The film has had quite the journey, going from a lockdown experiment to an award-winning documentary.
Grand Theft Hamlet has emerged as one of the most unexpected cinematic triumphs of the past year, and it's finally set to stream globally on MUBI on February 21, 2025. Ahead of its premiere, the British streaming platform released a new clip of the innovative British documentary, which chronicles the audacious attempt to stage Shakespeare's timeless tragedy within the chaotic virtual world of Grand Theft Auto Online.
The brainchild of Sam Crane and Mark Oosterveen, " Grand Theft Hamlet " was born out of the creative constraints imposed by the UK's COVID-19 lockdown in 2021. Faced with the closure of traditional theaters, these intrepid performers turned to an unlikely stage: the sprawling, crime-ridden streets of Los Santos, the fictional city at the heart of GTA Online.
The result is a documentary that captures their artistic journey using footage recorded entirely within GTA Online, including interviews presented through in-game avatars. The film's unique approach has garnered widespread acclaim, earning it the prestigious Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival.
Following its theatrical release in the UK on December 6, 2024, Grand Theft Hamlet has continued to impress critics and audiences alike, boasting an astounding 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. With the film now being made available for everyone to watch and appreciate, those who would like to know more about the creative process behind the project can do via an "Ask Me Anything" session.
As confirmed by u/PapaXan, a moderator on r/GTAOnline, an AMA with Sam Crane and Pinny Grylls will go online on 9 AM ET on Friday 2/21 on r/GTAOnline and r/Movies. So for those who'd like to watch how this married couple transformed the violent, satirical world of_GTA Online_ into a stage for one of literature's greatest works, mark your calendars for February 21.
