Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet Award-Winning Global Drama to Hit Indian Theatres Soon
The latest report from Variety reveals that Reliance Entertainment, a major player in India’s film-distribution landscape, will distribute the much–hailed period drama Hamnet in India, with a planned theatrical release in February 2026.
Hamnet is directed by Chloé Zhao, adapted from the bestselling novel by Maggie O'Farrell, and stars Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley as William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes, respectively. The story fictionalizes the tragic death of their young son Hamnet, a loss that many scholars believe inspired Shakespeare’s immortal play Hamlet. Since its world premiere at the 2025 Telluride Film Festival, Hamnet has travelled the global festival circuit earning the prestigious People’s Choice Award at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival and garnering widespread praise for its emotional depth and cinematic craft.
India’s release via Reliance Entertainment comes as the film builds substantial awards-season momentum, positioning it as one of the most anticipated global releases of 2025-26. For Indian audiences, this means a rare opportunity to witness a major international ‘art-house’ film on the big screen rather than waiting for streaming or DVD distribution.
Bringing an award-winning international film to Indian cinemas reflects Reliance Entertainment’s ambition to bridge global cinema with Indian audiences expanding both choice and cinematic exposure beyond mainstream Bollywood fare. The February 2026 release slots in just after the year-end award season, potentially riding the film’s festival acclaim into Indian theatres when it is still hot among critics and cinephiles. Given the film’s emotional potency and star cast praised in international reviews for moving performances and a haunting, lyrical tone Hamnet could find a niche among discerning and festival-film audiences in metropolitan and urban markets.
Given the film’s international pedigree and sensitive historical subject, Reliance Entertainment may position it as a prestige release likely targeting upscale multiplexes and metro audiences before expanding to more screens. The story dealing with grief, loss, art and human relationships may resonate with Indian audiences accustomed to emotionally rich dramas; success might signal growing appetite for global-style, high-quality cinema in the Indian market. If Hamnet performs well in India, it could encourage other distributors to bring more global, festival-backed films for Indian theatrical release, increasing diversity in cinema offerings .
Hamnet is directed by Chloé Zhao, adapted from the bestselling novel by Maggie O'Farrell, and stars Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley as William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes, respectively. The story fictionalizes the tragic death of their young son Hamnet, a loss that many scholars believe inspired Shakespeare’s immortal play Hamlet. Since its world premiere at the 2025 Telluride Film Festival, Hamnet has travelled the global festival circuit earning the prestigious People’s Choice Award at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival and garnering widespread praise for its emotional depth and cinematic craft.
India’s release via Reliance Entertainment comes as the film builds substantial awards-season momentum, positioning it as one of the most anticipated global releases of 2025-26. For Indian audiences, this means a rare opportunity to witness a major international ‘art-house’ film on the big screen rather than waiting for streaming or DVD distribution.
Bringing an award-winning international film to Indian cinemas reflects Reliance Entertainment’s ambition to bridge global cinema with Indian audiences expanding both choice and cinematic exposure beyond mainstream Bollywood fare. The February 2026 release slots in just after the year-end award season, potentially riding the film’s festival acclaim into Indian theatres when it is still hot among critics and cinephiles. Given the film’s emotional potency and star cast praised in international reviews for moving performances and a haunting, lyrical tone Hamnet could find a niche among discerning and festival-film audiences in metropolitan and urban markets.
Given the film’s international pedigree and sensitive historical subject, Reliance Entertainment may position it as a prestige release likely targeting upscale multiplexes and metro audiences before expanding to more screens. The story dealing with grief, loss, art and human relationships may resonate with Indian audiences accustomed to emotionally rich dramas; success might signal growing appetite for global-style, high-quality cinema in the Indian market. If Hamnet performs well in India, it could encourage other distributors to bring more global, festival-backed films for Indian theatrical release, increasing diversity in cinema offerings .
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