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Insomnia

Play trailer 2:23 Poster for Insomnia R 2002 1h 58m Mystery & Thriller Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 203 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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Insomnia

Insomnia

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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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Critics Reviews

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Adam Kempenaar Filmspotting 04/24/2020
3.5/5
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. Go to Full Review
Jami Bernard New York Daily News 08/25/2014
3/4
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. Go to Full Review
Richard Schickel TIME Magazine 08/05/2013
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. Go to Full Review
Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh Sep 9
4/5
Furthers Christopher Nolan's skills of pacing and mystery he teased in Memento, elevated by riveting performers. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 04/29/2024
3.5/4
...a methodically-paced yet increasingly absorbing drama... Go to Full Review
Akhil Arora AkhilArora.com 10/17/2023
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. Go to Full Review
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Jack F @MovieFan111 Nov 17 WARNING: CONTROVERSIAL STATMENT INBOUND: I'm not a Christopher Nolan fan by any means (Oh no, did I say that out loud? Please don't sue me or take me to prison), but this is his only 18+ film, so I watched it. And no, I didn't really like it. Hah, it's 17+ tops. See more Steven C Nov 16 Great story. Great casts. Maybe my environment is not good, I should feel how stressed the cop with his mistake. Worth a watch See more Romas M Nov 15 Greetings from Lithuania. "Insomnia" (2002) was a second studio film made by Christopher Nolan after his debut "Memento". "Insomnia" as of 2025 is the only feature that a great Christopher Nolan hasn't written and directed. It is the only film were he was basically a director for hire. Keeping that in mind it is clear why it is so different from what Nolan has made in the next 23 years. "Insomnia" was based on a Norwegian movie and basically a remake. This is a very good movie. Performances by both leads were excellent - Al Pacino, Robin Williams - i mean they had to be. This is also a smart, realistic and involving story that does explore a bit themes like guilt. But more or less it is a detective story with few twists: action takes place in Alaska during summer period when 80 days and nights look the same - it is always sunny. This takes a bit tool unto Al Pacino's character when chasing a local killer. Overall, "Insomnia" is a good film, made by a director who's skill were on display here, but not being Nolan film yet in a sense we know it know. See more Daniel S Sep 26 Guilt, Murder & The Game You Can’t Escape Christopher Nolan’s Insomnia isn’t just a thriller.. it’s a full-on mind trip that keeps you hooked from start to finish. At the heart of it all is Al Pacino, absolutely crushing it as Detective Will Dormer. You can practically feel every ounce of his pain, guilt, and exhaustion bleeding through the screen as he spirals deeper into a world of sleepless nights and moral gray zones. But the real surprise? Robin Williams. Forget the goofy, family-friendly roles you might know him for.. here he flips the script, stepping into the skin of a reclusive crime writer with a chilling dark side. He’s not some cartoonish villain; instead, he’s layered, unsettling, and, weirdly enough, even a little sympathetic at times. Watching him and Pacino go toe-to-toe in this tense cat-and-mouse showdown is pure cinematic fire. Hilary Swank also comes in strong, balancing the heavyweights with a performance that feels grounded and sharp. And of course, Nolan (fresh off Memento) shows he’s no one-hit wonder. His direction is slick, moody, and dripping with atmosphere. The murky lighting and noir vibes lock you into the unsettling world he’s building, proving why people are already calling him a future legend. Insomnia isn’t your typical cookie-cutter thriller. It’s smart, layered, and emotionally charged. If you’re into psychological mysteries that mess with your head and keep you guessing, this one’s a must-watch. Definitely a standout from the early 2000s.. and maybe even one of Nolan’s most underrated gems. See more Obi-wan K @Gordon_Freeman Sep 9 30:30 minute mark 👍🥀 See more Darsou C Aug 21 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 See more Read all reviews
Insomnia

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Movie Info

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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