Inception is a 2010 British-American science fiction action film. It was written, co-produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan. The film features an international ensemble cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe and Michael Caine. DiCaprio plays Dom Cobb, aspecialized corporate spy and thief. He is an expert at secretly getting valuable commercial information from the unconscious minds of his targets while they dream. Cobb is wanted for murder and is unable to visit his children. He is offered a chance to get his old life back if he can complete a task considered to be impossible. The name of this challenge is "Inception" - the planting of an original idea and thoughts into a target's mind.
In 2001, Nolan wrote an 80-page book about "dream stealers". He presented the idea to Warner Bros. He originally wrote it as a horror film. Warner Bros. bought the movie rights in February 2009 and filming began in six countries across four continents, beginning in Tokyo on June 19, 2009, and finishing in Canada five months later. Inception has received wide critical acclaim. Numerous critics have praised its originality, cast, score, and visual effects. It won Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Cinematography. Inception has grossed over $800 million worldwide and is thus currently one of the highest-grossing films of all time.