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Following
1998
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
1h 9m
A young writer who follows strangers for material meets a thief who takes him under his wing. (imdb)
Directed by:
Christopher NolanScreenwriter:
Christopher NolanFollowing
1998
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
1h 9m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 57.65% from 2565 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews
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Rated 14 Mar 2014
70
65th
Life is about choices. This movie offers you the choice of rooting for a stalker with a heart of gold or a thief with a mind for mischief. Ironically, I've played both these roles and have had a really hard time even rooting for myself.
Rated 14 Mar 2014
Rated 08 Oct 2011
67
30th
MEMENTO succeeds both because of and despite its gimmick. This ultimately feels nothing but gimmick. The theme of invading other people's lives is shrugged off after a few weak Tyler Durden-isms and never explored in depth. The performances are mediocre. The technical aspects show promise, but nothing special. It all just seems to revolve around the cleverness of the script, and I found the gotcha twists a bit tedious. Not bad as a first effort, but not very fulfilling or even entertaining.
Rated 08 Oct 2011
Rated 31 Oct 2014
80
86th
Nolan financed this himself, but it's not merely one of those "good in spite of the budget" debuts, it's a totally compelling thriller by ordinary standards. One which shows early signs of the brilliant writer-director's eye for interesting framings - as well as his proneness for narrational trickery.
Rated 31 Oct 2014
Rated 13 Jul 2013
65
38th
I heavily appreciate no-budget filmmaking no matter the film, and if nothing else, Nolan proves he can do a lot with a little. But Hollywood budget or fry cook budget, if you can't craft a narrative I care about, all your ingenuity doesn't really matter.
Rated 13 Jul 2013
Rated 10 Nov 2009
83
61st
Not up to par with Nolan's later films but still a movie worth watching. Even with this film Nolan likes experimenting with time and timelines, the story is well laid out though and never really confusing.
Rated 10 Nov 2009
Rated 19 Aug 2008
87
84th
Very clever film that does not seem like its budget at all. I almost wish I had seen this before Memento, but while they share similar storytelling, they are completely different. Echoing what others have said: This does not seem like a director's first movie since there is a maturity in the film making that makes that very hard to believe. Some (coincidental?) foreshadowing with the Batman decal on the door. Watch this movie to see the evolution of Nolan, but also just because it is great.
Rated 19 Aug 2008
Rated 04 Apr 2008
83
79th
Quotes: "-How can I explain? You ever been to a football match just to let your eyes rise and go over drift across a crowd of people, and then slowly start to fix on one person? And all of a sudden that person isn't part of the crowd anymore. They've become an individual, just like that."
Rated 04 Apr 2008
Rated 08 Oct 2020
72
43rd
Intriguing and interesting debut feature for Nolan showcases what would become his best and worst attributes - heavy, complicated exposition robs the intriguing story and ideas of some of their impact and a needlessly convoluted structure makes this harder work to navigate than it should. Fine performances go some way to mitigating its flaws, with Haw as the slick and venal Cobb the skin crawling standout.
Rated 08 Oct 2020
Rated 10 Mar 2016
76
60th
Forget dates and times or establishing shots, Nolan wants you relying on an inventory of small objects place the where and when of each scene. It's like a puzzle with a great jigsaw cut but a so-so image. No classic but worth meeting half way.
Rated 10 Mar 2016
Rated 26 Nov 2015
5
20th
Rather dull and lengthy, despite its short running time. I understand the drawbacks of working with a small budget but in no way should it justify the film's rudimentary execution. I mean, 'Pi' - also made on a shoestring budget - came out the same year, and Aronofsky still managed to bring visual flair and creativity to his debut. The acting is also lacking across the board, despite every scene having been rehearsed extensively.
Rated 26 Nov 2015
Rated 06 Jun 2014
89
96th
This is an excellent example of how to make a great low budget film. The script is original and is interesting for the whole film. Christopher Nolan shows his immense talent in his feature film directing debut. I highly recommend this film.
