Insomnia (2002)
A tough cop. A brilliant killer. An unspeakable crime.
Two Los Angeles homicide detectives are dispatched to a northern town where the sun doesn't set to investigate the methodical murder of a local teen.
Rent on Prime Video $3.99 (opens in a new tab) Buy on Prime Video $4.99 (opens in a new tab)
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 24 May 2002 |
| Genre | Thriller, Crime, Drama |
| Director | Christopher Nolan |
| Starring | Al Pacino, Robin Williams and Hilary Swank |
| Runtime | 118 min |
| Rated | R |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 7.7/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 92% · Metacritic 78/100 · IMDb 7.2/10 · TMDB users 7.0/10 |
| Budget | $46 million |
Where to watch Insomnia
Insomnia is streaming on Apple TV+ ($14.99 a month) in the US. If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Apple TV+ is $14.99 at list price.
We check availability daily. Page last updated 30 October 2026. Prices are standard monthly plans and change often, so check with the service before you sign up.
Rent or buy
You can rent Insomnia on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home and Spectrum On Demand. It is also for sale on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango at Home.
Where to watch Insomnia in 15 other countries
| Country | Streaming on (price a month) |
|---|---|
| Andorra | Netflix |
| Australia | ARD/ZDF |
| Austria | Max €11.99 |
| France | Netflix €14.99 |
| French Guiana | Netflix |
| French Polynesia | Netflix about |
| Germany | Max €11.99 |
| India | Prime Video ₹299 |
| Japan | U-NEXT ¥2189 JPY |
| Liechtenstein | Max |
| Luxembourg | Max |
| Monaco | Netflix |
| South Korea | Wavve ₩10900 |
| Switzerland | Netflix CHF14.90, Max CHF16.90 |
| United Kingdom | BBC iPlayer free |
Subscription, free and ad-supported services we track; prices where Binge Boss has a price list for the country. "About" marks a price the service bills in another currency, converted at the day's rate. All countries as data.
What kind of watch this is
Christopher Nolan directs a 118-minute thriller set in a town where the sun refuses to set. The premise is simple enough: two Los Angeles homicide detectives travel north to investigate the murder of a local teen. What makes this work is the environment. The unending daylight strips away the usual cover of night, forcing the detectives to operate in a state of constant exposure. Al Pacino and Robin Williams navigate a case that feels less like a procedural and more like a slow suffocation. The killer is patient, the setting is relentless, and the detectives are running on fumes. It is a film about the cost of staying awake.
What the critics said
The critical reception leans heavily positive, though the exact numbers depend on when you check. Rotten Tomatoes reports a 92% approval rating as of August 2024, based on 203 reviews. Metacritic sits at a 78/100 Metascore as of July 2025, which it classifies as generally favorable. The consensus highlights the lead performances. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times called it "a re-examination of the material, like a new production of a good play." Even the original director, Erik Skjoldbjærg, admitted Nolan’s version was "a well crafted, smart film." Nolan himself later cited it as his most underrated work.
How it did with audiences
$46 million went in, $114 million came out. That margin is enough to keep the lights on and the studios happy, though the audience might have preferred a different ending. TMDB users give it a 7 out of 10. IMDb rates it 7.2/10 as of February 2026. The numbers say the gamble paid off.
What came next for the cast
Al Pacino arrived with two Godfather epics under his belt and left with a slate that swung wildly from Scorsese to Ocean. Robin Williams shifted from the somber poetry of Good Will Hunting to three straight museum capers. Hilary Swank moved from the raw grit of Boys Don't Cry to the boxing ring of Million Dollar Baby. Maura Tierney traded thriller supporting roles for a steady stream of character dramas. The timeline does not prove Insomnia directed these specific turns. It simply marks the point where their paths diverged.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Insomnia.
Sources
- Insomnia on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q429969 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Insomnia (2002 film)” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
Watch it without paying for the whole year
Binge Boss tracks the movie you are on and tells you which services you need this month, and which you can cancel.
Add Insomnia to your list