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Insomnia (2002 film)

Insomnia is a 2002 American neo-noir psychological thriller film directed by Christopher Nolan and written by Hillary Seitz.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Insomnia is a 2002 American neo-noir psychological thriller film directed by Christopher Nolan and written by Hillary Seitz. It stars Al Pacino, Robin Williams, and Hilary Swank, and follows two Los Angeles detectives investigating a murder in a small Alaskan town where daylight never ends. The film is a remake of the 1997 Norwegian film Insomnia and was released in the United States and Canada on May 24, 2002.

Plot

The film follows two Los Angeles homicide detectives who travel to Alaska to investigate the murder of a teenage girl. During the investigation, one detective becomes entangled in a cover-up after accidentally killing his partner, while the case intensifies under the pressure of sleeplessness and daylight that never ends.

Production

Insomnia was directed by Christopher Nolan and scripted by Hillary Seitz, based on the Norwegian film by Nikolaj Frobenius and Erik Skjoldbjærg. It was produced as an American remake and released by Warner Bros. Pictures in North America.

Release and reception

The film premiered at the Tribeca Festival on May 3, 2002 and was released theatrically in the United States and Canada on May 24, 2002. Reviewers generally responded positively, and the film grossed $113.8 million worldwide against a $46 million budget.

Cast

The principal cast includes Al Pacino, Robin Williams, and Hilary Swank, with supporting roles by Maura Tierney, Martin Donovan, Nicky Katt, and Paul Dooley.

Key facts

  • Insomnia is a 2002 American neo-noir psychological thriller directed by Christopher Nolan.
  • It is a remake of the 1997 Norwegian film Insomnia.
  • The film stars Al Pacino, Robin Williams, and Hilary Swank.
  • It was released in the United States and Canada on May 24, 2002.
  • The film grossed $113.8 million worldwide against a $46 million budget.
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Canadian context

The film was released theatrically in Canada on May 24, 2002.[1][14]

Frequently asked questions

What is Insomnia (2002 film)?
A 2002 American neo-noir psychological thriller directed by Christopher Nolan and written by Hillary Seitz.
Is Insomnia a remake?
Yes. It is a remake of the 1997 Norwegian film Insomnia.
Who stars in the film?
Al Pacino, Robin Williams, and Hilary Swank are the main stars.
When was the film released?
It premiered on May 3, 2002 at the Tribeca Festival and opened in the United States and Canada on May 24, 2002.
How long is the film?
The running time is 118 minutes.
How successful was the film commercially?
It earned $113.8 million worldwide on a reported budget of $46 million.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insomnia_(2002_film)
    Supports: Director, writer, cast, plot, release dates, budget, box office, remake status, and reception.
  2. BBC — https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2002/08/12/insomnia_2002_review.shtml
    Supports: Plot description, remake status, and cast context.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0278504/
    Supports: Director, writers, stars, and short plot synopsis.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0278504/releaseinfo/
    Supports: Tribeca premiere and Canadian release date.
  5. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1114154-insomnia
    Supports: Genre, runtime, release date, and rating.