasmine Jobson, Sheeba Chaddha, Joe Alwyn
Official synopsis
Shakespeare’s most enduring tragedy is reimagined in a bold, modern adaptation set within London’s elite South Asian community. When Hamlet (Riz Ahmed) returns for his father’s funeral, he is stunned to discover his uncle Claudius is marrying his newly widowed mother. Visited by his father’s ghost, Hamlet learns his brutal murder was at the hands of Claudius - and spirals into a quest for vengeance that exposes the rot at the heart of the family’s empire and threatens his own sanity.
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with The Master (2012)
Both explore psychological unraveling through intense character studies and family betrayal.
Total runtime: 1h 53m + 2h 17m = 4h 10m
