In 1998, when Sam and Dan Houser founded Rockstar Games alongside Gary Foreman, Terry Donovan and Jamie King, they had only one idea in mind: to make video games one of the main entertainment media, to rival and even surpass cinema. With the sole aim of proving that video games could also offer unique experiences.
Who could have imagined that 27 years later, Grand Theft Auto 5, the latest installment of the GTA saga (released in 2013) would be the most profitable cultural entertainment product in history (having generated more than 10 billion in revenue). Or that GTA 6, the next game expected for fall 2025, would be the most anticipated cultural product in history.
Better yet, who would have thought that Rockstar Games' online service, GTA Online, could have served as a medium for the production of one of the most awarded documentaries of 2024, affording itself the luxury of being released in theaters in England and the United States, and being broadcast on a streaming platform from February 2025?
And yet all of this is very real. With Grand Theft Hamlet, we discover an offbeat production, which mixes the universe of William Shakespeare with the violent and brutal world of Grand Theft Auto Online, and the result offers us a story that is surprising to say the least.
Grand Theft Hamlet, the crazy idea that came out of nowhere
The story of Grand Theft Hamlet dates back to 2021. In January, the United Kingdom experienced a new lockdown with the closure of many public places including cinemas. A disaster for actors Sam Crane and Mark Oosterveen who lost their jobs. The two friends then met daily on GTA Online to stay in touch and have fun despite the delicate situation.
On GTA Online, Sam and Mark do like all ordinary players. They spend time wandering around Los Santos, spending their money at the casino, they kill NPCs (non-playable characters) for free. They don't really have a goal other than to have fun freely in this gigantic Sandbox.
One evening, during yet another car chase, Sam and Mark arrive at the Vinewood Bowl, the open-air stage in Los Santos. This is where they will have the idea of doing a theatrical performance to adapt a play in front of a virtual audience, since real theaters are closed.
Very quickly, the idea of Hamlet, by William Shaksepear becomes obvious as it can correspond to the violent and brutal world of Grand Theft Auto. Sam joins Pinny Grylls, his partner and documentary filmmaker who is then discovering the world of video games for the first time, on GTA Online.
The project begins and will allow several dozen players to unite around the same goal: adapting Hamlet to the GTA sauce.
Grand Theft Hamlet, when GTA allows you to create social bonds in the middle of confinement
The documentary allows us to discover the project in its early stages, when Sam and Mark have the idea to adapt Hamlet. The film is made without the Rockstar Editor, giving us the impression of playing GTA, with the game's HUD. We can hear the conversations via the voice chat between Mark and Sam, during the birth of the project. We witness the creation of Pinny's avatar, and we follow the stages of this crazy project step by step.
To represent Hamlet, we need several actors and actresses who will play the different characters in the many scenes of the different acts. Sam, Mark and Pinny then begin recruiting for auditions. GTA requires, they face many refusals which manifest themselves by gratuitous deaths, with the other players of Los Santos not very receptive to their message. They then decided to make an announcement on social networks, with a video shot directly in the game.
Dozens of people will then answer the call and several days of auditions are organized with players from all over the world. Some speak English very well, others do not. Some are simply players, others actors and friends of Sam and Mark. Grand Theft Hamlet is growing before our eyes.
We then witness the first rehearsals, the moments of doubt and the withdrawals of certain actors. The questioning of the project. All this, always in the game, filmed as in reality even with the most serious conversations.
Finally, after quite a few twists and turns, Grand Theft Hamlet gets back on the right track, with Sam who will finally play the main role, allowing him to play the famous scene "to be or not to be, that is the question" himself!
In July 2022, the troupe is ready and performs live on YouTube and Twitch the performance of Grand Theft Hamlet. A moment that is inevitably immortalized in the documentary.
The possibilities and power of GTA Online highlighted
Grand Theft Hamlet is a fantastic medium for showing the enormous possibilities as well as the technical prowess of the game by Rockstar. The production of the film is entirely designed with the game engine. In first-person view or with the game's phone. Pinny Grylls managed to capture sumptuous moments, with very beautiful panoramas, as well as very beautiful shots. It is brilliantly staged with a very poetic side.
For all players and regulars of GTA Online, this documentary risks being good entertainment, but not a revolution. Because, in the end, since the launch of the game in 2013, how many players have already made this kind of staging and mini-films? It is even possible to find films made on YouTube about GTA Online that are even more impressive thanks to the Rockstar Editor, whether by adapting other classics or through original creations.
On the other hand, the success of Grand Theft Hamlet can be explained and seems quite logical to a new audience that is not familiar with video games or GTA Online. This allows us to realize all the almost infinite possibilities. The film aims to show to what extent video games can become a social force and allow us to find ourselves when life prevents us from doing so. Thus breaking all prejudices and clichés.
The documentary also does not forget to target the excesses. Like the moment when Sam, too invested in his role and his project, begins to neglect his family and his girlfriend, forgetting the latter's birthday.
Grand Theft Hamlet, a nice report that we recommend
In the end, the 1h30 documentary remains very nice. The final result is quite impressive, with quite a few funny moments during the implementation of the project. We realize to what extent this challenge, which may seem rather banal, was not a long quiet river and that it remains, in the end, a great collective feat.
Whether or not you are a fan of GTA and video games, whether you know the universe a little or not at all, Grand Theft Hamlet could offer you a good moment of entertainment. The film is now available on the Mubi platform. Enjoy it!
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