Get Ready for the 2026 Oscars: How to Stream Oscar Nominee ‘Hamnet’ on Peacock

✦ Edited and fact-checked by Randy Harward, our Entertainment Editor with 25 years covering TV and entertainment.

The road to the 2026 Oscars runs through Agnes Hathaway

The award season buzz has reached a fever pitch, and one name is drowning out the rest: “Hamnet.” Directed by Academy Award-winner Chloé Zhao, this biographical drama has transformed from a bestselling novel into a cinematic juggernaut.

With eight nominations for the 2026 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, the film is the definitive must-watch before the ceremony. It’s a towering exploration of grief that centers on the fictionalized life of William Shakespeare’s wife, Agnes.

While the story gives us a new look at the Bard, Jessie Buckley’s performance is the real headline. After sweeping the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and SAG Awards, she enters the Academy Awards as the undisputed frontrunner for Best Actress.

Watch the haunting “Hamnet” trailer

Before you dive into the full feature, the “Hamnet” trailer offers a glimpse into the “feral” and “committed” performance that has critics floored. The footage highlights the lush, ecological perspective Zhao brings to the 16th century, moving away from dusty stages to the raw, natural world Agnes inhabits.

The trailer also teases the star-studded production power behind the scenes. With industry titans like Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes producing, the film carries a polished, prestige weight that resonates through every frame.

It’s clear from the teasers that this isn’t a dry history lesson. It is an overwhelmingly emotional experience designed to pull at the heartstrings of anyone who has ever experienced loss.

Mark your calendar for the “Hamnet” streaming release

The wait for the “Hamnet” streaming release is almost over, as the film arrives exclusively on Peacock on March 6, 2026. This date is strategic, landing just nine days before the Oscar telecast to ensure voters and fans alike have the tragedy fresh in their minds.

This exclusive move is part of a larger strategy to bring Focus Features’ awards-season standouts directly to home viewers. If you’re looking for what to watch on the platform, this title is currently the crown jewel of their library.

By bringing prestige films like “Hamnet,” “Bugonia,” and “Song Sung Blue” to the service, NBCUniversal is making a bold play for subscriptions. It’s the perfect time to catch up on all the Oscars nominees streaming before the big night.

From the stage to the screen: artistic changes

Fans of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel will notice that Chloé Zhao made significant structural changes for the film. Most notably, the movie “does away with time jumps,” opting for a linear, steady focus on the immediate relationship between Agnes and William.

The film also leans into witchy or pagan elements for Agnes’s character. By showing her summoning hawks and using traditional medicine, the narrative treats her connection to nature as a metaphor for her internal world.

While some historical purists on Reddit argue the film is irresponsible with facts, most fans agree the emotional payoff is worth the creative license. The speculative theory that Hamnet’s death inspired “Hamlet” serves as the narrative’s soul, even if historians remain skeptical.

“Hamnet” streaming and trailer FAQ