Rated 06 Jun 2014
Rated 05 May 2013
82
64th
pure nolan. enjoyed the connections to his other films eg; the batman symbol on the protagonists door and the major player "cobb" ala inception
Rated 05 May 2013
Rated 28 Oct 2010
70
59th
The lead ain't much of an actor, but hell, Nolan really had talent already in his early days. Great plot, script, idea. Supporting character: great. Seems like his whole family played a part in the production, if you look at the credits. Fun.
Rated 28 Oct 2010
Rated 14 Jul 2010
84
70th
Really good movie. Extremely low budget with some bad acting but nothing too terrible. But where it really shines is the story, writing, directing and structure. The film is told out of order but with an easy to follow structure that feels right. Like some other Nolan films, it is structured like a puzzle or a magic trick and it succeeds in keeping you entertained but guessing right up to the end. Excellent debut by a brilliant writer/director.
Rated 14 Jul 2010
Rated 06 Aug 2024
60
26th
Here, Nolan does his chronology thing, working backwards and forwards until they meet in the middle--at least, he works that way until he needs to wrap it up at the end. I'm not sure I see the purpose in this construction, but the story is interesting, a man following in the footsteps of another, in some sense becoming that man. There's something deeply true about that--one might not really find anyone's identity from their stuff, but they do find it (and their own) via following.
Rated 06 Aug 2024
Rated 14 May 2024
7
63rd
It’s hard to follow the time-jumping narrative, but I’ll admit I’m more like the guy that gets duped hard than the super smart one, and the little moments in one scene that get explained in the next are still always satisfying. The revealing third act is a perfectly devastating conclusion to the uniquely unnerving break-in thrills leading up to it. Great, claustrophobic cinematography (the black & white feels fitting), spotty sound editing, a chilling score, and wonderful turns are also of note.
Rated 14 May 2024
Rated 04 Nov 2023
72
2nd
While you definitely see the emergence of Nolan's signatures here, I can't say Following is as outstanding as any of his bigger-budget films. The concept is a bit out there and feels a bit contrived simply to establish the twist ending, which felt tonally too bleak for the rest of the otherwise standard character study.
Rated 04 Nov 2023
Rated 08 Oct 2023
80
78th
Well-done all around: great acting, a taut (if outrageous once you get to the twist) plot, and a glimpse at Nolan's love of time shuffling that will blossom into Memento.
Rated 08 Oct 2023
Rated 22 Jul 2023
72
39th
Amateurishly plotty but relatively innocent fun.
Rated 22 Jul 2023
Rated 08 Feb 2023
50
33rd
As a film that leans so heavily on the two leads, I found myself not caring for or connecting with either which just left me feeling slightly bored by the whole thing.
Rated 08 Feb 2023
Rated 06 Aug 2021
95
96th
9??????????????Lin-Manuel Miranda??????????
Rated 06 Aug 2021
Rated 02 Feb 2021
3
72nd
A lesson in editing.
Rated 02 Feb 2021
Rated 22 Sep 2020
40
22nd
Visually uninteresting and suffering from a convoluted and fairly nonsensical plot like pretty much all Nolan's films. Halfway through the movie it is abundantly clear he is being set up as a fall guy. The way Cobb gets the hammer is so convenient it's laugable. Not to mention how unbelievable the police "investigation" is.
Rated 22 Sep 2020
Rated 26 May 2020
65
25th
I'm starting a Christopher Nolan marathon. This first film of his...it's not terrible by any means, but it is very different, and you can still feel that Nolan spirit, and I liked how the narrative was a bit deceptive until you are looped in. That was a nice touch, but as a WHOLE, this mostly felt like an art-house/student film, where it was trying hard to appear fancy with a full-screen and grainy black & white image...I just don't think that was necessary. It distracted me, actually.
