Tenet movie trailer, plot, and release date for Nolan's latest mind-bender
This thing makes Inception look simple. Here’s everything we know.
This article about the film Tenet was originally published on December 19, 2019 and updated on June 29, 2021 following the movie's release. Read on for the original article, with some new changes to reflect the latest updates on this topic.
Back in 2010, Christopher Nolan challenged us with our understanding of dreams. And in 2020, the famed director unmade reality again, this time with an espionage story that borders between the living and the dead called Tenet.
One of the first movies to hit theaters in 2020, Nolan’s newest film Tenet was another science-fiction/action hybrid — and another demonstration of Nolan’s taste of sharp-dressed subversions of conventional Hollywood genres. Here’s everything we know about Tenet.
Eric Francisco contributed reporting to this article.
When did Tenet release in theaters?
Tenet was originally scheduled to release in theaters on July 17, 2020. But the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted Warner Bros. to delay the release date multiple times, finally settling on August 26 internationally and September 3 in the United States. Tenet is notable for being the first Hollywood “tent-to-pole” film to launch in theaters in the midst of the pandemic. Its release was not without controversy, as some protested the studio’s choice not to put the movie on HBO Max, as it had planned to do with other big 2020 films.
Where can I watch the trailer for Tenet?
You can watch the trailer for Tenet in the embed below.
What is the plot of Tenet about?
Tenet is described as “an action thriller taking place in the world of espionage.” A CIA agent simply known as the “Protagonist” is recruited by the titular organization. His mission is to stop a Russian oligarch who has been converting weapons using “inverted” entropy, allowing them to travel backward through time. The Protagonist is assisted in his journey by his handler Neil and the oligarch’s estranged wife.
John David Washington and Robert Pattinson (left, obscured) star in 2020's 'Tenet.'
Michael Caine, a frequent collaborator of Christopher Nolan, returns as an unknown character in 2020's 'Tenet.'
Elizabeth Debicki in 'Tenet.'
Who stars in the cast of Tenet?
Tenet boasts an all-star cast full of Nolan-verse newcomers and veterans. It stars John David Washington of Ballers and BlackkKlansman. The film also stars soon-to-be Batman Robert Pattinson and Elizabeth Debicki (Widows and Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2). Regular Nolan collaborators Michael Caine and Kenneth Branagh round out the cast.
How did Tenet do at the box office?
Tenet grossed $58.5 million in the United States and Canada, and $305.2 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $363.7 million. Though the film was Christopher Nolan’s most expensive project to date, it was unable to break even due to its choice to open exclusively in theaters during the height of the pandemic.
What did critics have to say about Tenet?
Tenet has a 70% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a score of 69 on Metacritic, and a B on CinemaScore. The movie earned much praise for its time-bending take on a James Bond story, as well as the spectacle Nolan’s direction brings.
Tenet was released in theaters on September 3, 2020.
This article was originally published on
