1. Hamlet 2 (2008)
Based on: Hamlet
Whether Hamlet 2 should be considered a movie adaptation of Shakespeare is debatable, but it’s certainly one of the weirdest films to make use of his work. Despite what its title suggests, it isn’t a sequel to the play, but rather a story about a teacher putting on a production of a sequel to Hamlet. Naturally, his take on Shakespeare’s story is rather… creative.
Starring Steve Coogan and Amy Poehler, Hamlet 2 chronicles a high school production of a sequel to Hamlet that adds a number of ideas to Shakespeare’s original. A time-traveling musical featuring Jesus Christ (as well as a song-and-dance number titled “Rock Me Sexy Jesus”), the play is utterly bonkers. It also features a running gag about time travel being exclusively used to have characters repair their relationships with their fathers.
Is Hamlet 2 a true Shakespeare adaptation? Certainly not. However, it borrows characters and concepts from one of the Bard’s most successful plays, then thoroughly mangles them for comedic effect. If that’s not one of the most bizarre uses of Shakespeare’s legacy, then we’re not sure what is.
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