Rated 26 May 2020
Rated 14 Apr 2020
76
68th
75.8
Rated 14 Apr 2020
Rated 04 Aug 2019
85
84th
"David Lloyd, the name which Cobb and Bill use to sign the stolen credit card, is actually a name of a sound technician from the crew of the film."
Rated 04 Aug 2019
Rated 17 Mar 2019
70
73rd
Interesting film with an almost ethereal quality. I liked the protagonists and the fast, dazzling story.
Rated 17 Mar 2019
Rated 29 Jun 2018
80
55th
The sparse synth soundtrack and the nonlinear storyline make it really easy to sort of zone out and soak up the atmosphere.
Rated 29 Jun 2018
Rated 12 Jul 2017
65
37th
It's incredibly endearing that Following is exactly like what you'd expect a debut budget film from Christopher Nolan to be like. That is both its praise and restraint. Nolan's lean plotting in his thrillers centered around individual characters is all here, but without the grand ideas and execution of his later movies. There's still a lot of appeal in seeing a smaller scaled story pulled off so intensely. The non-linear structure foreshadows Memento, but it lacks that needed character insight.
Rated 12 Jul 2017
Rated 20 Jun 2017
84
71st
شاید بازی بازیگران و حماقت اغراق شده بیدلی ضعف فیلم باشند ولی بیشک داستان قوی و مضامین خوب و روایت عالی نولان از این فیلم کاری تحسین برانگیز ساخته است
Rated 20 Jun 2017
Rated 07 May 2017
90
28th
Excellent.
Rated 07 May 2017
Rated 03 Apr 2016
80
81st
Nolan's debut is a mature and intelligent neo-noir, especially impressive given its ultra-low budget and brisk runtime. He expertly employs a nonlinear narrative for a constantly twisting story where nothing is ever as it first seems, and it culminates with a mighty gut-punch of an ending.
Rated 03 Apr 2016
Rated 12 Mar 2016
80
55th
Our Daily Free Stream: Christopher Nolan - Follwing. Ich habe mir den ersten Film von Christopher Nolan angesehen, die britische No-Budget Produktion Follwing und war verblüfft: In seinem Debüt steckt der Kern aller seiner Filme!(...) Die ganze Rezension und eine Film list mit den kniffeligsten "Indie" Mindgame Movies findest du auf cinegeek.de Viel Vergnügen!
Rated 12 Mar 2016
Rated 19 Nov 2015
62
69th
Absorbing thriller about the different natures of leaders and followers.
Rated 19 Nov 2015
Rated 26 Oct 2015
81
29th
Its unique style will turn some people away. But for those who see it through, Following is a smart, complex, and ultimately rewarding little feat that contains several nods toward Christopher Nolan's later work. With that, Following feels like a directorial signature.
Rated 26 Oct 2015
Rated 19 Mar 2015
55
42nd
Interesting start, even if it's more a nice teaser of things to come.
Rated 19 Mar 2015
Rated 03 Mar 2015
65
73rd
Very good low budget film.
Rated 03 Mar 2015
Rated 21 Feb 2015
90
77th
Bir yönetmenin ilk filmine göre fazla iyi
Rated 21 Feb 2015
Rated 15 Dec 2014
3
30th
the comedy in this movie is the sort of comedy where you laugh at the attempt at comedy rather than the actual comedy. it's very well shot and put together, but this is pretty amateur stuff, an overly 'and all the pieces come together, wooooaaahhh!' sort of thing with hilarious acting. only 69 minutes though. and on youtube.
Rated 15 Dec 2014
Rated 16 Nov 2014
47
11th
Dull, amateurish 90s indie of the sort they blessedly don't make anymore.
Rated 16 Nov 2014
Rated 20 Aug 2014
98
89th
one of those I always recommend to people (also cause it's not that wellknown as it would deserve). Smart, for adult minds.
