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

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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Landon J

Decent, I like all the subtleties in the leads acting, lots of great little details. Many character choices make no sense to me and take me out of things a bit. This story goes about as predictably as you might think and is a probably bit of a letdown for Nolan freaks. Robin was good in this.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

12/13/24

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mark g

Pretty incredible film. Great script, great performances, incredible cinematography. Truly a remarkable achievement from Christopher Nolan.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/21/24

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Isa B

Atmospheric. Superbly directed. Christopher Nolan's remake of the 1997 Norwegian thriller with the same title. Robin Williams gives one of his career best performances. Al Pacino is fantastic as he always is. The story will keep you in a constant state of suspense. Insomnia is a very good motion picture. I recommend. 88/100

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/14/24

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Jon G

One of Chris Nolan’s best movies, a must see.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/13/24

Full Review

mr c

Nolan's most underated gem.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/24/24

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Faiz D

One of Nolan's and Al Pacino's best films. A really good crime thriller.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/29/24

Full Review

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Christopher Nolan

Director

Al Pacino

Will Dormer

Robin Williams

Walter Finch

Hilary Swank

Ellie Burr

Maura Tierney

Rachel

Martin Donovan

Hap Eckhart

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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: Alcon Entertainment, Witt/Thomas Productions, Section Eight Ltd.
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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