Tenet (2020) – Time Runs Out, Then Backward, Then Forward Again

Not everything moves forward—some threats come from the future to destroy the present.

Tenet (2020) is a cerebral, time-twisting science fiction epic written and directed by Christopher Nolan. With its high-concept plot, stunning visuals, and meticulously crafted action sequences, the film challenges conventional storytelling by bending time itself—both literally and thematically. Nolan once again pushes the boundaries of cinema, demanding full attention from viewers as they navigate a world where entropy can be reversed and cause follows effect in unpredictable ways.

The story follows a nameless CIA operative known only as The Protagonist (John David Washington), who is recruited into a covert organization called "Tenet." His mission is to prevent global annihilation by unraveling a mysterious threat that manipulates time through a process called "inversion." This leads him on a globe-trotting journey through espionage, paradoxes, and reality-defying confrontations.

Armed with only one word—Tenet—and limited knowledge, The Protagonist partners with the enigmatic Neil (Robert Pattinson) and becomes entangled in a temporal war against Andrei Sator (Kenneth Branagh), a Russian oligarch with the ability to communicate with the future. The more The Protagonist uncovers, the more he realizes that the future is fighting the past—and he may already be a part of events he doesn't yet understand.

Nolan’s direction leans into practical effects, jaw-dropping stunts, and intricate set pieces that include a plane crash, a time-inverted car chase, and battles fought in both forward and reverse time simultaneously. Ludwig Göransson’s pulsating score adds to the film’s relentless momentum, while the nonlinear storytelling demands—and rewards—repeat viewings.

Tenet isn’t just about time travel; it's about how we perceive time, our place in it, and the responsibilities we carry across its flow. Bold, brain-bending, and relentlessly original, it's a cinematic puzzle box that flips action filmmaking on its head.