- The film was initially conceived as a horror movie before evolving into a heist thriller, showcasing Nolan’s creative flexibility.
- Ariadne’s character has a name after a figure in Greek mythology who helped Theseus escape the labyrinth, symbolizing her role as guide through dreams.
- The crew filmed Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s famous zero-gravity hallway fight using a full 360-degree rotating set, without a green screen.
- The “impossible” Penrose staircase in the film is based on a real 1960s print by M.C. Escher and achieved through clever camera angles.
- Each main character represents a role in a filmmaking crew: Cobb as director, Arthur as producer, Ariadne as production designer, and Eames as actor.
- Over 500 crew members worked tirelessly to create the iconic rotating hallway scene, which took three weeks to shoot.
- The film’s soundtrack features the song “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien” by Édith Piaf, slowed down to synchronize with the dream layers’ unique time dilation.
- Leonardo DiCaprio found the chase scene in Morocco physically the toughest, having to dodge crowds and obstacles during intense filming.
- The team used subtle details like license plates reading “The Alternate State” to cue viewers that certain sequences were dream layers.
- Nolan wrote the script on spec to maintain creative control, completing the first draft alone before studio involvement.
- Real sets physically tilted and rotated while filming, requiring actors to hold on tightly to avoid sliding off during shooting.
- The safe code “528491” appears repeatedly as an Easter egg, tying the complex story elements together visually.
- The “kick” sequence includes multiple synchronized actions to wake dreamers simultaneously, showing intricate planning behind the scenes.
- The final spinning top scene remains deliberately ambiguous, fueling years of debate about Cobb’s reality versus his dreams.
- Hans Zimmer infused the score with unique guitar sounds influenced by Ennio Morricone, adding to the film’s unforgettable atmosphere.
