Following

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Following

R,

1998,

1h 9m,

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

Watchlist

87%

89 Reviews

Tomatometer

85%

10,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

89 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Lacking prospects, a writer (Jeremy Theobald) begins tailing strangers, until he encounters a voyeuristic thief (Alex Haw).

Critics Consensus

Super brief but efficient, Following represents director Christopher Nolan's burgeoning talent in tight filmmaking and hard-edge noir.

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Don Irvine

Globe and Mail

Jul 8, 2026

3/4

Nolan's punchy little film was shot in black and white on weekends and unpaid everybody else, and it sucks you in with its conceit with an ease that would leave an L.A. producer breathless.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Jul 8, 2026

Unfortunately, Following is almost ruined by a disjointed narrative structure: a pointless and pretentious shuffling up of scenes which adds nothing at all to the film and is just confusing.

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Andrew O'Hagan

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Jul 8, 2026

Young British film-maker Christopher Nolan demonstrates an impressive technical flair and a good sense of a story in this, his debut feature.

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Shawn Levy

Oregonian

Jul 8, 2026

A-

"Following" is a crackling good little film that succeeds at deploying surprises, engaging in very dry dark humor, and keeping the viewer guessing as to what will happen next -- and, more mysteriously, why.

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Ron R

Mar 12, 2019

A little known black and white film from Christopher Nolan. It jumps around more than Pulp Fiction, but doesn't lose the audience while doing so. Rating: C+

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Poe W

Feb 19, 2019

A first effort that eerily epitomizes this director's career.

Nov 19, 2018

It may be Christopher Nolan's worst film, it is honestly still pretty fine. This really shows just how great of a director Nolan is. It contains a really good twist in the ending.

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George W

Nov 8, 2018

This film was great.

George W

Oct 6, 2018

Following shows Christopher Nolan's talent put to screen in his first feature film with a brief, twisty plot as an exercise in neo-noir that may not contain a mind-blowing plot like his future successors and does lack a compelling interest in its characters but still proves to be a worthy debut that establishes the director's conspicuous style.

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Ron G

Sep 18, 2018

Above average debut from Nolan.

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Synopsis

Lacking prospects, a writer (Jeremy Theobald) begins tailing strangers, until he encounters a voyeuristic thief (Alex Haw).

Director: Christopher Nolan
Producer: Christopher Nolan, Jeremy Theobald, Emma Thomas
Screenwriter: Christopher Nolan
Distributor: Zeitgeist Films, Columbia Tristar
Production Co: Next Wave Films
Rating: R (Some Violence|Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 2, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 10, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $47.9K
Runtime: 1h 9m

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