The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)
86%RT Audience Score: 76%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 3 Oscars
18 wins & 106 nominations total
Led by a stellar Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth strips the classic story down to its visual and narrative essentials.
The Tragedy of Macbeth” is a visually stunning and captivating adaptation of Shakespeare’s work. The film’s monochrome fury and immersive production design make it a feast for the eyes. The performances from Washington and McDormand are strong, and Coen’s ability to combine a stage play and cinematic experience is impressive. It’s not exactly a cheerful holiday viewing, but it’s definitely worth watching if you’re in the mood for something daring and thought-provoking. Plus, who doesn’t love a good dose of sound and fury signifying everything?
Production Company(ies)
Walter Shenson Films, Proscenium Films,
Distributor
A24
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence
Year of Release
2022
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby Atmos Dolby Surround 7.1 Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.37 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 45m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 2021 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 14, 2022
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, Bertie Carvel, Alex Hassell, Corey Hawkins, Harry Melling, Kathryn Hunter, directed by Joel Coen, written by Joel Coen, produced by Joel Coen, Robert Graf, Frances McDormand, drama, mystery, thriller, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Adam Kempenaar, Moira MacDonald, Simran Hans, Bob Mondello, Richard Brody, Jesse Hassenger, Sarah Ward, Sheraz Farooqi, Carlos Boyero, Kent Garrison, Ruben Peralta Rigaud, MPAA rating R, murder, madness, ambition, wrathful cunning, Shakespeare adaptation, visual and narrative essentials, violent actions, theater, sound stages, striking chiaroscuro black and white photography, otherworldly, eerie, shifting imagery, alien presentation, transporting dream, aural pleasures of theater, Shakespeare’s brilliant words, witchy regicide, Kathryn Hunter as all the witches, captivating, haunting, surprise, theater vet, fast-paced, 105 minutes, half of the running time for the unabridged stage play, uniformly good acting, thespian feast, indulgence, tiny meal, Patrick Stewart BBC production, good, not transcendentally great, a gift, visually striking, superb performances, best acting, best camerawork, striking black and white, cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel, moving painting, art at its finest, blood must be shed, Lady Macbeth, Banquo, Ross, Malcolm, Lord Macbeth, Macduff
Worldwide gross: $524,771
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $524,771
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,728
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 57,227
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Frances McDormand – Lady Macbeth
Bertie Carvel – Banquo
Alex Hassell – Ross
Corey Hawkins – Macduff
Harry Melling – Malcolm
Joel Coen – Director/Writer
Joel Coen – Producer
Robert Graf – Producer
Frances McDormand – Producer
Director(s)
Joel Coen
Writer(s)
Joel Coen
Producer(s)
Joel Coen, Robert Graf, Frances McDormand
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 3 Oscars
18 wins & 106 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (277) | Top Critics (64) | Fresh (256) | Rotten (21)
Everyone exists in this ominous otherworld that feels so appropriate for characters who are caught between film and theater, ambition and loyalty, insanity and sanity, humanity and inhumanity.
February 10, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Adam Kempenaar
Filmspotting
TOP CRITIC
It’s not exactly cheerful holiday viewing, but this “Macbeth” is nonetheless a gift.
January 31, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Moira MacDonald
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
The film has a cold, abstract beauty.
January 31, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Simran Hans
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Every beat of “The Tragedy Of Macbeth” a cinematic flourish, a tale told by a master full of sound and monochrome fury.
January 31, 2022
Bob Mondello
NPR
TOP CRITIC
The over-all effect is of a striving toward a high style that isn’t achieved-and that undercuts the mighty import of the play.
January 31, 2022
Richard Brody
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
Coen’s equivalent of a solo album has its own virtuosic style. With text modifications mostly off the table, he adapts the play visually, and through subtraction…
January 31, 2022 | Rating: B+
Jesse Hassenger
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
Something astonishing this way comes… another masterwork full of sound and fury signifying everything.
July 8, 2022
Sarah Ward
Concrete Playground
The Tragedy of Macbeth is great. The film has stunning cinematography, immersive production design, and strong performances from both Washington and McDormand.
Coen delivered on a visually unique adaption of Shakespeare’s work.
June 21, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Sheraz Farooqi
CinemaDebate
A strange film in the best sense, it’s daring, and it captures Shakespeare’s spirit, that man who knew everything about human nature… [Full review in Spanish]
June 16, 2022
Carlos Boyero
El Pais (Spain)
The way Joel Coen was able to combine a stage play and cinematic experience is unlike anything I’ve seen.
June 9, 2022 | Rating: A
Kent Garrison
Mad About Movies Podcast
A film whose sole purpose is to instill doubt in all things.
[Full review in Spanish]
May 16, 2022
Ruben Peralta Rigaud
Cocalecas
Shapes the exploration of the vicissitudes of ambition that takes shape in cruelty: the sweet taste of power, which is ephemeral, and the bitterness of accessing it through crime.
May 12, 2022 | Rating: 90/100
Hugo Hernández Valdivia
Cinexcepción…
Plot
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a bold and fierce adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic tale of murder, madness, ambition, and wrathful cunning, led by a stellar performance from Denzel Washington as Lord Macbeth.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Tragedy of Macbeth boasts a stellar cast, led by Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand.
Joel-Coen.jpg
