Hamnet Gets One Step Closer To Toppling One Battle After Another After London Film Fest Win

Now that awards season is underway, will Chloé Zhao’s film, Hamnet, return to its position as a likely winner? Zhao, who previously won an Oscar for Nomadland, adapted Maggie O’Farrell’s popular novel this year. The film stars Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal as Agnes and William Shakespeare, and tells a fictionalized story of their lives following the death of their son, Hamnet (played by Jacob Jupe).

Initially, Hamnet was considered a strong contender for Best Picture after winning the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. But when Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another debuted in September 2025, it quickly gained popularity and became the new frontrunner, making it much harder for Hamnet to win.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hamnet has won the audience award at the 2025 London Film Festival. This is a significant achievement for the Shakespearean drama and is boosting its chances as a contender for the Oscars. Other films screened at this year’s festival included Wake Up Dead Man, Die My Love, Sentimental Value, and 100 Nights of Hero.

Unlike One Battle After Another, which didn’t play at any film festivals, Hamnet has been receiving excellent reviews and winning awards at major festivals like Telluride, San Diego, Virginia, Mill Valley, and Middleburg. Interestingly, Sinners, which many expected to be a leading contender this year, also bypassed the festival circuit and will be released in theaters in April 2025.

For Hamnet to have a real chance at the Oscars, it needs to win some key awards beforehand. It’s a strong contender for the Golden Globes in the drama category, and One Battle After Another is expected to compete for Best Comedy or Musical.

As a movie buff, I’m really watching the Golden Globes this year, and it looks like Hamnet is going head-to-head with Sinners. I’m curious to see if Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, can build enough momentum to stay in the Oscar conversation. Everyone’s been talking about One Battle After Another, but I’m wondering if that hype will last or if audiences will rediscover Sinners. However, don’t count out Hamnet – it could be a dark horse and really surprise us all!

As a movie fan, I’m really excited about Hamnet. It’s been getting incredible reviews and winning awards at festivals, which usually points to a serious Best Picture contender. While One Battle After Another is getting a lot of buzz after Toronto, I don’t think we can count Hamnet out yet. It’s hitting select theaters November 26th, and then will be available everywhere on December 12th – I’m already planning my trip!

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2025-11-06 19:00