The current king of Hollywood blockbusters, Christopher Nolan, is one of the few directors who has never made a bad film. His movies often explore the concept of time, be that literally in the case of Tenet and Inception, or subtly like Dunkirk.
A true master of practical filmmaking, Nolan’s 11 films all stand out as excellent movies in their own right, but how do they rank against each other?
Insomnia (2002) – 7.2
A remake of Erik Skjoldbjærg’s Norwegian thriller of the same name, Nolan’s Insomnia proves that his original ideas are his best. While it is by no means a bad film and contains the quality you would expect from a Christopher Nolan movie, it is the weakest movie in his filmography and falls short of what is now expected from a Nolan film.
Tenet (2020) – 7.3
Nolan’s most complicated exploration of time, Tenet is an international espionage film where time-reversing technology can alter the fate of the world. Tenet opened to a mixed reception upon its release in 2020; however, audiences have since warmed to the film’s concept and plot in recent months, and the movie is now considered to be one of Nolan’s best, despite its IMDb rating.
Following (1998) – 7.5
Nolan’s first film, Following, reportedly took a year to shoot, as Nolan and friends would meet up on weekends to shoot scenes and slowly piece them together. Following centers around young writer Bill who begins to follow random people for story material.
Dunkirk (2017) – 7.8
Personally, I think Dunkirk deserves to be much higher on this list. Centering around the true evacuation of Dunkirk during WWII, Dunkirk takes three perspectives of the evacuation set over three different lengths of time. A group of soldiers try and survive slaughter on the beach over a week, an English sailor joins civilians to sail to Dunkirk and rescue soldiers over the course of a day, and an RAF fighter pilot attempts to protect the soldiers from the air over the course of an hour.
Batman Begins (2005) – 8.2
The film that revitalized the Batman franchise after the terrible George Clooney iteration, Batman Begins (albeit a great film), is the weakest of the trilogy. While Batman’s origin story has been relentlessly shown on the big screen, Nolan’s version was the first to show his time training with the League of Shadows before abandoning the organization to become Batman. Batman Begins is also Nolan’s first time working with Cillian Murphy, a partnership which led to the Irish star being cast in the lead of Nolan’s latest film Oppenheimer.
The Dark Knight Rises (2012) – 8.4
The close of Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy is often unfairly criticized by fans. While it does not compare to the previous entry, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises is still an excellent Batman movie and helped cement Tom Hardy’s blockbuster stardom with his iteration of the iconic villain Bane.
Memento (2000) – 8.4
Two years after Following, Christopher Nolan found a much larger budget, better equipment, and an excellent leading man in Guy Pierce and blended it all together to create Memento. Memento is Nolan’s first true exploration of time as a concept to be played with in narrative cinema, something that would become a staple of Nolan’s work in the future. Suffering from extreme short-term memory loss, a detective tattoos clues to his body in a desperate attempt to solve the murder of his wife.
The Prestige (2006) – 8.5
A year after the release of Batman Begins, Nolan teamed up with Christian Bale for a second time and brought in Hugh Jackman for The Prestige. The Prestige follows two stage magicians in the 1890s whose dedication and rivalry at creating the ultimate illusion tears their lives apart.
Interstellar (2014) – 8.7
One of Nolan’s most popular original concept movies, Interstellar took Nolan’s exploration of time to outer space. After Earth becomes uninhabitable, ex-NASA pilot Joseph Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) is tasked to pilot a team of researchers to find a new planet for the human race. Interstellar received a total of five Oscar nominations in 2015 and won the award for Best Achievement in Visual Effects, partly for its scientifically accurate depiction of a black hole.
Oppenheimer (2023) – 8.8
Nolan’s newest film, and his longest, explores the life of the most important man in the world, Robert J. Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb. The film explores Oppenheimer‘s life from his years at University to old age and how his greatest creation came to haunt him after WWII.
Inception (2010) – 8.8
The Nolan film that confuses audiences to this day, Inception not only tackles the concept of time, but also that of dreams. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Cobb (a name taken from Nolan’s Following), a thief who steals corporate ideas through dream-sharing technology, as he is given the impossible task of organically planting an idea in the mind of a CEO. Inception features Nolan’s best cast (pre-Oppenheimer), which includes Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (500 Days of Summer), Elliot Page (The Umbrella Academy), Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai), Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer), Marion Cotillard (La Vie En Rose), and Michael Caine (The Italian Job).
The Dark Knight (2008) – 9
Easily the best superhero film ever made, The Dark Knight is the peak of Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy and the peak of his career so far. Featuring an intricate plot, a deep exploration of Bruce Wayne’s psyche, gorgeous practical effects, and Heath Ledger’s iconic performance as the Joker – the gold standard for big-screen supervillains – The Dark Knight is the culmination of everything we love about Christopher Nolan’s movies.
The 20 Best Action Movies of All Time: Thrilling Adventures That Will Leave You Breathless
Attention, movie lovers! Prepare for an exhilarating ride as we unveil the ultimate list of the 20 greatest action films ever made. From adrenaline-pumping car chases to mind-blowing fight sequences, we’ve got it all! So grab your snacks, silence your phone, and embark on a cinematic journey that will transport you to thrilling worlds. Superheroes, epic battles, and non-stop excitement await you. Buckle up and let the adventure begin!
The 20 Best Adventure Movies of All Time: Embark on Epic Quests and Thrilling Expeditions!
Embark on an epic adventure through the greatest films of all time! Get ready for thrilling plots, heroic acts, and mesmerizing worlds that will leave you in awe. From Middle-earth’s epic battles to interstellar voyages, these 20 movies will take you on an unforgettable cinematic journey. Grab your popcorn, settle in, and let the adventure begin!
The 20 Best Thriller Movies Ever Made: Heart-Stopping Must-See Films
Attention, movie buffs! Get ready for an adrenaline-fueled, pulse-pounding cinematic ride! Brace yourself for the top 20 thrillers of all time, featuring unforgettable moments like Batman vs. the Joker, the captivating non-linear storytelling of Pulp Fiction, and the iconic shower scene from Psycho. Buckle up, grab your popcorn, and prepare for a suspenseful journey through movie history. Let the thrills begin!
