Chloé Zhao's Hamnet Premieres to 100% Critics' Score at Telluride

Chloé Zhao's latest film, Hamnet, is rapidly gaining acclaim as a potential awards-season favorite, marked by emotionally resonant storytelling and stellar performances by Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal. The film, adapted from Maggie O'Farrell's bestselling novel, imagines the life and death of Shakespeare's son Hamnet and explores the profound grief experienced by his parents, which inspired Shakespeare's masterpiece Hamlet. Premiered at the Telluride Film Festival, Hamnet has earned a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising Zhao's humanist directing style and Buckley's powerful, raw portrayal. The film also features strong supporting roles from Joe Alwyn and Emily Watson, contributing to its emotional depth. Zhao, an Oscar-winning director known for Nomadland, has co-adapted the screenplay with O'Farrell, further cementing her reputation as one of today's most captivating filmmakers. Hamnet is set for release in US cinemas in November and in Ireland in January 2026.