Grand Theft Hamlet
Directed by Sam Crane, Pinny Grylls6.994%77%
Two unemployed friends have a fresh idea: they want to stage Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' in Grand Theft Auto. But even in a virtual world, reality intrudes in a wild and trippy film shot entirely inside the ultra-violent video game.
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Grand Theft Hamlet Ratings & Reviews
- MrDinduNuffinFebruary 26, 2025Interesting and entertaining. Not sure where all the production companies and producers come into it - it's ambitious YouTube video - but entertaining nonetheless.
- Rowan KrzysiakMarch 21, 2025Even at only 90 minutes, this thing is still twice as long as it needs to be. It's not a fun watch and I reckon its main purpose will be for media academics to debate reality, significance and wotnot with this brought up as a text to read.
- Kevin WardJuly 1, 2025Funny and surprisingly moving at times. Could be a companion piece to The Remarkable Life of Ibelin in that it celebrates the value of community in online spaces. (Highly recommend that film if you haven’t seen it). This one at times gets a little lost in the silliness of the conceit at times, but I can’t really fault it if it made me laugh. Worth checking out.
- Hipster ZOMBIEMarch 1, 2025This will be at the top of your must see list! Grand Theft Hamlet is an inventive and surprisingly moving documentary that blends Shakespearean theater with the chaotic world of Grand Theft Auto Online. Conceived by out-of-work actors Sam Crane and Mark Oosterveen during the COVID-19 lockdown, the film follows their ambitious and often absurd attempt to stage a full production of Hamlet within the game’s virtual world. When they aren’t being shot at or blown up, Sam and Mark recruit some interesting gamers from around the world to help bring Hamlet to the online gaming world. If you’re looking for a documentary that is both wildly entertaining and unexpectedly profound, Grand Theft Hamlet is well worth watching. It’s currently in theaters and will be streaming on MUBI in early 2025 (The Standard).
- SpoonsFebruary 21, 2025At first glance, Grand Theft Hamlet might seem like a gimmick—Shakespeare staged in a video game, another oddity in the ever-expanding world of digital creativity. But to dismiss it as just that would be to miss something truly special. This isn’t just about gaming, nor is it merely a pandemic project cobbled together out of necessity. Instead, it’s an intimate and often profound exploration of mental health, creativity, and the search for meaning in isolation. Filmed entirely within Grand Theft Auto V’s online world, the film follows a group of actors attempting to stage Hamlet inside the game. What starts as an ambitious idea quickly becomes something far more layered—a reflection on the toll of COVID lockdowns, the struggle to maintain purpose, and the ways people turn to digital spaces not just for entertainment, but for survival. The film acts as a window into the mind of someone wrestling with depression, where creative expression isn’t just an outlet but a lifeline. It’s deeply personal yet universally resonant, especially for anyone who has ever found themselves seeking connection in the virtual. For gamers, Grand Theft Hamlet is a revelation. It showcases the limitless potential of these digital sandboxes, where artistry, community, and storytelling can collide in unexpected ways. The idea of using a violent, chaotic world like GTA V as the stage for one of history’s greatest tragedies is both absurd and inspired—turning the game into something akin to Secret Cinema within a virtual city. For non-gamers, it offers a rare and valuable perspective into why so many people immerse themselves in these worlds, not just for escapism, but for the camaraderie, the storytelling, and the sheer creative possibilities they unlock. If you liked the emotional depth of The Remarkable Life of Ibelin or the sense of connection in We Met in Virtual Reality, then you may enjoy Grand Theft Hamlet for its exploration of these joint themes. Like Ibelin, which shows how a young man’s memory lives on through World of Warcraft, Grand Theft Hamlet highlights how digital worlds can be more than just games—they can be places where people find purpose, build relationships, and leave lasting legacies. Meanwhile, We Met in Virtual Reality captures the importance of virtual spaces as social lifelines, much like Grand Theft Hamlet showcases a community coming together to create art within GTA V. By the time the credits roll, you’re left with a new appreciation not just for Shakespeare, but for the evolving nature of storytelling itself. If this is what’s possible with Grand Theft Auto V, I can’t wait to see Othello in GTA 6.
- RyezooFebruary 4, 2025If this was on YouTube I would of stopped watching after the first 15 mins. Hilarious concept, but the unique charm of it runs thin pretty quickly. It’s when you realize how serious they’re taking this and it’s coming at the cost of their personal relationships that you realize oh these people are insufferable. I can’t believe I’m watching this movie.
