# Following

> 1998 film by Christopher Nolan

**Wikidata**: [Q685817](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q685817)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Following)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/following

## Summary
*Following* is a 1998 crime thriller film written and directed by Christopher Nolan, recognized as his feature-length directorial debut. The film is classified within the neo-noir, drama, and thriller genres, produced by the British-American company Syncopy Inc. It premiered in April 1998 and has since been released on multiple dates across various international markets and home media formats.

## Key Facts
- **Release Dates**: The film was first released on April 24, 1998, followed by subsequent releases on September 12, 1998, April 2, 1999, May 6, 1999, July 2, 1999, November 5, 1999, and February 17, 2005.
- **Production Company**: Produced by Syncopy Inc., a British-American film production company established in 2001, headquartered in London, operating within the film industry.
- **Genre Classifications**: The work is categorized as a crime film, thriller film, neo-noir, and drama film.
- **Director**: Christopher Nolan.
- **Entity Type**: Classified as a film, defined as a sequence of images creating the impression of movement stored on film stock.
- **Geographic Origin**: Associated with the United Kingdom, an island country in north-west Europe with inception dates of April 12, 1927 (Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927) and December 6, 1921 (Anglo-Irish Treaty).
- **Digital Presence**: The entity holds a Wikipedia title of "Following" and has a total of 38 sitelinks across language editions.
- **Related Entity Sitelinks**: Syncopy Inc. (28 sitelinks), crime film (51 sitelinks), thriller film (39 sitelinks), neo-noir (40 sitelinks), drama film (63 sitelinks), film (235 sitelinks), United Kingdom (388 sitelinks).

## FAQs
**What genres define the film *Following*?**
The movie is a hybrid of several distinct genres, specifically identified as a crime film, thriller film, neo-noir, and drama film. These classifications highlight its focus on suspense, modern noir aesthetics, and dramatic storytelling.

**When was *Following* first released and how many times has it been re-released?**
The film made its initial debut on April 24, 1998. It has since seen six additional release dates spanning from 1998 to 2005, including specific dates in 1999 and a later release in February 2005.

**Which production company is responsible for *Following*?**
The film is associated with Syncopy Inc., a British-American production house. Although the company's inception is recorded as 2001, it is the entity linked to this production in the provided data, with its headquarters located in London.

**What is the geographic and legal origin of the United Kingdom context for this film?**
The United Kingdom is the island country in north-west Europe associated with the film's production context. Its legal inception is marked by two key dates: December 6, 1921, via the Anglo-Irish Treaty, and April 12, 1927, via the Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927.

## Why It Matters
*Following* holds significance as the inaugural feature-length project by Christopher Nolan, establishing the foundational style for his subsequent career in cinema. By blending crime, thriller, and neo-noir elements, the film demonstrates the versatility of the film medium as a sequence of images stored on film stock to create movement and narrative. Its association with Syncopy Inc. and the United Kingdom highlights the transatlantic nature of modern film production. The film's extensive sitelink count and multiple release dates indicate its enduring presence in film history and its role in the broader ecosystem of crime and thriller genres.

## Notable For
- **Directorial Debut**: Serves as the first feature film directed by Christopher Nolan.
- **Genre Fusion**: Uniquely combines crime, thriller, neo-noir, and drama classifications into a single work.
- **Production Longevity**: Associated with Syncopy Inc., a company that has maintained a significant digital footprint with 28 sitelinks.
- **Release History**: Features a complex release schedule with seven distinct publication dates between 1998 and 2005.
- **Digital Reach**: Maintains a Wikipedia entry with 38 sitelinks, reflecting its cross-lingual recognition.
- **Genre Influence**: Contributes to the "neo-noir" and "thriller" categories, which collectively hold over 70 sitelinks in the knowledge base.

## Body

### Production and Corporate Affiliation
*Following* is inextricably linked to Syncopy Inc., a British-American film production company. This entity is headquartered in London and operates within the film industry. While the film was released in 1998, the production company's inception is recorded as 2001, indicating a retrospective or formalized establishment date within the data. Syncopy Inc. maintains a robust digital presence with 28 sitelinks, reflecting its status as a significant player in the industry. The film itself is classified under the broader "film" class, which encompasses sequences of images stored on film stock that create the illusion of movement.

### Genre Classification and Thematic Elements
The work is categorized across four primary genres: crime film, thriller film, neo-noir, and drama film. As a crime film, it engages with illicit activities and law enforcement themes, a category supported by 51 sitelinks in the knowledge base. The thriller aspect focuses on evoking excitement and suspense in the audience, a trait shared by 39 other entities in this genre. The neo-noir classification identifies it as a modern form of film noir, a genre with 40 related sitelinks. Additionally, its status as a drama film places it within a category containing 63 related entries. These multiple classifications underscore the film's complex narrative structure and tonal variety.

### Release History and Publication Timeline
The distribution history of *Following* is extensive, spanning several years and multiple markets. The initial publication date is recorded as April 24, 1998. Subsequent releases occurred on September 12, 1998, and continued into 1999 with dates on April 2, May 6, July 2, and November 5. A final recorded release date in the provided data is February 17, 2005. This timeline suggests a staggered international rollout or various home media and festival releases over a seven-year period.

### Geographic and Legal Context
The film is associated with the United Kingdom, an island country located in north-west Europe. The data provides specific legal inception dates for the United Kingdom: December 6, 1921, linked to the Anglo-Irish Treaty, and April 12, 1927, linked to the Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927. These dates provide the historical and legal framework for the country's identity as a sovereign state. The United Kingdom entity itself is highly connected, with 388 sitelinks, indicating its central role in global geography and history.

### Digital Footprint and Metadata
In the digital knowledge ecosystem, *Following* is identified by the Wikipedia title "Following" and possesses 38 sitelinks. This metric places it within a network of related entities, including the film class (235 sitelinks) and the various genre classifications. The data structure treats the film as a distinct "Thing" or entity, allowing for precise linking to its director, production company, and genre tags. The absence of specific SEO data in the source material suggests that the entry relies entirely on its structural relationships and factual metadata for discoverability.

## References

1. Letterboxd
2. The Movie Database
3. Following. Rotten Tomatoes
4. [Following/Release info. IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0154506/releaseinfo/)
5. [Source](https://bampfa.org/event/following)
6. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0154506/releaseinfo)
7. [Source](http://www.kinokalender.com/film5082_following.html)
8. [Filmdienst](https://www.filmdienst.de/film/details/512880/following)
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
10. [Following/Technical specifications. IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0154506/technical/)
11. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/following/)
12. terjesztesre_kerulo_filmalkotasok_nyilvantartasa.xlsx
13. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
14. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/98351)
15. Online-Filmdatenbank
16. [Source](http://www.mecd.gob.es/cultura-mecd/areas-cultura/cine/industria-cine/calificacion/calificacion-por-meses.html)
17. Quora
18. Bechdel Test Movie List
19. mymovies.it
20. Kanopy
21. KBpedia
22. Trakt.tv
23. FilmVandaag.nl