Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 27, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

Interstellar

Interstellar is a 2014 epic science fiction film directed by Christopher Nolan and co-written with Jonathan Nolan.

Updated July 27, 20261 min readCited sources

Interstellar is a 2014 epic science fiction film directed by Christopher Nolan about astronauts searching for a new home as Earth decays. It blends space exploration, family drama, and speculative science.

What it is

Set in a dystopian future where Earth is ravaged by blight and famine, the story follows former NASA pilot Cooper and a team of astronauts through a wormhole near Saturn. Their mission: find a habitable planet to secure humanity's survival through two key plans – a gravitational evacuation or colonization.

Cast and crew

Directed by Christopher Nolan, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jonathan Nolan, the film features an ensemble cast led by Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Bill Irwin, Ellen Burstyn, and Michael Caine. The production combined practical effects with IMAX photography for a grounded sci-fi look.

Key details

Runtime is 2 hours 45 minutes. The ending sees Cooper transmit quantum data from a tesseract to his daughter Murph, enabling humanity's survival. He later awakens on Cooper Station and departs to find Brand on Edmunds' planet. The film is generally classified as epic science fiction with strong dramatic and emotional elements.

In short

  • Earth is dying from blight and famine.
  • Astronauts travel through a wormhole to find a new planet.
  • Directed by Christopher Nolan, starring Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway.
  • Ending involves a tesseract and Cooper going after Brand.
Canadian angle

Interstellar had theatrical release and home-media circulation in Canada like other major Hollywood films, and it remains widely discussed by Canadian audiences interested in science fiction cinema.

Quick questions

What is Interstellar about?
It is about astronauts traveling through a wormhole to find a new habitable world for humanity while Earth becomes uninhabitable due to blight and famine.
Who directed Interstellar?
Interstellar was directed by Christopher Nolan.
What is the ending of Interstellar?
Cooper sends quantum data to Murph from inside a tesseract, helping save humanity. He later awakens on Cooper Station and departs to look for Brand.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstellar_(film)
    Supports: Release year, director, cast, and basic plot overview
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Interstellar
    Supports: Director, plot, and open-ended ending
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/interstellar_2014
    Supports: Runtime and synopsis
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816692/
    Supports: Synopsis and cast
  5. StudioBinder — https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/interstellar-explained-meaning-plot-summary/
    Supports: Ending explanation and plot details