Christopher Nolan reacted toInterstellarsucceeding at the box office again 10 years later, expressing his gratefulness for its continued popularity. Nolan’s sci-fi film was quietly re-released in theaters to celebrate its 10th anniversary, but wound up being a major success thanks to word of mouth that it was in theaters again.Reviews forInterstellarare generally positive, its staying power resulting in its re-release making $4.5 million across 166 screens, including all 10 of its IMAX 70mm screenings getting sold out across the country. It’s the biggest success for that particular format throughout 2024.
Speaking withAssociated Press,Nolan expressed how grateful he was thatInterstellarmanaged to become a box office hit once again, 10 years after it was originally released. The director expressed thanks for its success and excitement that new audiences were experiencing the movie on the big screen for the first time. He also analyzed how a theatrical experience for movies meant to be seen on the big screen is important to the success of major releases, old and new. Check out what Nolan had to say below:
I was just so gratified by the response. It’s really thrilling when people respond to your work at any point. But 10 years later, to have new audiences coming and experiencing it in the way that we’d originally intended it on the big IMAX screens and in particular on those IMAX film prints? It’s really rewarding to see that it continues to have a life.
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It just shows our industry once again that audiences truly understand the difference between a communal, big screen theatrical experience that they crave even on films that they’ve had the opportunities to see in the home. That theatrical experience that we all know and love is so powerful and so exciting. It’s a very clear demonstration of it, especially coming amidst all the great successes right now, “Wicked,” “Gladiator II,” “Moana 2.”
Audiences are coming out in droves for that experience that we all love so much.
Interstellarhas Rotten Tomatoes scores of 73% from critics and 86% from audiences.
What Nolan’s Statement Says About Interstellar’s Limited Re-Release
Big Movies Deserve To Be On The Big Screen
Nolan’s statement emphasizes howbig movies with strong staying power deserve to be seen on the big screen, including older movies that were made with the theatrical experience in mind. His 2014 sci-fi film is one of those movies, featuring massive events that happen in space and with a heartfelt story that sticks long after the credits roll. Thecast ofInterstellaralso has plenty of familiar actors that put on strong performances, such as Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, John Lithgow, Michael Caine, and Casey Affleck, to name a few.
Why Christopher Nolan’s 10-Year-Old Sci-Fi Film Was Much Easier To Understand Than His Other Time Travel Movie
The time travel featured in Interstellar is explained in a much simpler way compared to Christopher Nolan’s much more confusing film Tenet.
These captivating elements of the movie emphasize why its re-release was a success, butNolan’s words extend beyond his own movie into analyzing cinema on a general level. The theatrical experience he describes is one captured by many movies that come out every year, with his examples being the most successful releases for the last stretch of 2024. Given thebox office success ofWicked,Gladiator II, andMoana 2since their releases, his analysis is correct that a movie’s big-screen presence is important. It also explains whyInterstellar’s re-release succeeded, and why it’s still so memorable to this day.
Our Take On Nolan’s Gratefulness For Interstellar’s Success
The Director’s Love For Cinema Shines Through
Nolan’s happiness aboutInterstellar’s renewed box office success shows how much he appreciates not just his audience, but the idea of the cinematic experience as a whole. The same will likely be reflected in his upcoming untitled movie, expected on Jun 26, 2025, continuing the director’s trend of creating movies meant to be watched in theaters. With his 10-year-old sci-fi movie a major success, it wouldn’t be surprising if any re-releases of his other movies end up getting a similar response in the future.
Interstellar
Cast
From Christopher Nolan, Interstellar imagines a future where the Earth is plagued by a life-threatening famine, and a small team of astronauts is sent out to find a new prospective home among the stars. Despite putting the mission first, Coop (Matthew McConaughey) races against time to return home to his family even as they work to save mankind back on Earth.
