When does ‘Hamnet’ air? Everything you need to know.

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Academy Award-winning director Chloe Zhao is back in the Oscar race with a poignant period piece Hamnet. It stars our favorite sad boy, Paul Mescal, and the hot Jessie Buckley as William and Agnes Shakespeare – the latter already taking home a Golden Globe for her outstanding performance.

Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko calls it a “raw and poetic tale of love and loss,” and it earned the top spot on our list of the best movies of 2025. It’s still floating around in select theaters, but if you prefer to ring your couch, here’s all the streaming information you need to know.

What Hamnet about?

A tragic historical drama based on the novel of the same name by Maggie O’Farrell, Hamnet offers a perspective of William Shakespeare (Mescal) and his mysterious wife Agnes (Buckley) from a different lens. It paints a picture of their relationship as they deal with the sudden loss of their young son and the ways in which the tragedy influences one of the greatest plays ever written. Mashable’s entertainment reporter, Belen Edwards, describes it as “the kind of movie the word ‘heartbreak’ was invented for.” In other words, keep a box of tissues nearby.

Check out the official trailer below:

Is it Hamnet is it worth watching?

“This period drama seems important to participate in this awards season,” Puchko wrote in his TIFF review. And the boy was right. Hamnet nominated for Best Picture at this year’s Oscars, as well as Best Costume Design, Best Original Score, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Casting, Best Directing, and Best Actress in a Leading Role. It currently has an 86 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes among critics and 92 percent among viewers.

Mashable’s entertainment team loved it — they released our 10 favorite movies of 2025. But, as Puchko warned, “Hamnet it can leave you tearful and sad.”

Read Mashable’s review of Hamnet.

A way of looking Hamnet at home

There are a few different ways you can view it Hamnet at home. You can buy or rent it from digital on-demand stores for as low as $19.99 starting Feb. 3, or you can stream it to Peacock at a later date. See all the details below.

Buy or rent it digitally

Hamnet made its digital debut on Feb. 3, 2026which means you can now buy or rent a movie from on-demand retailers. If you choose to rent, you’ll get 30 days to watch the movie and just 48 hours to finish it once you start. If you choose to buy it, it’s yours to keep and watch at your leisure.

Here are quick links to rent or buy the movie:

Broadcast on Peacock (in the coming days)

As Focused Features (the NBCUniversal film division), we know Hamnet will begin live streaming on Peacock. Assuming it follows the timeline of other Focus Features films (Bugonia, Dear Musa!), will likely arrive via Peacock in March 2026. We’ll keep you posted.

A peacock subscription costs $10.99 per month with ads or $16.99 per month without ads. Before you sign up, be sure to check out the best ways to save money on signing up below.

The best deals on streaming Peacock

Peacock’s best deal: Save 17% on an annual subscription

Peacock’s annual subscription program is the best deal on any given day. You’ll have to pay $109.99 (with ads) or $169.99 (without ads) up front, but in the end you’ll get about two months of free streaming. The Premium tier usually costs $10.99 per month, which adds up to $131.88. That means you’ll save a total of $21.89 with the annual plan. Likewise, the Premium Plus plan normally costs $16.99 per month, which adds up to $203.88. With the annual plan, you’ll save $33.89 in total.

Peacock’s best deal for Xfinity customers: Free Peacock Premium for qualifying accounts

We strongly recommend that Xfinity customers check the eligibility information below before signing up for Peacock. There is an opportunity for you to get a free subscription.

Here’s a breakdown of who qualifies for free Peacock through Xfinity (check out Xfinity.com for more details):

• Xfinity Internet customers who are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can get Peacock Premium for free by redeeming their reward. Log in to xfinity.com/rewards and select a peacock as a reward. Then, wait for your email (it may take a few hours) with instructions to open the offer.

• NOW TV customers can get Peacock Premium as part of their service.

• New customers with Xfinity Internet and X1 TV Box, Flex streaming TV Box, or Xumo Stream Box from Xfinity can get Peacock Premium free for six months.

Peacock’s best deal for students and young adults: Save $5/month for one year

Students and young adults can shave $5 a month off a year-long Peacock Premium subscription. Verify your student status or age with SheerID and redeem a separate promo code to drop the price to just $5.99 instead of $10.99. Once the promo year is over, you will be charged the full price unless you cancel.

Best for first responders, medical professionals, military, and teachers: Save $4/month

First responders, medical professionals, military personnel, and educators can all secure a Peacock Premium subscription (and ads) for the discounted price of $6.99 per month by verifying their professional status with SheerID. Those who continue to meet the verification criteria can renew their subscription at a discounted rate each year — although you may have to go through the verification process each time and get a new promo code. Prices can also change from year to year.

Best for Instacart users: Free Peacock Premium for Instacart+ subscribers

An Instacart+ membership ($99.99 per year) unlocks a free Peacock Premium subscription ($109.99 per year) on top of free grocery delivery, low fees, and credit back on eligible pickup orders. If you’re new to Instacart+, you’ll even get a free two-week trial to get things started. If you time your test to coincide with the release of Hamnet on Peacock, you can watch it for free. Make sure to cancel before you are charged the full price — set a calendar alert to remind you.

Best for Walmart shoppers: Free Peacock Premium for Walmart+ members

Signing up for Walmart+ is one of the best ways to get free streaming services. A subscription lets you choose Peacock Premium or Paramount+ Essential as a free benefit — and you can switch every few months. Since the Peacock Premium is priced at $109.99, the $98 Walmart+ membership is a better deal than paying for the peacock itself. Of course, you’ll get free shipping on minimum orders, gas discounts, the Scan & Go checkout tool, and early access to deals during Walmart’s biggest shopping events.