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Grand Theft Hamlet is a 2024 British documentary that reimagines Shakespeare's Hamlet within the virtual realm of Grand Theft Auto Online. Directed and written by Sam Crane and Pinny Grylls, the film emerged during the UK's COVID-19 lockdowns. Sam was supposed to play Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in the West End, but it was shelved due to the pandemic.
Pinny Grylls, known for her acclaimed documentary Peter and Ben (2008), co-directs this project with her husband, Sam Crane. Grand Theft Hamlet premiered at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival, where it won the Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature. Hailed as “the year’s funniest documentary” by Time Out, this SXSW-winning documentary is chaotic and hilarious.
The official synopsis on MUBI reads:
“With theaters shut during the COVID-19 pandemic, two jobless actors, Sam and Mark, are uncertain about their futures—finding solace in the virtual chaos of Grand Theft Auto Online. Desperate for purpose, they decide to stage Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the ultra-violent world of their favorite game.”
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Grand Theft Hamlet had a UK theatrical release on December 6, 2024, under Tull Stories, and is all set for a U.S. theatrical release on January 17, 2025. The documentary captures the challenges of staging a live production of Hamlet within the unpredictable environment of the GTA Online open-world game, which blends classical theatre with modern gaming culture.
As of now, Grand Theft Hamlet holds an IMDb rating of 7.4, reflecting a positive audience reception. An interesting fact about the production is that the in-game stage, the Vinewood Bowl, was discovered by the creator's son during gameplay, which inspired the unique setting in the documentary.
What is Grand Theft Hamlet about?
Sam Crane and Pinny Grylls, during COVID-19 lockdowns in the UK, when conventional theatres were out of bounds, drew inspiration from their son's fascination with video games. Thus, Grand Theft Hamlet was born as an innovative production that reimagines Shakespeare's Hamlet as a GTA V movie.
During a Q&A on December 19, 2024, about the movie in BFI IMAX, Pinny Grylls told film producer Mia Bays,
“I didn't realise about the beauty of the world that, you know, Rockstar Games has created and worked on. And it's vast and there's mountains and hills, and, you know, you don't just have to shoot people and steal cars. You can go and, you know, hang out with your friends in a bar. You can, you know, go for literally do nature photography, which is what I did.”
The documentary follows the challenge of staging a full production of Hamlet within the ultra-violent online universe of Grand Theft Auto V. The movie is shot entirely within the game, using its expansive virtual environment as the stage.
That was a task since it required meticulous coordination down to the tiniest detail, including casting actors, conducting rehearsals, and adapting Shakespeare's iconic scenes to fit the chaotic nature of the game's settings. It was possible with a type of filmmaking called machinima, dependent upon video gaming real-time graphics motors.
With avatars representing Prince Hamlet, King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, and Ophelia. Yet, the virtual environment reflects some meta-commentary on existential dilemmas, with themes of revenge in Hamlet contrasted with the chaotic and unpredictable world of GTA V. It would also extend further into the lives of real actors, showing what is real and what is virtual.
Grand Theft Hamlet: Plot Explained
It's January 2021, and the UK is in its third lockdown. The theaters are closed, and actors Sam and Mark are finding work slim. Mark lives alone and is becoming ever more socially isolated; Sam has a family to support, which is stressful.
They find their solace in the frenetic world of Grand Theft Auto Online. Their only relief comes in jogging around meadows among hijacked cars and shootings. One day, in one of those walking tours, he inadvertently discovered a virtual theater and had a brilliant out-of-the-box idea of acting Hamlet in it.
Richly detailed cityscapes and immersive sound design make the virtual world a playground for an exploration of revenge, chaos, and adaptability regarding Shakespeare's most timeless tale.
The documentary covers some challenges and triumphs in the transformation of live theatre into digital art, a synergy between Shakespearean drama and the landscape of GTA V.
Grand Theft Hamlet: Viewing options explored
Grand Theft Hamlet in the UK was theatrically released on December 6, 2024, with screenings across various cinemas. In the United States, the film will premiere in theaters on January 17, 2025.
Following its theatrical run, the documentary will be available for streaming on MUBI, an art-house streaming service and distributor. MUBI typically offers a subscription model priced at $10.99 per month or $83.88 annually, though prices may vary by region. As of now, specific streaming dates have not been announced.
Stay tuned for more updates.
