Following Movie Now Available to Stream

Christopher Nolan’s Following (1998) is a 69-minute black-and-white thriller that launched his career and remains a cult classic of independent filmmaking. The low-budget debut, shot on 16mm, stars Nolan himself alongside actors like Alex Haw and Jeremy Theobald, and follows a young writer who begins stalking strangers—only to uncover a dangerous conspiracy. Now streaming on platforms like MUBI and available through digital rentals, the film’s recent resurgence has reignited interest in how Nolan’s early work foreshadowed his later themes of obsession, morality, and high-stakes storytelling.

Following was Nolan’s first feature, made at age 24 with a budget of just £3,000 ($4,700 at the time). The film’s minimalist aesthetic—handheld camerawork, improvised dialogue, and a score by Nolan’s brother, Jonathan—contrasts sharply with the blockbuster spectacle of his later films like Inception (2010) and The Dark Knight (2008). Yet critics and filmmakers, including Quentin Tarantino, have cited its influence on modern indie cinema. “It’s a perfect little film,” Tarantino told The Guardian in 2016. “Nolan had the chops from the get-go.”

The film’s release in 1998 was modest, playing at festivals like the Edinburgh International Film Festival before gaining traction through word of mouth. Its cult status grew over time, partly due to its inclusion in film school curricula and its later distribution on DVD and streaming. In 2024, Following was restored in 4K by the British Film Institute (BFI), with Nolan overseeing the transfer to highlight its original grainy texture and sharp pacing. The BFI’s archivist, Sarah Wood, noted that the restoration “preserves the film’s raw energy while making it accessible to new audiences.”

Why does Following matter now? For one, it’s a rare glimpse into Nolan’s creative process before he became a household name. The film’s themes—moral ambiguity, the blurred line between observer and participant—recur in his later work, from Memento (2000) to Tenet (2020). “Nolan was always a writer first,” said film historian Mark Kermode in a 2023 interview with The Telegraph. “This film proves he could tell a story with almost nothing.”

The film’s availability has also shifted. While it was previously hard to find outside of specialized screenings or used DVDs, platforms like MUBI and Amazon Prime now offer it for streaming or rental. This accessibility has led to a surge in viewership among younger filmmakers, who study its structure—particularly its nonlinear storytelling and use of voiceover—as a masterclass in tension. “It’s the kind of film that rewards close watching,” said director Greta Lee in a 2025 Variety interview. “You notice new layers every time.”

What comes next for Following? With Nolan’s upcoming projects—including an unannounced sci-fi film rumored to be in development—interest in his back catalog is likely to grow. The BFI’s restoration suggests a broader effort to archive indie films from the late 1990s, a period that saw the rise of directors like Danny Boyle and Shane Meadows. For now, Following stands as a testament to how a single, low-budget film can redefine a career—and a genre.

Christopher Nolan’s Following (1998) is a 69-minute black-and-white thriller that launched his career and remains a cult classic of independent filmmaking. The low-budget debut, shot on 16mm, stars Nolan himself alongside actors like Alex Haw and Jeremy Theobald, and follows a young writer who begins stalking strangers—only to uncover a dangerous conspiracy. Now streaming on platforms like MUBI and available through digital rentals, the film’s recent resurgence has reignited interest in how Nolan’s early work foreshadowed his later themes of obsession, morality, and high-stakes storytelling.

The film’s budget of £3,000 ($4,700 at the time) and minimalist aesthetic—handheld camerawork, improvised dialogue, and a score by Nolan’s brother, Jonathan—contrasted sharply with the blockbuster spectacle of his later films. Critics and filmmakers, including Quentin Tarantino, have cited its influence on modern indie cinema. “It’s a perfect little film,” Tarantino told The Guardian in 2016. “Nolan had the chops from the get-go.”

Following’s release in 1998 was modest, playing at festivals like the Edinburgh International Film Festival before gaining traction through word of mouth. Its cult status grew over time, partly due to its inclusion in film school curricula and its later distribution on DVD and streaming. In 2024, the film was restored in 4K by the British Film Institute (BFI), with Nolan overseeing the transfer to preserve its original grainy texture and sharp pacing. The BFI’s archivist, Sarah Wood, noted that the restoration “preserves the film’s raw energy while making it accessible to new audiences.”

The film’s themes—moral ambiguity, the blurred line between observer and participant—recur in Nolan’s later work, from Memento (2000) to Tenet (2020). “Nolan was always a writer first,” said film historian Mark Kermode in a 2023 interview with The Telegraph. “This film proves he could tell a story with almost nothing.”

While Following was previously hard to find outside of specialized screenings or used DVDs, platforms like MUBI and Amazon Prime now offer it for streaming or rental. This accessibility has led to a surge in viewership among younger filmmakers, who study its structure—particularly its nonlinear storytelling and use of voiceover—as a masterclass in tension. “It’s the kind of film that rewards close watching,” said director Greta Lee in a 2025 Variety interview. “You notice new layers every time.”

With Nolan’s upcoming projects—including an unannounced sci-fi film rumored to be in development—interest in his back catalog is likely to grow. The BFI’s restoration suggests a broader effort to archive indie films from the late 1990s, a period that saw the rise of directors like Danny Boyle and Shane Meadows. For now, Following stands as a testament to how a single, low-budget film can redefine a career—and a genre.