Grand Theft Hamlet, a new documentary filmed entirely inside Grand Theft Auto 5, is coming soon to a screen near you. Directed by Sam Crane and Pinny Grylls, the film follows a duo of struggling actors as they attempt to stage a production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet during the middle of the COVID pandemic.
The film consists of nothing but in-game footage from Rockstar’s award-winning 2013 classic, and interestingly enough, it’s winning awards, too. Grand Theft Hamlet won this year’s documentary film competition at SXSW and has been praised by critics throughout its film festival run. The 89-minute genre-bending flick is set to arrive on the Mubi streaming service sometime in 2025. Mubi has also stated that the film will have a theatrical release.
An innovative, immersive take on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, shot entirely inside the world of Grand Theft Auto, Pinny Grylls and Sam Crane’s festival hit GRAND THEFT HAMLET is coming soon to US theaters + streaming globally. pic.twitter.com/6FMYCt5423
— MUBI (@mubi) October 10, 2024
“It’s January 2021. The UK has just entered its 3rd lockdown and all theatres remain closed. For actors Sam and Mark, the future looks bleak,” reads the film’s official website. “As the pandemic drags on Mark who lives alone is increasingly socially isolated, while Sam is panicking about how he is going to support his family. They channel their midlife frustrations by immersing their avatars in the horrifically violent yet beautifully rendered virtual world of Grand Theft Auto Online. They steal cars and shoot strangers, but also find moments of calm reflection walking through meadows of wildflowers. In one gaming session they stumble across a theatre and have an idea. Why not stage Hamlet inside the game?”
Source: Gamespot Award-Winning Documentary Filmed Entirely In GTA 5 Is Coming To Streaming And Theaters In 2025