Rated 20 Aug 2014
Rated 02 Aug 2014
69
62nd
An interesting psychological mystery and twisting thriller. Nolan is successful in his non-linear approach making the viewer make the narrative connections while questioning the relationship between the different characters, each scene gives us a new understanding, keeping us interested throughout. The movie does have its limitations, it doesn't feel fully developed and looks a little pale. Nolan himself said it was "the peak of what I was able to do on my own or just with friends."
Rated 02 Aug 2014
Rated 19 Jun 2014
70
57th
For Christopher Nolan's first feature this is a mixed bag. The script is brilliant and full of very interesting ideas, but the direction is quite bad and for a few scenes in particular downright horrible. He improved in a directorial capacity very quickly with his second film being much much better.
Rated 19 Jun 2014
Rated 05 Jan 2014
70
41st
Pretty good for a zero budget first feature, though as with a lot of these obfuscated con movies it becomes progressively less interesting the more the plot is revealed. The acting is pretty amateurish, too, especially from Haw, who does not have the gravitas and confidence needed for the role, and Russell, who strikes me more as a playacting suburban housewife than a sexy femme fatale. You can see Nolan is frustrated by his technical limitations.
Rated 05 Jan 2014
Rated 15 Dec 2013
69
35th
A clever film, but moreso on its surface level. Would've been nicer if it had gotten deeper, since the idea of voyeurism through burglary is interesting and this film makes it out to be so.
Rated 15 Dec 2013
Rated 20 Nov 2013
95
95th
Çok zekice yapılmış yapım. Nolan'dan başka bir şey beklenemezdi. Bana Unusual Suspect'i hatırlattı nedense.
Rated 20 Nov 2013
Rated 15 Oct 2013
7
54th
For a first film, goddamn is it well put together.
Rated 15 Oct 2013
Rated 21 Aug 2013
70
56th
Goes down as one of the better opening movies for a director. Makes good use of having an exactly $12 budget. I don't love it as much as others, and have a feeling this is from many people seeing this movie after already loving Nolan so giving it a little bump. Either way, it's pretty good and worth a watch.
Rated 21 Aug 2013
Rated 16 Aug 2013
8
85th
Enjoyment: 8/10, Plot: 9/10 Themes: 8/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Direction: 8/10 Acting: 7/10 Writing: 8/10 Score: 8/10 Editing: 10/10 Design: 7/10
Rated 16 Aug 2013
Rated 12 Jun 2013
80
84th
Very smart and intriguing movie with a script that consists of pure genius and a simple but effective execution. This movie proves that you can make something great with enough talent and only a few thousand bucks.
Rated 12 Jun 2013
Rated 06 Jun 2013
80
60th
Nolan is the absolute master of non chronological story-telling!
Rated 06 Jun 2013
Rated 22 Feb 2013
87
53rd
Nolan's later work is more recognized but Following is an excellent presentation of what was to come of him in the future. Acting is pretty good and it's fun to watch the story unfold, even if it is way too short. Worth watching if you like Christopher Nolan and if you have an hour to kill.
Rated 22 Feb 2013
Rated 03 Feb 2013
68
39th
You can already see Nolans potential even though it's a no budget movie.
Rated 03 Feb 2013
Rated 10 Jan 2013
97
98th
At first sight, this movie is not really enthralling ... if you take a first look at the trailer, storyline, old fashion film poster, very low budget, 69min movie... nothing exciting, right?
Let me tell you one thing - This movie is Nolan at his finest - the scenario is full of turns and twist that will make your jaw litterally fall down. You will need 10/15 min after the movie to recover from it and assemble the pieces of the puzzle. GENIUS!!!
Rated 10 Jan 2013
Rated 21 Dec 2012
66
49th
Taken on its own, it's not a bad movie, but a little overly straightforward for the level of narrative-twisting weirdness it was trying for. Taken as the film debut of Christopher Nolan, it's interesting that (GREAT STONKING SPOILERS) in this movie, to get the kind of intricate puzzle plot he loves, he had to have a character with a ridiculously intricate plan; later, he'd find ways to either make it more subtle or, in the Batman movies, more consciously over-the-top.
