Common Sense Media Review
Innovative thriller has a mature premise, edgy content.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Memento
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 15 parent reviews
Based on 49 kid reviews
Kids say this film is a brilliant yet complex thriller that challenges its viewers with a unique storytelling technique, often applauded for its engaging narrative despite a heavy use of profanity and adult themes like violence and memory loss. Many recommend it for mature teens due to its intricate plot and themes, while acknowledging that it might be confusing for younger audiences.
- complex narrative
- mature themes
- heavy profanity
- recommended for teens
- engaging storytelling
- mind-bending experience
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) wakes up one night to find his wife missing from their bed. When he goes looking for her, he interrupts a man in the process of sexually assaulting her in the bathroom. Leonard suffers a blow to the head which destroys his short-term memory. The last thing he remembers is his wife dying, and he is bent on revenge. Without a short-term memory to guide him, Leonard relies on Polaroids, notes, and daily tattoos to assist him in closing in on his wife's killer.
Is It Any Good?
When first released in 2000, MEMENTO made quite a splash; the film's narrative is far from traditional, and the movie is definitely aimed at an audience with a high level of visual literacy. The story is relayed in fragments, echoing Leonard's experience of short-term memory loss.
For many viewers, the film will be something of a head-scratcher, the kind of thing that bears a few repeat viewing and a lot of furrowed brows. Director Christopher Nolan's sparse style plays well here. The plot is complex enough on its own, and the film rests largely on the strong performances of the major characters.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Memento's unorthodox storytelling. Did you find the different style here engaging -- or just confusing?
Why don't more movies take risks like this one? Can you think other stories -- movies, books, etc. -- that unfold in non-linear ways?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 16, 2001
- On DVD or streaming : April 2, 2002
- Cast : Guy Pearce , Carrie-Anne Moss , Joe Pantoliano
- Director : Christopher Nolan
- Studio : Sony Pictures
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 116 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence, language, and some drug content.
- Last updated : July 24, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate