Tenet (2020)
Kernel Score: 81% · 10,897 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Action, Thriller, Science Fiction
Released: 2020-08-22
Runtime: 150 minutes
Is Tenet worth watching?
Depends on your taste. A big, clever, hard-to-follow spy thriller about time moving backwards. The ideas and set pieces are bold, but the plot is confusing and the dialogue can be hard to hear. Fans of puzzles will love it, others will feel lost.
Watch it if you
- love complicated, high-concept sci-fi
- enjoy Nolan's large-scale action
- don't mind rewatching to understand
Skip it if you
- want a clear, simple story
- dislike confusing plots
Best for: Concentration night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Tenet
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Armed with only one word - Tenet - and fighting for the survival of the entire world, the Protagonist journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real time.
Tenet parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that Tenet is a complex spy-action thriller involving terrorism and nuclear weapons.
- Violence & scariness: Strong — Includes espionage action, gunfights, and a terrorist plot involving nuclear weapons, consistent with its PG-13 rating.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Tenet
If you liked Tenet, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Predestination (2014) — 84%: Mind-bending time-travel thriller with a clever structure.
- Source Code (2011) — 82%: Quick, smart thriller built on a time hook.
- Memento (2000) — 96%: A puzzle-box thriller that rewards close attention.
- The Prestige (2006) — 95%: Another Nolan film about trickery and obsession.
- The Bourne Identity (2002) — 84%: Grounded spy action with hand-to-hand fights.
- Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011) — 80%: Stylish spy action with big set pieces.
Director
Cast
- John David Washington as Protagonist
- Robert Pattinson as Neil
- Elizabeth Debicki as Kat
- Kenneth Branagh as Sator
- Dimple Kapadia as Priya
- Michael Caine as Crosby
- Martin Donovan as Fay
- Fiona Dourif as Wheeler
- Yuri Kolokolnikov as Volkov
- Himesh Patel as Mahir
Tenet FAQ
Is Tenet worth watching?
Depends on your taste. A big, clever, hard-to-follow spy thriller about time moving backwards. The ideas and set pieces are bold, but the plot is confusing and the dialogue can be hard to hear. Fans of puzzles will love it, others will feel lost.
Where can I watch Tenet?
In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Tenet OK for kids?
Tenet is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Tenet is a complex spy-action thriller involving terrorism and nuclear weapons.
What movies are like Tenet?
If you liked Tenet, try Predestination, Source Code, Memento and The Prestige.