The film that has been entirely shot in GTA Online had its world premiere at the famous SXSW film festival. Following the premiere and reviews rolling out, a deal has been struck to have more people see it. We’ll be taking a look at the first reactions to the film and more.
Titled Grand Theft Hamlet, this film tells a story about unemployed actors playing within GTA Online during the peak of the pandemic. Previously, we reported how the film’s plot follows two actors, Sam and Mark, struggling with isolation and their attempt to do a full stage play inside of a GTA Online lobby.
The pair come up with a plan to perform Shakespeare’s Hamlet at the Vinewood Bowl in Los Santos. As fans of GTA Online will know, lobbies can be explosive and getting things done are difficult.
Rights deal secured
Deadline has reported Altitude Media Group will secure worldwide rights to Grand Theft Hamlet. According to Altitude’s Sales Managing Director Mike Runagall, they “cannot wait for audiences to experience this singular and masterful piece of machinima filmmaking”. He also adds “We are extremely proud and excited to be partnering with Pinny, Sam and the whole team on Grand Theft Hamlet “.
With the deal just being signed, it’s unknown where and how you’ll be able to watch this film more widely. We’ll be keeping an eye out for any future developments on its distribution.
Upcoming showings and events
This 89 minute film was part of the Documentary Feature Competition for SXSW this past weekend. Its next film festival appearance will be at CPH:DOX in Denmark on March 17th, 20th and 21st. On the first showing, there will be a Q&A with the directors Sam Crane & Pinny Grylls. Meanwhile on March 20th movie goers can see a live podcast and gaming session afterwards.
The full description is as follows: “Together with game reviewers and podcast hosts Christopher Leo Andersen (Troldspejlet) and Jacob Ege Hinchely (Troldspejlet, Han Duo), we livegame on the big screen and talk about the long GTA history, the game’s many pitfalls and embedded misogyny, and not least what Rockstar Games has tried to do about it in the latest version of the game.”
If you’d like to check out this film at the Danish festival, you can purchase tickets here.
First reviews are here
“Grand Theft Hamlet” clicks with me on multiple levels—while I suspect some viewers will grow weary of watching a video game for the length of a feature, others will be surprised by how much can be done in an online world when people fill it with their creative passion.
Brian Tallerico
Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com said Grand Theft Halmet is “almost unbelievable” and is “a study in the impact of isolation and the importance of communal creative expression”.
Meanwhile Fionnuala Halligan of Screen Daily calls the two leads “funny, dry and very acute in their construction of a story which is really about masculine insecurity and the redeeming power of art, however it is expressed.”
Halligan does note it is super friendly to the audience but “possibly too much so at times” due to the score which “doesn’t seem to trust the content”. Despite this though, the “film has real meaning” with a “very lovely, self-deprecating charm”.
You can check out the Grand Theft Hamlet’s official website for more information along with the teaser trailer. There is also an Instagram account for this film too.
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