Rated 21 Dec 2012
Rated 16 Dec 2012
70
70th
An unusual story about a man who follows people for fun. One fateful day he follows a burglar. After being noticed, the burglar offers to have him the chance to tag along with him on his next burglary, and from there his life spirals out of control like a fly caught in a spiders web. Picture quality is poor being filmed in black and white. The story is engaging and there are a few surprises.
Rated 16 Dec 2012
Rated 04 Dec 2012
85
86th
From now on Nolan will be referred to by me as Christopher Lemon. TWIST! This one was pretty clever I must say.
Rated 04 Dec 2012
Rated 24 Nov 2012
70
34th
Christopher Nolan did some outstanding work with those six thousand dollars, I'm truly impressed. I found the story to be a bit boring and just didn't like it that much. Serves as documentation of how Nolan got started, but fails to be much else.
Rated 24 Nov 2012
Rated 05 Nov 2012
80
30th
79.500
Rated 05 Nov 2012
Rated 26 Oct 2012
80
22nd
79.500
Rated 26 Oct 2012
Rated 26 Oct 2012
72
63rd
* Casting, Acting : 7
* Script : 8
* Directing, Aura : 8
* Ease of Viewing : 6
* Naked Eye : 7
Rated 26 Oct 2012
Rated 25 Sep 2012
77
47th
All of Nolan's signature style is present in his debut, and although not fully formed it is used to great effect. Nolan is truly a remarkable filmmaker when he's working in an independent context. Following may not contain the same grand non-linear flourishes that, say, Inception has, but I would argue that Following is the superior film for its pure innovation in the non-linear format integrating with noir. The only major flaw is that once you've seen the film all sense of mystery eclipses.
Rated 25 Sep 2012
Rated 26 Aug 2012
80
60th
Worthy student film.
Rated 26 Aug 2012
Rated 26 Aug 2012
77
29th
It was confusing for a while. the transitions show clearly how he later got to the style of Memento. I didnt like it that much but thankfully it resolved everything in a nice and neat satisfying package at the end which redeemed it somewhat.
Rated 26 Aug 2012
Rated 16 Jul 2012
74
75th
Had me going for quite a while. Great way to debut!
Rated 16 Jul 2012
Rated 18 May 2012
60
62nd
Following is a film where the sole gimmick, the non-linear storytelling, makes it work. It stops working once you figure out how mundane the plot really is, but up until that point, you are thoroughly engaged. Granted, this movie became almost worthless after I figured the story out, as none of the other elements really work, but for a production with a budget of $6,000, you can't expect much. And it will provide most audiences with at least two entertaining watches, and that's pretty good.
Rated 18 May 2012
Rated 05 May 2012
62
21st
I love the premise of this film. Unfortunately, the film never really develops on this and progresses more into a simple neo-noir.
Rated 05 May 2012
Rated 03 Jan 2012
73
44th
Nolan clearly had a limited budget here and fails to create a "noir-feel" with the bland shots and use of natural light. The actors are also clearly limited, and the final confrontations seem rather petty because of that. I did enjoy the concept a lot, although already from the start it's obviously quite implausible. My chosen adjective to describe the whole movie would be 'neat'.
Rated 03 Jan 2012
Rated 30 Oct 2011
69
84th
A well-directed, tightly-plotted non-linear neo-noir. Short and somewhat brilliant, even if it doesn't have the budget or the acting talent of Nolan's later films.
Rated 30 Oct 2011
Rated 27 Oct 2011
50
46th
This movie is the perfect placesetter for Nolan's career to come - all idea and execution, no character or emotion.
