James Cameron shares that he shed tears on two occasions while viewing a new, Oscar-nominated Shakespearean film Hamnet centered on love and loss. In 2025, Cameron took over the Box Office with the launch of Avatar – Fire and Ash.
This latest sci-fi action film has grossed an impressive $1.441 billion worldwide, with a production budget believed to exceed $500 million. Yet, this isn’t the sole film that made a significant impact on his life in the past year.
James Cameron shared with director Chloé Zhao that her period drama Hamnet brought him to tears “multiple times.” The creator of the Avatar franchise described the deep emotions he experienced while watching the film on two occasions, inquiring how she was able to craft such an empathetic premise for the movie.
According to James Cameron, “I cried profusely on both occasions, several times throughout the movie. Your greatest strength lies in your empathy. So why are you in Hollywood ? How do you manage to stay open-hearted in that environment ? Is there a secret to it ? I would genuinely love to find out. It appears that your bond with nature is fundamental to everything.”
Hamnet draws inspiration from Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 novel of the same title, portraying the life of William Shakespeare (played by Paul Mescal) and his wife, Anne Hathaway (portrayed by Jessie Buckley), in the aftermath of their son Hamnet’s (Jacobi Jupe) tragic death.
The narrative suggests that the play Hamlet served as a means for the playwright to cope with his grief. Hamnet has received widespread critical praise and is anticipated to garner several Oscar nominations in the near future.
During their conversation, the duo emphasized the significance of storytelling, especially in how they utilize narratives to navigate reality. Zhao, who found Cameron’s work via The Terminator films, elaborated on her creative process, particularly highlighting the film’s most poignant moments.
These sequences played a crucial role in enhancing the film’s core themes and messages. Cameron’s heartfelt commendation highlights the movie’s success in achieving it’s goals. The emotional aspects enabled Hamnet’s characters to truly excel in their performances, particularly focusing on the couple’s dynamics after the tragic loss of their son.
As Cameron points out, this experience fosters greater empathy and renders the narrative more relatable. It also connects in some way to the director’s most recent Avatar film. The characters in Avatar – Fire and Ash are grappling with the heartbreaking loss of Neteyam (Jamie Flatters) following the events of The Way of Water.
Grief is a recurring theme in both films, though viewed through distinct perspectives. The emphasis Cameron places on family in his own creations sheds light on his emotional ties to Hamnet.
Cameron’s deep emotional response during both viewings of Hamnet highlights Zhao’s remarkable talent for vividly bringing the Shakespearean narrative to life. While the film may present challenges due to it’s heavy themes, it remains a significant work, as evidenced by the accolades Cameron has bestowed upon it.