Hamlet, arguably one of Shakespeare's most intricate and influential plays of all time. He has inspired not only appreciative readers and critical writers, but continued generations of people. The inspiration led to the making of many great films, something that wasn't possible until the 20th century. Before cinema was the prevalent method of sharing appreciation and pouring emotion on a specific topic, art portrayed what was on our mind, such as the numerous interpretations of Ophelia's death. With images set in motion we can try to distinguish the way in which some people might see the work represented and choose what best fits our expectations of this tragedy. Another thing that only cinema has been able to offer us are different camera angles, a setting that is not limited to a stage and an audience that can be reached anywhere in the world. Who will be cast and how they will be dressed is also crucial to the success of the film, even if it is sometimes overlooked during the production process. Some films represent these elements of mise-en-scene excellently, such as Kenneth Branagh's version of Hamlet, while others would seem to fall short of my expectations for a great retelling of our suicidal hero, such as Michael Almereyda's Hamlet starring Ethan Hawke. It's admirable, though, that each Hamlet film to date has its own unique style, something that will please all audiences, with its own unique pros and cons. We can start with something we all easily take for granted in movies and that is the visuals. We all have an imagination that can produce an accurate image depending on what we read or see, but something that books or plays fail to accomplish is give us the image. So we shouldn't seco...... middle of paper ......cused by a younger age group, but many of the younger age groups are not interested in Shakespeare's works, so they miss out on both ways. While each film has its own identity, there are some specific elements of mise-en-scène that are evident in each film. Some films are able to better represent elements such as wardrobe, visuals, camera work and casting. After reviewing the main parts of each Hamlet film, in my opinion Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet was the most successful and the least successful was Almereyda's version starring Ethan Hawke. It didn't seem like most Hamlet viewers would like it. The element of staging accumulates in Branagh's Hamlet and makes it the best. Hamlet has come a long way since it was first written and these films have only pushed it forward for many generations to enjoy.