Insomnia

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Insomnia

R

Released May 24, 2002

1h 58m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

205 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

From acclaimed director Chris Nolan ("Memento") comes the story of a veteran police detective (Al Pacino) who is sent to a small Alaskan town to investigate the murder of a teenage girl. Forced into a psychological game of cat-and-mouse by the primary suspect (Robin Williams), events escalate and the detective finds his own stability dangerously threatened.

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Critics Consensus

Driven by Al Pacino and Robin Williams' performances, Insomnia is a smart and riveting psychological drama.

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Adam Kempenaar

Filmspotting

Dormer has a weariness that Pacino wears perfectly, always finding some new depth to his exhaustion and despair without ever being a sleepy presence on screen.

Rated: 3.5/5

Apr 24, 2020

Full Review

Jami Bernard

New York Daily News

Insomnia is not so much about the murder mystery as it is about Will's internal struggle with what's right and what's possibly okay.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 25, 2014

Full Review

Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

The film represents a triumph of atmosphere over a none-too-mysterious mystery. Which is to say that Nolan makes you feel the end-of-the-earth bleakness of his setting, makes you feel the way it can discombobulate people once they internalize it.

Aug 5, 2013

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a methodically-paced yet increasingly absorbing drama...

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 29, 2024

Full Review

Akhil Arora

AkhilArora.com

The only remake Nolan has ever done and the only time he’s never written his own script—Insomnia was his first step in a studio system—this feels the least like a Nolan film, at least what we would come to expect of it based on what came after and before.

Oct 17, 2023

Full Review

Cory Woodroof

For the Win (USA Today)

An electric police procedural drenched in the terror of sleeplessness, Nolan’s remake of the 1990s Norwegian thriller is perhaps his most underrated film as it shows him coming into his own with his command of mood and atmosphere.

Jul 20, 2023

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Chief B

This just belongs into the near flawless if not flawless filmography of Christopher Nolan. I hear a lot of people complain about how he's overrated while he raised the bar for movies in general. He's a master and this one fits right in.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/26/25

Full Review

thiago s

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, o filme mostra um policial que matou o parceiro sem querer, em uma local que estava nublado, mas alguém tinha visto isso e no final foi revelado era o parceiro da equipe Walter finch que no final morreu e matou também o will dormer, com isso, eu não recomendo esse filme.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/15/25

Full Review

Fer S

Good movie! Though I feel it could have been just a bit shorter and Al Pacino was kind of old for the action scenes. I also think the sleep depravation symptoms were not very well reflected. The actual insomnia did not matter that much.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/15/25

Full Review

Cecilia S

Love the look and tone of this movie

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/10/25

Full Review

Otávio A

I absolutely love films like this—it reminds me of the best thrillers-dramas, packed with unexpected twists and profound emotional depth. The layered storytelling keeps you on edge while exploring complex human conflicts. On top of that, the cast is outstanding, featuring renowned actors who deliver exceptional performances, elevating the experience even further. This film is different from what you’d expect from Nolan, in the best way—unique, yet just as captivating.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/29/24

Full Review

Benyamin M

Insomnia is a very confusing Christopher Nolan film but it's got incredible acting and a great storyline. And Christopher Nolan's visual flair and style will keep it out of being a bad experience

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/15/25

Full Review

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Christopher Nolan

Director

Al Pacino

Will Dormer

Robin Williams

Walter Finch

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Insomnia: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

From acclaimed director Chris Nolan ("Memento") comes the story of a veteran police detective (Al Pacino) who is sent to a small Alaskan town to investigate the murder of a teenage girl. Forced into a psychological game of cat-and-mouse by the primary suspect (Robin Williams), events escalate and the detective finds his own stability dangerously threatened.

Director: Christopher Nolan
Producer: Paul Junger Witt, Edward L. McDonnell, Andrew A. Kosove, Broderick Johnson
Screenwriter: Hillary Seitz
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Section Eight Ltd., Witt/Thomas Productions, Alcon Entertainment
Rating: R (Language|Brief Nudity|Some Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 24, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $67.3M
Runtime: 1h 58m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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