Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead

1990
PG
1h 57m

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

24K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

4,674

197

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (1990)

Comedy Drama

Two minor characters from the play 'Hamlet' stumble around unaware of their scripted lives and unable to deviate from them.Two minor characters from the play 'Hamlet' stumble around unaware of their scripted lives and unable to deviate from them.Two minor characters from the play 'Hamlet' stumble around unaware of their scripted lives and unable to deviate from them.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

24K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

4,674

197

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 3 wins & 2 nominations total

Photos39

+ 33

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Originally, the two leads (who appropriately spend the movie mixing up their own names) were cast the other way around.

Goofs
Throughout the movie there are scenes where day suddenly changes to night and vice versa. This is a running gag of Tom Stoppard plays which often have "time jumps" written into the stage directions.

Quotes
Rosencrantz: Do you think Death could possibly be a boat?
Guildenstern: No, no, no... Death is "not." Death isn't. Take my meaning? Death is the ultimate negative. Not-being. You can't not be on a boat.
Rosencrantz: I've frequently not been on boats.
Guildenstern: No, no... What you've been is not on boats.

Connections
Edited into Catalogue of Ships (2008)

Soundtracks
Seamus
Performed by Pink Floyd
Courtesy of EMI Records UK Ltd.

User reviews148

Featured review

Quotable, Witty, Brilliant

Okay, so you may want to brush up on your knowledge of "Hamlet" before viewing "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead", Tom Stoppard's big screen adaptation of his own classic play. Please don't let that frighten you away, or you'll miss out on a seriously funny movie.

The lead roles are extremely well cast. Gary Oldman is hilarious as sweet, befuddled Rosencrantz. Tim Roth's angry, frustrated Guildenstern is the perfect complement. They make a great team.

Stoppard's film has a sprightly step even when raising a few cosmic questions. It's the perfect tonic for some of the more pompous cinematic takes on Shakespeare, and even the Bard would appreciate its sparkling wordplay.