Rated 27 Oct 2011
Rated 22 Oct 2011
60
29th
Smart, tautly plotted little thriller and an impressive if minor debut for Nolan. The film effectively showcases his talent for intricate, non-linear storylines and generating suspense, as well as his overreliance on needless exposition and gimmickry. Another handicap is that some conceptually great scenes are hampered by problematic technical execution, which is partly understandable given the limited budget. The acting is rather mediocre. Still, it's enjoyable, brainy and suspenseful overall.
Rated 22 Oct 2011
Rated 19 Oct 2011
80
88th
Nolan's debut feature is, perhaps unsurprisingly, pretty great. The noir atmosphere is really well done, and he already displays a knack for complicated storytelling. He certainly knows how to grab you from the get-go and keep you engaged throughout, something that is down to both script and execution - and the low budget seems to be no problem. "Following" seals the deal with some very strong, unpredictable plot twists and at the time must have cemented Nolan as a force to be reckoned with.
Rated 19 Oct 2011
Rated 18 Jun 2011
87
78th
Stunning debut for Nolan. This fast paced and thrilling story about possession and desire will not leave you unmoved.
Rated 18 Jun 2011
Rated 28 May 2011
50
33rd
Nolan's homemade neo-noir might be too short, but it's compelling as anything he would film in the following years.
Rated 28 May 2011
Rated 18 May 2011
76
50th
Super brief but efficient, Following represents director Christopher Nolan's burgeoning talent in tight filmmaking and hard-edge noir.
Rated 18 May 2011
Rated 19 Apr 2011
70
61st
Not bad for an almost amateur movie. It is too short, then lacks a depth in the story and characters, but not bad.
Rated 19 Apr 2011
Rated 20 Feb 2011
70
68th
If you're looking for a smart noir-thriller, this might satisfy you. It's one of Nolan's best scripts--partly because it's not crammed with ideas. However, like Nolan's other films (e.g. *The Prestige* and *Inception*), the film suffers from poorly establishing the characters--via the writing, direction and performances. Likewise, the film teases the audience with interesting concepts, but fails to fully develop them.
Rated 20 Feb 2011
Rated 07 Jan 2011
5
44th
Not bad but never really that engaging. Suffers from some weak acting (confrontation scene at the end is a joke) and is noticeably low budget, which is distracting. Shows promise, which was later fulfilled with Memento but not really worth watching unless you are a die hard Nolan fan. Also, look for the Batman logo about 22 minutes in. Do you see the future Nolan???
Rated 07 Jan 2011
Rated 29 Nov 2010
45
11th
could have been interesting but I can't tell who's who.
Rated 29 Nov 2010
Rated 14 Nov 2010
81
83rd
And again an awesome time puzzle , including great suspense and characterization with an absolutely surprising ending. ( U can't expect it to be like Memento. It was a masterpiece of course)
Rated 14 Nov 2010
Rated 27 Oct 2010
60
34th
Really shows the potential of Chris Nolan, but has a few script and pacing issues
Rated 27 Oct 2010
Rated 24 Oct 2010
1
11th
Not very good at all. It's most impressive to watch Following in light of Memento, which is an impressive leap in quality.
Rated 24 Oct 2010
Rated 18 Oct 2010
69
39th
An early sign of Nolan's promise.
Rated 18 Oct 2010
Rated 22 Aug 2010
70
50th
You can kind of see the seeds of Memento in Following, but on its own merits it's not really worth a watch.
Rated 22 Aug 2010
Rated 06 Jul 2010
85
76th
Christopher Nolan's debut hit, which strikes a clever and thrilling chord, as is typical of the now legendary director.
Rated 06 Jul 2010
Rated 17 May 2010
80
36th
It's well-crafted and clever, but it's only clever for the sake of being clever. The entire plot hinges on the protagonist being a gullible, stupid creep and I had a hard time sympathizing with him.
Rated 17 May 2010
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Directed by:
Christopher NolanScreenwriter:
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