Hamlet is mourning over the premature death of his father, the late King of Denmark. His mother marries the King's brother only two months after the death of the King. Hamlet settles into a melancholy state.

For three nights in a row, guards have seen the ghost of Old Hamlet at the gates of the castle. The third night the guards ask Horatio to come and watch for the ghost with them. They see the ghost, and agree to tell Hamlet of the disturbance.

Hamlet goes to see the ghost, and the ghost tells him that he was murdered by Claudius, while he slept in the garden. The ghost demands that Hamlet avenges his death.

Hamlet decides to test whether or not Claudius really killed his father. He devises a scene in a play where an actor pours poison in the ear of another actor. The king leaves the play angry, and Horatio and Hamlet agree Claudius is guilty.

Gertrude calls Hamlet into her bedroom to ask him why he is so depressed. Hamlet accuses Gertrude of being an incestuous murderer. Polonius, who is hiding behind a curtain, gives a shout to protest the was Hamlet is treating the queen. Hamlet stabs Polonius through the curtain, thinking he is Claudius. He then asks the queen to not sleep with Claudius anymore, to which Gertrude agrees.

The death of Polonius drives Ophelia mad and pushes Claudius into action. He devises a plot where Hamlet will go to England with his friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and have the English do away with Hamlet. Hamlet intercepts the letter, changes to orders so that they condemn Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and returns back to Denmark.

When Hamlet gets back, he discovers Ophelia has committed suicide and is being buried. Laertes is incensed over the loss of his sister, agrees with Claudius to get rid of Hamlet. They devise a duel between Hamlet and Laertes, in which Laertes will poison his sword and kill Hamlet.

When Hamlet and Laertes begin the duel, Claudius decides to make doubly sure that Hamlet dies. He puts a poison pearl in a wine glass and tries to make Hamlet drink it, which he declines. Hamlet then strikes Laertes twice, causing the queen to toast his good fortune. She drinks the poison wine, while Claudius watches helplessly. Laertes cuts Hamlet with the poison blade, and Hamlet takes Laertes' sword and strikes Laertes with it, poisoning him. Laertes confesses to his wrongdoings and blames Claudius for plotting against him. Hamlet kills Cladius with the poison from the cup, and he, Laertes, the queen, and Claudius die together.

After they all die, young Fortinbras shows up to avenge his father's death to Old Hamlet. Finding all the royalty dead, he declares himself king of Denmark and gives Hamlet a hero's burial.