The Best Movies Directed By Christopher Nolan

Christopher Nolan is a titan of his industry, one of the most famous and decorated filmmakers in recent history. He has been the brainchild of some of the most iconic films in modern culture, and his ability to evoke profound emotions from his audience is a highlight of his legacy.

With a glittering career of over 30 years under his belt, Nolan has tried his hand at directing action blockbusters, sci-fi dramas, biopics, and psychological thrillers. From the mind-bending thriller Inception to the stratospheric epic that is Interstellar, here are some of the best of Christopher Nolan’s works.

10

Insomnia

(2002)

2002’s Insomnia seemingly starts as a murder mystery, with veteran detectives Dormer and Eckhart flying into a remote town in Alaska to solve a grisly murder. But after the murderer witnesses Dormer kill Eckhart by mistake, Dormer is forced to work with the murderer to hide both their respective crimes.

Al Pacino steals the show as Dormer, brilliantly displaying the character’s guilt, jaded outlook on life, and corrupted morals. The story takes you on the emotional ups and downs and gradual descent into madness and desperation for its main character, which reaches a satisfying conclusion at its end.

9

Batman Begins

(2005)

Nolan delves into the Batman franchise with 2005’s Batman Begins, which is the first Batman movie since the critically panned 1997 Batman & Robin. The film features memorable performances by Cillian Murphy as Scarecrow and solidified Christian Bale’s portrayal of Batman as one of the best and most authentic.

The movie’s story charts the rise of Batman and delves deeper into the fears and motivations of Bruce Wayne and what led him to don the Batman guise. He battles against Scarecrow’s noxious fear gas and Ra’s al Ghul’s scheme to destroy Gotham City while finding his footing as Gotham’s eventual hero.

8

The Dark Knight Rises

(2012)

The final instalment in The Dark Knight trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises takes place eight years after the events of The Dark Knight. The film’s story follows Batman combating the forces of Bane and Talia al Ghul, who are determined to pick up where Ra’s al Ghul left off and destroy Gotham.

Once more, the franchise’s villains steal the spotlight, with Tom Hardy’s gripping performance as Bane being one of the unforgettable ones. The story was written by Nolan and David Goyer, who was responsible for writing 2013’s Man of Steel and helped co-write three of the Call of Duty: Black Ops games. The film broke records as the highest-earning Batman film and delivered a firm, gratifying conclusion to Batman’s narrative arc.

7

Memento

(2000)

Memento is Nolan’s second directorial feat and this film was a true masterpiece. As soon as the movie starts, you’re hit with the notion that its protagonist, Leonard Shelby, is an unreliable narrator. Since Shelby suffers from short-term memory loss and writes down notes everywhere to clue in his future self, he’s liable to misunderstand people and events.

The movie is told in a non-linear format, and you find yourself doing detective work to piece together the chain of events. The actors’ performances were top-notch, and the story never failed to keep the audience engaged. The characters are well-written and complex, and those that seem trustworthy at first quickly show that they aren’t the person you think they are.

6

The Dark Knight

(2008)

The Dark Knight is one of the best superhero films ever made and focuses on Batman’s iconic and long-time nemesis, the Joker. The Joker is dead set on discovering Batman’s identity, sending Batman and his allies on a wild goose chase with his many deadly, harebrained traps.

Heath Ledger dominates the film with his performance as the Joker, capturing the unpredictability and deranged madness of his character well. With one unforgettable scene after another, The Dark Knight sticks to the essence of both Batman and Joker’s characters and depicts how easily one’s morals can be corrupted under the right circumstances.

5

Oppenheimer

(2023)

The movie that dominated the Internet for months alongside Gerwig’s Barbie, Oppenheimer is Nolan’s latest film and one of his best yet. Its events are based on the book American Prometheus, a biography of legendary physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer.

The story follows Oppenheimer’s journey to constructing the first atomic bomb and his subsequent struggle with his guilt for the resulting loss of lives in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. With captivating dialogue and excellent in-depth character exploration, you’ll also enjoy brilliant performances by its star-studded cast. The movie netted Academy Award nominations and accolades left and right, solidifying it as one of cinema’s greats.

4

The Prestige

(2006)

The Prestige is one of the best psychological thrillers out there, a film that is full of twists and turns. Set in Victorian England, the story focuses on two magicians, Borden and Angier, whose rivalry begins after the death of Angier’s wife. What follows is an obsession on both sides to outdo one another by whatever means necessary — to the detriment of either man’s personal life.

The movie itself was a grand magic show, peppering subtle hints and clues to the jaw-dropping twist at the end. Overall, The Prestige did an incredible job of maintaining its unpredictability and keeping its audience on its toes, not knowing what was going to happen next, nor what the great reveal would be.

3

Dunkirk

(2017)

Nolan shows that he’s not afraid to take on historical war epics, and Dunkirk underscores his masterful take on the genre. Set during the height of World War II, the movie focuses on the Dunkirk Evacuation of 1940, where civilian boats were used to help evacuate thousands of stranded Allied troops.

The evacuation is told from different characters’ perspectives, all struggling to survive the German attack and make it back home to England. The story is deeply profound and moving, telling its tale of survival and heroism without losing that feeling of authenticity. Dunkirk is certainly up there with Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan as one of the best war films ever made.

2

Inception

(2010)

Nolan stretched his creativity to the limit in 2010’s mind-shattering Inception, dipping his toes into the sci-fi genre to great success. The film tells the story of Cobb, who’s developed technology that allowed him to infiltrate the dreams of others. He was eventually hired to use his tech to ‘convince’ billionaire heir Robert Fischer to shut down his father’s company.

The movie grapples with themes of greed, ambition, grief, and guilt, with an ending that’s entirely up to interpretation. Its story remains relevant and compelling, and its themes still resonate with audiences nearly two decades after its release. Moreover, you’re treated to amazing performances by a talented cast consisting of Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy, among many others, making Inception one of the best and most rewatchable movies of all time.

1

Interstellar

(2014)

Nolan’s best and most iconic work, 2014’s sci-fi drama Interstellar is a masterclass in cinematic storytelling. The story follows a version of Earth that is wracked with crop failures and climate disruptions, which pushes a group of determined scientists and pilots to find another liveable planet. The main character, Cooper, is forced to leave his two children behind as he joins the expedition.

Matthew McConaughey and Jessica Chastain steal the spotlight with their portrayals of Cooper and Murphy respectively, and the CGI and cinematics are out of this world (no pun intended). Paired with a gorgeous music score courtesy of Hans Zimmer, the movie truly shines during its emotional, impactful scenes, leaving you gobsmacked by the end of it.