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With the release OdysseyIt’s time to re-evaluate all of Christopher Nolan’s films from worst to best. This was not an easy task. In contrast to the fifth order Indiana Jones Movies or seven Mission: impossible Films: Nolan presents 13 films that vary between historical dramas (Dunkirk, Oppenheimer(to science fiction movies)Interstellar, Tenet(to secrets)Prestige, souvenir) to the Batman trilogy. Through it all, the Oscar winner has risen to become one of the world’s best filmmakers, and one of the few who can count on filling theater seats on opening weekend, one of the last refuges for adult movie fans. Here are all of Nolan’s films, from weakest to strongest.
13. Insomnia (2002)
It says a lot about Nolan that the “worst” movie he’s directed is still good and worth seeing. insomnia It is a remake of the Norwegian title and is perhaps notable in that it is the only film Nolan has directed that he did not write or co-write. Here, a veteran Los Angeles detective (Al Pacino) teams up with a small-town detective (Hilary Swank) to solve a murder in remote Alaska. It’s a poignant and moody police drama, but it lacks Nolan’s usual ambitious scope and feels like a job for hire.
12. Tenet (2020)
John David Washington stars as a secret agent (dubbed “The Hero,” somewhat surprisingly) trying to prevent World War III — a war between the present and the future. Tenet It’s a collection of Nolan’s most frustrating habits turned to 11 — from the oppressive soundscape that obscures dialogue, to the personable but flat characters, to the narrative that is confusingly convoluted to the point of contortion. still, Tenet It earns some shallow points for looking cool, sounding cool, and valiantly trying to do something original with time travel. (THR’review.)
11. Follow-up (1998)
Nolan’s first film, made for $6,000, showed all the promise of the twenty-something director. black and white shot, the next It features some themes that Nolan will continue to explore for decades to come. The protagonist is a single-minded, socially isolated, rule-following nerd (sound familiar?), with a surprising third act and clever expository dialogue that sounds distinctly Nolan-y. The film is about a man who follows strangers around London and gets into more than he expected after breaking the rule of never following the same person twice. At just 70 minutes, some might argue it’s not a long film, but Nolan — who spent three years of his life putting it together — said it’s as serviceable as anything he’s made.
10. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Tom Hardy gives a great performance as the menacing terrorist Bane and accomplishes the unenviable task of having to follow Heath Ledger’s Joker. There are also some strong sequences at the climax of Nolan’s Batman trilogy – such as the plane hijacking opening, and Bruce’s trial in the pit. The film also deserves credit for its big thinking, as the criminals have complete control over Gotham City Months It’s a really fitting story (as long as you don’t think too much about the credibility of a city police force that has been conveniently trapped in the sewers all that time). Great conclusion to the Batman trilogy, that’s all it is – good (THR’review.)
9. Souvenir (2000)
The movie that caught everyone’s attention: Nolan’s sophomore effort (based on a story by his brother Jonathan) is a twisty thriller starring Guy Pearce as a man unable to make new memories trying to solve his wife’s murder. It’s a compelling mystery that demonstrated a filmmaker who can mix an accessible genre film with a challenging story and direct it, all leading up to an unforgettable ending.
8. Dunkirk (2017)
Dunkirk It’s brilliantly crafted from its first shot, which crashes into the street with falling leaflets amid a ticking clock as World War II British soldiers attempt to flee France as German forces approach. Nolan’s skill in staging events results in one captivating sequence after another. However, many of the heroes feel unrecognizable and interchangeable, keeping the audience at an emotional distance even as Nolan uses many cinematic techniques in an attempt to bring us closer. (THR’review.)
7. Batman Begins (2005)
The first hour of Batman Begins This is a great launch into not only the Dark Knight trilogy for adults, but also a complete reimagining of what superhero movies could be if they were treated as larger-than-life crime dramas with practical effects rather than cynical, world-saving, CGI-fueled dramas. Christian Bale quickly proved he was a fine heir to the hood and there was no better Alfred than Michael Caine. However, the final act of the film falters a bit.
