Christopher Nolan’s Most Underrated Movie Deserves a Second Chance

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As a movie critic, I’ve come to expect nothing less than box office success from Christopher Nolan’s directorial endeavors, even when they’re not fresh off the production line. In December 2024, two studios – Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. – decided to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Interstellar by re-releasing it in select IMAX theaters. To my surprise, this revival didn’t play on more than 321 screens nationwide over a 14-day period, but it still managed an impressive North American gross of $15.2 million, and a staggering additional $22.99 million internationally. This lucrative re-run serves as a testament to the enduring appeal of cinematic classics, proving that there’s still nothing quite like watching them on the big screen, even when they’re available for streaming at home.

It’s clear that other studios, having seen the box office success of Interstellar‘s reissue, have thought about joining in. But if any Nolan film merits a theatrical rerelease, it’s his biggest blockbuster that hasn’t had a proper American theatrical showing yet.

The Sad Saga of Tenet’s 2020 Theatrical Release

Looking back, it’s a bit disheartening to realize that Warner Bros. persisted in attempting to premiere Christopher Nolan’s Tenet towards the end of summer 2020, despite the massive successes of Top Gun: Maverick and Minions: The Rise of Gru following their postponements from 2020 for two years. Originally scheduled to debut on July 17, 2020, the release date of Tenet was repeatedly pushed back (in anticipation of New York and Los Angeles cinemas reopening), before eventually premiering in Canada on August 27th and the United States on September 3rd.

Despite playing in approximately 2,930 theaters domestically during its initial release, the blockbuster movie Tenet failed to screen in two major cities: Los Angeles and New York City. Consequently, Tenet’s box office earnings were significantly curtailed across North America, and its theatrical run never seemed complete or typical. Even when it received a minor re-release in select New York theaters in early March 2021, the experience was far from satisfactory. The ongoing pandemic prevented Tenet from enjoying a regular, full-fledged American theatrical release.

Since domestic theaters reopened, Warner Bros. surprisingly hasn’t attempted to re-launch Tenet as a theatrical event. While there was a brief one-week IMAX reissue in early 2024, it doesn’t compare to the full 3,000+ theater run that Tenet missed out on in 2020. It’s possible that Warner Bros.’ current lack of collaboration with Nolan is why they haven’t given Tenet another shot. However, considering Christopher Nolan’s time-centric directorial style, a grand theatrical release (even if limited to two weeks like Interstellar’s December 2014 run) could prove extremely profitable.

Tenet Has Real Value as a Big-Screen Experience

For the 1997 reissues of Star Wars, the trailers emphasized that if you’ve only seen these movies on TV, then you haven’t truly experienced them. Similarly, Tenet is a movie best enjoyed in a theater. Action-packed with explosions, fights, and grand spectacle, it just doesn’t compare to watching on your phone. Furthermore, the lengthy 150-minute runtime of Tenet can be intimidating on streaming platforms.

In an environment where experiencing performances is an event (and you can’t just instantly replay your favorite sitcoms at will), the expansive scale of “Tenet” stands out as a strength. Additionally, the September 2020 release of “Tenet” meant that while some cinemas might have been open, it was likely difficult for many people to catch it in theaters. Now, audiences across North America will finally get an opportunity to watch “Tenet” as Christopher Nolan originally intended, with a wide theatrical release that includes viewers from all regions for the first time.

Beyond everything else, Nolan’s fame has never been greater since he took on the role of director for Best Picture Oscar-winner “Oppenheimer”. The film “Tenet” may have been a hard sell even in normal times without COVID, but with “Oppenheimer”, audiences are more eager than ever to take a chance on this project. Giving “Tenet” its long-awaited American theatrical run, which it missed out on in its problematic 2020 domestic release, offers numerous advantages. The success of “Interstellar” in late 2024 suggests that Warner Bros. should let “Tenet” follow a similar path.

Tenet is now available for digital rental or purchase from Apple TV and Google Play.

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2025-06-28 01:10