Insomnia

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2:23

Insomnia

R

Released May 24, 2002

1h 58m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

202 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

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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

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Insomnia may be an underrated Christopher Nolan film but Al Pacino and Robin Williams elevate it to the next level and make audiences forget that it's an English-language remake.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 17, 2023

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Anson M

In the world of Christopher Nolan, memory is still as treacherous as nitroglycerin.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/29/25

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 58 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $67,300,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/13/25

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Daniel N

Not normally a fan of murder mysteries but I really enjoyed this one.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/08/25

Full Review

Chris R

Insomnia proves that Memento wasn't a fluke: Nolan is a major talent with many more good films ahead of him.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/05/25

Full Review

Gina R

Swapping amnesia for insomnia, Nolan again shows he can manipulate a camera and the audience to show a character's fragile state of mind.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/19/25

Full Review

Chase R.

Movie should have ended with Pacino asking Swank, “What’s is called when ya can’t sleep?” which cues that one Linkin Park song. Swank answers, “Insomnia” and then a hard cut to credits.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/19/25

Full Review

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Christopher Nolan

Director

Al Pacino

Will Dormer

Robin Williams

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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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