Memento

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1:21

Memento

R

2000

1h 56m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

184 Reviews

94%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Leonard (Guy Pearce) is tracking down the man who raped and murdered his wife. The difficulty, however, of locating his wife's killer is compounded by the fact that he suffers from a rare, untreatable form of memory loss. Although he can recall details of life before his accident, Leonard cannot remember what happened fifteen minutes ago, where he's going, or why.

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Critics Consensus

Christopher Nolan skillfully guides the audience through Memento's fractured narrative, seeping his film in existential dread.

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Victoria Luxford

BBC.com

Very complex detective thriller. Guy Pearce (leads) a terrific cast alongside Carrie Anne Moss. If you want to see the beginnings of how Nolan became such a big director, this is one to watch.

Rated: 5/5

Aug 11, 2023

Full Review

Adam Kempenaar

Filmspotting

Think of all the ways that a linear film structure stabilizes us - the cause and effect chain of events. But Memento is about a character completely destabilized, so Nolan destabilizes us accordingly in a way maybe no other movie has.

Rated: 5/5

Apr 10, 2020

Full Review

Joshua Rothkopf

In These Times

Memento would only be half as fun with only one gimmick or the other. Instead, the backward storytelling and the frozen man make for a wonderful pair, combining into something far more redemptive than it sounds.

Mar 16, 2020

Full Review

Dan DiNicola

The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)

Memento isn't an easy film, but it gives viewers plenty to ponder. And Pearce's startling performance is unforgettable.

Rated: A

Apr 30, 2024

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Akhil Arora

AkhilArora.com

Memento places you in the mind of the protagonist in a fascinating way—by running it in reverse, you only know as much as the protagonist remembers—and that constantly makes you question what you’ve been told and what you see next.

Oct 17, 2023

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…one of the most demanding movies ever made…one of cinema’s most ornate puzzle-boxes…

Rated: 5/5

Sep 29, 2023

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Jack F

UUUUUHHHHH, I absolutely hate Christopher Nolan movies, but I'll rate this one I guess... Did I like it? Hell no. Confusing as f**k, and if you know me, I HATE confusing movies. (I guess I wouldn't do very well with Lost Highway then)... Anyway, I don't really feel like watching it again. I know it's really famous though.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

11/27/25

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Kim P

A true feat of filmmaking process. How in the world did they storyboard this?

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/22/25

Full Review

Audience Member

What can I say? Christopher Nolan always cooks. Memento is another perfect example of how he plays with time like no one else. The story is told backward through the eyes of Leonard, a man with short-term memory loss, and it fits so well with his condition that it almost feels natural. Every scene pulls you in, making you question what’s real and what’s not until that twist hits and completely flips what you thought you knew. What I really love is how it’s not just about a clever structure. It’s about how people lie to themselves just to keep going, and that hits hard. Guy Pearce absolutely nails it, and the whole film still feels sharp and fresh even after all these years. I’d definitely recommend it one of Nolan’s most creative works.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/18/25

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Sushil A

"This is the first time I have watched a movie where the plot is played backwards. It captivizes you, making you want to know who did it and how. The plot twist at the end is something I had already figured out once I put the pieces together."

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/11/25

Full Review

Nayara d

Uma obra-prima que sempre vale a pena ser revista. Memento é genial em diversos níveis, mas principalmente na forma como Nolan conduz o expectador em um emaranhado de situações que se revelam cada vez mais confusas, revelando a condição dramática do protagonista a lá mito de Sísifo.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/11/25

Full Review

Ted B.

5.0 stars; The most unique, creative film I have ever seen. A masterpiece in filmmaking. The film's protagonist has short-term memory issues and is trying to find the man who raped and killed his wife. The unique concept for this movie is that his story is told in reverse. You are so captivated by this imaginative plot scheme that it's easy to miss superb performances by Guy Pearce and Carrie-Anne Moss. This film garnered Academy Award nominations and numerous independent film society awards. It is one of my favorite films of all time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/01/25

Full Review

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Christopher Nolan

Director

Guy Pearce

Leonard Shelby

Carrie-Anne Moss

Natalie

Joe Pantoliano

Teddy

Mark Boone Junior

Burt

Stephen Tobolowsky

Sammy

Memento: Official Clip - My Wife Deserves Vengeance

3:57

Memento: Official Clip - I Know I Can't Have Her Back

3:05

Memento: Official Clip - Will You Remember Me?

2:49

Memento: Official Clip - Can You Get Angry?

3:47

Memento: Official Clip - When My Eyes Are Closed, The World's Still Here

3:48

Memento: Official Clip - You Make Up Your Own Truth

3:51

Memento: Official Clip - I Finally Found Him

2:00

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Memento: Trailer 1

1:21

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Synopsis

Leonard (Guy Pearce) is tracking down the man who raped and murdered his wife. The difficulty, however, of locating his wife's killer is compounded by the fact that he suffers from a rare, untreatable form of memory loss. Although he can recall details of life before his accident, Leonard cannot remember what happened fifteen minutes ago, where he's going, or why.

Director: Christopher Nolan
Producer: Jennifer Todd, Suzanne Todd
Screenwriter: Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan
Distributor: Newmarket Film Group
Production Co: Team Todd, I Remember Productions, Llc, Newmarket Capital Group
Rating: R (Language|Drug Content|Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 5, 2000, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $25.5M
Runtime: 1h 56m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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