6. Inception (2010)
From here on out, Nolan will hit nothing but home runs. beginning It finds the director combining many of his distinct talents into one highly original film that follows Leonardo DiCaprio as a man who steals information from people’s subconscious for corporate clients. It’s visually stunning, incredibly clever, and has the director’s most amazing ending. Hans Zimmer’s score has become a meme for this icon Bow thembut it’s also one of the composer’s greatest efforts, for which the Academy Award for Best Score was stolen from him (listen to “Time”). (THR’review.)
5. Interstellar (2014)
Nolan is often accused of being a cold filmmaker, and he can be. But there’s nothing cold about Matthew McConaughey’s powerful performance as an astronaut who leaves behind his daughter (Mackenzie Foy, Jessica Chastain) on his quest to save humanity by creating a new world to replace a dying Earth. While the story has some plot holes, the resulting mix is great 2001: A space journey– Inspired cinematic wonder and emotional heft make this one of Nolan’s most iconic films, and a title that has grown in reputation since its release. (THR’review.)
4. Prestige (2006)
Prestige is a brilliant mystery based on Christopher Priest’s novel about dueling maniacal wizards at the turn of the century, with great performances by the dogmatic Bale and the scorching Hugh Jackman (“You don’t know?!“), and very wise Ken. The Nolan brothers’ pitch-perfect script uses voice-over and narration in a confident, propulsive way, and there’s a final twist you won’t see coming (and then wonder how you could have missed it). Prestige It was a modest hit upon release and has grown over the years to become a Nolan fan favorite.
3. Oppenheimer (2023)
Oppenheimer It’s overly long, overly chatty, and its final act shifts from stakes for the fate of the world to men sitting around tables arguing over a security clearance (imagine if Batman defeated Scarecrow in… Batman Begins I then spent another 40 minutes discussing the best way to repair Gotham City’s damaged monorail system.) However, Nolan creates a dramatic masterpiece that contains something that his other, more exciting films largely lack: real-world urgency. In the film based on the biography American PrometheusNolan tells the story of a major historical figure who champions science and poignantly reminds the world of the dangers of weapons of mass destruction. Ludwig Göransson’s score may be the best yet for a Nolan film. Nolan’s hellish scene after the Trinity exam is perhaps the most intelligent and emotionally powerful scene of his career. (THR’Review and cover story.)
2. The Odyssey (2026)
Nolan uses all his cinematic powers to bring Homer’s seemingly impossible-to-adapt 2,800-year-old story to life in a way that feels both contemporary and somewhat grounded. The star-studded writer-director cast and herculean production efforts make the film feel like a throwback to mid-century Hollywood sandal-and-toga epics like… Spartacus and Ben Hur (Half expects Peter Ustinov to appear.) Nolan delivers one fantastical set piece after another to test Matt Damon’s Odysseus, while keeping the audience equally compelled by the palace intrigues of Ithaca as Anne Hathau’s Penelope fends off What a brutal group of suitors. When the two stories collide, Nolan orchestrates a clash of titans of the highest order, tossing aside the director’s usual cerebral machinations and instead satisfying his audience with some good old-fashioned bloodletting. Filmmakers literally can’t – or can’t – make them like that anymore.
1. The Dark Knight (2008)
Because, to paraphrase the clown, Dark Knight It is “just a lot of fun.” This remains the best superhero film ever made, with Heath Ledger giving a legendary (posthumous Oscar-winning) performance as the Joker who looms large in every frame, despite the character only appearing in 33 minutes of the 152-minute film. The screenplay (written by the Nolan brothers, from a story by Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer) is fantastic, and contains many memorable lines (“You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain”… “It’s all part of the plan…”). Every cast member pops, Zimmer’s score is ominously tense, and the action sequences are poignant and poignant. Huge hit upon release, Dark Knight It was Nolan’s first film to gross $1 billion, more than double its box office receipts Batman Begins. Many of Nolan’s films have long running times, but this one never wants to end. (THR’review.)
Aaron Koch contributed to this story.
