And the results are in! Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley's drama, Hamnet, has received a perfect score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Directed by Chloé Zhao, the movie, which premiered at the 2025 Telluride Film Festival this week, has left critics impressed, with many lauding Buckley's standout performance as Agnes, the wife of William Shakespeare (Mescal).
"Buckley is nothing less than magical," raved The Wrap. "She can singlehandedly break your heart with one glance or gesture and is, put simply, brilliant."
"Hamnet isn't just a masterful film; it's a genuine emotional experience from a director tapping into something remarkable," added Next Best Picture.
"Anchored by the primordial rawness of Buckley's astonishing performance, Hamnet is never the least bit at risk of reducing Agnes to a trope," noted IndieWire. "If anything, the film regards her as an even more powerful creative force than her husband."
Related: Best film and TV tours for 2025
What to Read Next
Meanwhile, Variety hailed the film as "emotionally raw" and "almost excruciating at times", with Buckley's portrayal singled out as "heroic".
Based on Maggie O'Farrell's 2020 novel of the same name, Hamnet has been billed as a "powerful love story" which delves into the inspiration behind "Shakespeare's timeless masterpiece, Hamlet".
Charting the relationship between Agnes and William Shakespeare, the film follows the two as they contend with the sudden loss of their 11-year-old son Hamnet.
Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn and David Wilmot also star, while legendary directors Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes are credited as producers.
Following its debut at the Telluride Film Festival, Hamnet is already generating plenty of Oscar buzz, but it won't arrive in US cinemas until 27 November. Unfortunately for the UK, the wait is even longer with Hamnet scheduled for release on 9 January 2026.
Speaking with Vanity Fair, Zhao revealed what drew her to the project. "I was so surprised by how immersive and sensorial the book is—and not only that, but the book is written in a way that has almost the same heartbeat as how I would edit," she reflected.
"Maggie has a very unique way of writing. It feels like images are being edited as I'm reading."
Hamnet will land in US cinemas on 27 November 2025. The film is scheduled to premiere in the UK on 9 January 2026.
Digital Spy's new print issue is here! Buy Oasis - Live in '25 in newsagents or online, now priced at just £8.99.
