Ophelia

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2:02

Ophelia

PG-13

2019

1h 54m

Drama

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

57%

Tomatometer

122 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

As a rebellious and motherless child, Ophelia is taken into Elsinore Castle by Queen Gertrude as one of her most trusted ladies-in-waiting. Soon enough, Ophelia captures the affections of the young Prince Hamlet. A passionate romance secretly kindles between the two as the kingdom is on the brink of war amidst its own political intrigue and betrayal. When Hamlet's father is murdered and the prince begins to unravel, Ophelia sharply navigates the rules of power in Denmark.

Critics Consensus

Flawed yet intriguing, Ophelia uses Hamlet as the starting point for a noble attempt to offer a misunderstood character long-overdue agency.

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

11/25/2019

2/5

Oh dear. Oh no. Ophelia. A curious, if ambitious, central conceit is here battered into inconsequentiality by a scattershot screenplay that flees so far from the original Shakespeare that it leaves little purpose, or relevant material, in the retelling.

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Ian Freer

Empire Magazine

11/25/2019

3/5

An interesting, well played and well made attempt to reframe Shakespeare's most famous play through a feminist lens, Ophelia ultimately doesn't have the boldness to deliver on its resonant idea.

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Maria Nae

Little White Lies

11/22/2019

2/5

A confused melodrama more fitting for a retelling of Twilight in the woods than of the greatest play ever written.

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Andrew Murray

The Upcoming

Jun 25

3/5

McCarthy has created an undeniably stunning take on the classic. But underneath Ophelia’s glossy cover, there’s little substance to steer the film away from the middle of the road that it clings to so dearly.

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Jessica Baxter

Hammer to Nail

Jun 2

Everyone looks incredible in gorgeous period costumes amid some breathtaking scenery. The Czech-set film goes a long way toward transporting the viewer to another time and place. Anyone would feel glamorous eves-dropping behind such grand tapestries.

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Betsy Bozdech

AWFJ.org

10/13/2021

Ridley and Watts both deliver fierce performances; Ophelia and Gertrude may disagree over the former's suitability as a match for Denmark's crown prince, but they also form a complex connection...

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Alfie J

@alf05xx Jul 7

What happened to Daisy Ridley - this is an under-rated performance by her. Thought this was a beautiful movie

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Carlos I

@carlosFibarra Aug 30

Ophelia offers a new take on a classic tragedy, attempting to tell Shakespeare's Hamlet from the perspective of its most tragic female character. While the premise of seeing the story through Ophelia's eyes is intriguing, the execution falls flat. Despite the earnest effort to give her a voice, the film struggles to maintain a compelling pace, often feeling more like a slow, uninspired period piece than a fresh reinterpretation. It probably doesn't help that I'm not a fan of the source material itself. The result is a film that, while visually appealing, ultimately leaves the viewer feeling bored and disconnected from a narrative that has been told countless times before.

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Eye C

@ECinc 07/27/2025

A great reinterpretation of the story of Hamlet, with amazing interpretations. I like it this one.

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Mallory P

@RT23416613 08/06/2024

Forget the pedants, this was a beautiful movie that excelled at reinventing a side of the coin we never saw in Shakespeare’s play. Gorgeous tonality, complexity of character, and a genius dichotomy of man’s luxury of madness as an act of deceit and vengeance, but a woman’s madness as an act of survival. Incredible soundtrack, moving writing, refreshing use of economy in direction, and overall a lovely surprise to watch. Seriously, ignore the pedants.

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Steve D

@RT35616104 11/06/2023

Interesting idea terrible changes.

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Teresa W

@RT76091183 05/10/2023

Excellent writing, beautiful cinematography and absolutely phenomenal acting!! What a beautifully told version of Ophelia!! I highly recommend watching this film!

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Claire McCarthy

Director

Daisy Ridley

Ophelia

Naomi Watts

Gertrude

Clive Owen

Claudius

George MacKay

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Ophelia: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

As a rebellious and motherless child, Ophelia is taken into Elsinore Castle by Queen Gertrude as one of her most trusted ladies-in-waiting. Soon enough, Ophelia captures the affections of the young Prince Hamlet. A passionate romance secretly kindles between the two as the kingdom is on the brink of war amidst its own political intrigue and betrayal. When Hamlet's father is murdered and the prince begins to unravel, Ophelia sharply navigates the rules of power in Denmark.

Director: Claire McCarthy
Producer: Daniel Bobker, Sarah Curtis, Paul Hanson, Ehren Kruger, Bert Marcus
Screenwriter: Semi Chellas, Lisa M. Klein
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Forthcoming Films, Bert Marcus Productions, Bobker / Kruger Films, Covert Media
Rating: PG-13 (Some Sensuality|Bloody Images|A Scene of Violence|Thematic Elements)
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 28, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 4, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $50.7K
Runtime: 1h 54m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)