At The Movies: Shakespeare in sorrow
BY PAUL WILLISTEIN
pwillistein@tnonline.com
The holiday season merrily rolls along with Shakespeare, Sondheim and Freddy’s (No, not “ou” Freddys).
Unreel, Dec. 5:
“Hamnet,” MPA rated PG-13; 2 hours, 5 minutes
Chloé Zhao (four-time Oscar nominee; Oscar recipient, best picture, director, “Nomadland,” 2020) directs Jessie Buckley (Agnes Shakespeare aka Anne Hathaway), Paul Mescal (William Shakespeare), Joe Alwyn and Emily Watson in the Biography History Drama.
The film’s title is the name of the only son of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway and fraternal twin of Judith Shakespeare.
The death of Hamnet is said to have inspired Shakespeare’s play, “Hamlet.”
The film, set in 16th century England, is based on the 2020 novel of the same title by Maggie O’Farrell.
“Five Nights at Freddy’s 2,” MPA rated PG-13; 1 hour, 44 minutes
Emma Tammi directs Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, Matthew Lillard, Mckenna Grace and the voice of Megan Fox in the Horror Thriller. It’s one year later at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza shop. A year later and none the wiser.
“Merrily We Roll Along,” MPA rated PG-13; 2 hours, 30 minutes
Maria Friedman directs Natalie Wachen, Lindsey Mendez, Krystal Joy Brown, Katie Rose Clarke, Jonathan Groff and Daniel Radcliffe in the filmed performance of the 2022 off-Broadway revival of the 1981 Musical Comedy by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth.
The musical was inspired by a 1934 play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart.
Movie opening dates from Internet Movie Database as of Nov. 30 are subject to change.
Theatrical Movies Domestic Weekend Box Office, Nov. 28 - 30: “Zootopia 2,” the animated feature movie sequel, opened at No.1 with $96.8 million, weekend, $156 million since Nov. 26, in 4,000 theaters for the five-day Thanksgiving Day holiday weekend.
“Wicked: For Good” dropped one place to No. 2 after its one-week No. 1 run, $62.8 million in 4,115 theaters, $270.4 million, two weeks.
“Zootopia 2 ” had the second-best Thanksgiving opening ever, after another Disney sequel, “Moana 2,” which grossed $225 million in the five-day weekend in 2024.
2. “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” dropped one place, $7 million in 3,092 theaters, $49.6 million, three weeks. 4. “Predator: Badlands” dropped one place, $4.8 million in 2,750 theaters, $85 million, four weeks. 5. “The Running Man” dropped one place, $3.7 million in 2,749 theaters, $34.2 million, three weeks. 6. “Eternity,” starring Miles Teller, Elizabeth Olsen and Callum Turner in the Fantasy Comedy, Drama, $3.1 million, weekend, $5.2 million, since Nov. 26, opening. 7. “Rental Family” $2.1 million in 1,925 theaters, $7.3 million, two weeks. 8. “Hamnet,” $880,000, weekend, $1.3 million since Nov. 26, opening. 9. “Sisu: Road to Revenge” dropped three places, $810,000 in 2,222 theaters, $4.1 million, two weeks. 10. “Nuremberg” dropped two places, $749,325 in 540 theaters, $12.5 million, four weeks.
Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of Nov. 30 is subject to change.
At The Movies: Paul Willistein movie reviews: “Wicked: For Good,” “Nuremberg,” “Bugonia,” “Frankenstein,” “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere,” “Tron: Ares,” “One Battle After Another”: https://www.lvpnews.com/








