Matthew McConaughey reflects on the enduring legacy of Interstellar as it celebrates its 11th anniversary. The Christopher Nolan movie follows a group of astronauts, led by McConaughey’s Cooper, on a mission to find a new habitable planet for humanity after the Earth is ravaged by a devastating famine. The 2014 sci-fi epic also stars Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine, and Matt Damon. Interstellar won high praise for its impressive portrayal of a sprawling space odyssey, winning Best Visual Effects at the 87th Academy Awards and grossing over $740 million worldwide.
In an interview with ScreenRant at SXSW, where he premiered his latest film, The Rivals of Amziah King, McConaughey addressed the recent resurgence in Interstellar‘s popularity over a decade after its release. More people have approached the actor about Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi spectacle in the past year, especially following its IMAX re-release, than after its original debut. Check out McConaughey’s comments below:
I have more people in this last year, I think with the IMAX re-release, come up to me than after the release 10 years ago. People come up now that go, “Interstellar, that’s my movie. It changed my life. Here’s why.” I say, “How many times have you seen it?” Most of them say four, so as you say, it does get better and people find the meaning more clear the more times you see it. That one sure as heck has legs, and it’s gotten more important to a lot of people here 10 years later than what it’s been.
Not all [movies] do. Some never get out of the gate and then rear their head years or decades later. Dazed and Confused didn’t do well when it first came out. Now, that film precedes me everywhere, and I’m happy about it. It’s the first film of all 58 I’ve done that has that hold. It’s almost like a sequel, but it’s not a sequel. And now there’s Interstellar having this kind of success 10 years later, and having this kind of understanding being part of the vernacular culture.
To have so many people come up and go, “That’s my favorite film,” it does feel like second gear kicked in even better than the first gear did.
What This Means For Interstellar
The Film Finds New Audiences With Streaming & Theaters
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Nolan’s space epic, Interstellar was re-released in IMAX theaters on December 6, 2024, and ran for a week. The film’s IMAX re-release brought an extra $20 million, making Interstellar the highest-grossing IMAX re-release in history. The momentum continued to build with Netflix making the film available to stream again in January, with Interstellar quickly ranking in Netflix’s Top 10 U.S. Chart that week. Its recent success comes from a mix of wider availability, a theater re-release, and the simple fact that it’s well-made, supported by Interstellar‘s talented ensemble cast, and stunning visuals.
McConaughey’s comparison to Dazed and Confused is fitting, as the 1993 teen comedy by director Richard Linklater similarly found its cult status after being released through a new medium: home video. What was once a box office underperformer has since become a beloved classic, much like Interstellar has grown in status with time. After a six-year hiatus from the big screen, McConaughey is back in the spotlight with The Rivals of Amziah King, playing the тιтular honey farmer in rural Oklahoma as he attempts to reconnect with his estranged foster daughter, Kateri (Angelina LookingGlᴀss).
Our Take On Interstellar’s Renaissance
A Sci-Fi Masterpiece That Grows With Time
Interstellar is an all-encompᴀssing film, from its brilliant visuals to Hans Zimmer’s reverberating score. It is impossible not to find yourself completely immersed in Christopher Nolan’s grand cosmic adventure. Now, over a decade later, Interstellar remains a breathtaking journey through space and time as it continues its legacy as one of the most ambitious sci-fi films ever made. The recent resurgence that Matthew McConaughey speaks of affirms that Interstellar is not just a timeless watch—it’s a cinematic experience that keeps growing in impact.
