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Poster for Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead

Seen it?

1991 | 117 min | Comedy, Drama

Weeknight Watch

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

It's still drawing plenty of interest, but a box office loss and middling reviews (61% on Rotten Tomatoes) held it back. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved Hamlet or tick, tick... BOOM!, start here.
The mood
Funny with heart.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 57 min.
What might put you off
Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, minor characters from the play 'Hamlet', find themselves on the road to Elsinore Castle at the behest of the King of Denmark. The duo encounter a band of players before arriving to find that they are needed to try to discern what troubles the prince Hamlet. Meanwhile, they ponder the meaning of their existence.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsBelow par

    61% on Rotten Tomatoes, 45 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    6.9 out of 10

  • AwardsSolid

    Won 1 Venice award: Golden Lion.

  • Box office & staying powerWeak

    $805K worldwide on a $3 million budget

  • Buzz & cultural impactStrong

    About 170K people sought it out in the past year

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Cast & crew

Directed by Tom Stoppard

  • Gary OldmanRosencrantz
  • Tim RothGuildenstern
  • Richard DreyfussThe Player
  • Iain GlenHamlet
  • Ian RichardsonPolonius
  • Donald SumpterClaudius
  • Joanna MilesGertrude
  • Joanna RothOphelia
  • John BurgessAmbassador from England
  • Livio BadurinaTragedian (Alfred)