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Insomnia

Play trailer 2:23 Poster for Insomnia R Released May 24, 2002 1h 58m Mystery & Thriller Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
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 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 Full Review Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh Furthers Christopher Nolan's skills of pacing and mystery he teased in Memento, elevated by riveting performers. Rated: 4/5 Sep 9, 2025 Full Review 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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Daniel S 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. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/26/25 Full Review Obi-wan K 30:30 minute mark 👍🥀 Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/09/25 Full Review Darsou C 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 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/21/25 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 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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