With the release of his brilliantly made and enormously successful new film “The Odyssey”, Christopher Nolan has once again proven himself to be the most bankable filmmaker working today. After just eleven days the three-hour, R-rated epic has made a staggering $639 million at the global box office. And it’s showing no signs of slowing down. Many projections now have the film easily clearing the $1 billion mark by the end of its theater run.
This is no fluke. Nolan’s extraordinary gift for cinematic storytelling has been evident since his debut feature in 1998. And he has only gotten better over time. His movies have become major events that draw huge audiences. And it doesn’t matter if he’s adapting a massively popular superhero or making a biographical drama of a theoretical physicist. People come for the compelling stories and stunning craftsmanship that have become synonymous with a Christopher Nolan movie.
With “The Odyssey” still dominating theaters, what better time to do an updated ranking of Christopher Nolan’s now thirteen feature films. Impressively, Nolan has yet to make a bad movie so there are no bad movies on this list. But over the years several of his works have stood out over the rest (at least for me). So here is my personal ranking of Christopher Nolan’s oeuvre. Be sure to share your personal favorites in the comments section below.
“Following” easily stands as Christopher Nolan’s smallest, shortest, and least expensive film. Yet even within this underrated debut feature, we get glimpses of the groundbreaking filmmaker he would quickly become. Shot in 16mm black-and-white for roughly $6,000, this neo-noir thriller tells the story of a struggling writer who gets drawn into the criminal underworld after following strangers around the streets of London looking for inspiration for his novel. While the budget limitations do come into play, it remains a compelling watch and an exciting precursor to what was to come.
The psychological thriller “Insomnia” remains the only film in Christopher Nolan’s filmography that he directed yet didn’t write. “Insomnia” is a remake of a Norwegian film of the same name, yet a young Nolan brought his own creative vision to the riveting story about a murder in Nightmute, Alaska. It was a movie of many firsts for Nolan. It was his first studio film and it was his first chance to work with true A-list actors (Al Pacino and Robin Williams). It’s a strong film yet not many people talk about “Insomnia”. Perhaps that’s why Nolan considers it his most underrated movie.
Of all the great films in Christopher Nolan’s catalog, it’s amazing how many hold “The Prestige” in such high regard. And rightly so. It’s truly unlike anything else he has made. The very idea of a period thriller set in the world of illusion featuring Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale as rival magicians sells the movie itself. But what makes it great is Nolan’s impeccable narrative control that keeps us immersed and wondering every step of the way. Stunning visual detail and period-rich atmosphere work hand-in-hand with Nolan’s wily script to make this one of the his more unique films.
The audacious “Memento” could easily be considered the movie that put Christopher Nolan on the map. And it was only his second feature film! The movie sees Nolan teaming with actor Guy Pearce (a duo who I’d love to see collaborate again) to tell a story that took the filmmaker’s love for non-linear narratives to crazy heights. Pearce plays a man with anterograde amnesia who works to piece together clues in hopes of uncovering who murdered his wife. It’s an intensely challenging yet thoroughly rewarding movie that still resonates with its many passionate fans.
With “Batman Begins” Christopher Nolan kicked off his brilliant Dark Knight trilogy with a bang. While the movie is often overshadowed by its universally acclaimed big brother “The Dark Knight”, Nolan’s first foray into the superhero genre immediately turned heads. It gave us a fascinating introduction to the popular DC character that was darkly psychological yet brimming with the kind of superhero action that fans hoped for. But ultimately it was Nolan’s unique vision that gave the classic character and his compelling world an entirely new spin.
Perhaps the most debated Christopher Nolan film is his audacious science-fiction action thriller “Tenet”. It’s definitely Nolan’s most challenging movie, requiring audiences to remain laser-focused if they are to unlock the story’s time-bending puzzle. Some found it too cerebral for its own good. I found it to be an exhilarating experience that paid huge dividends for those who put in the work. It’s also a jaw-dropping visual feast, with action set pieces unlike anything we’ve seen before. I understand the pushback it sometimes gets. But “Tenet” still stands as Nolan’s boldest and most original movie to date.
Christopher Nolan wrapped up his Batman trilogy with a final film that went bigger than either of its two predecessors. And while it may not have reached the immeasurable heights of the second installment, “The Dark Knight Rises” put a satisfying exclamation point on Nolan’s Batman run. It features great character moments, some stunning set pieces, and the same gritty and grounded realism that makes these films still stand out today. “Rises” has a lot of moving parts and they take a while to fall into place. But once they do, we can’t help but be blown away by this sensational finish to a sensational trilogy.
Who on earth would have guessed that a talky three-hour biopic of a theoretical physicist would nearly hit $1 billion at the box office? Yet Christopher Nolan’s absorbing treatment on the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer did just that. With a cast that is top-to-bottom superb, a propulsive script, and some stunning craftsmanship, “Oppenheimer” not only wow’d moviegoers but awards voters too. The film would go on to win seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Nolan’s long overdue first Oscar for directing. Without question, it stands as one of the greatest biopics ever made.
It can best be described as a dystopian science-fiction epic. But in truth, there is a lot more going on at the heart of “Interstellar” than those few words can convey. “Interstellar” is every bit the breathtaking cinematic spectacle you expect from a Christopher Nolan film. But it’s also (arguably) his most heartfelt film. It’s a daring project both visually and conceptually. But it’s the humanity you find at its core that makes it such a compelling entry into the Nolan oeuvre. Now if only we can get a second collaboration between Nolan and his “Interstellar” star Matthew McConaughey.
Some may be tempted scream recency bias. But after three viewings of Christopher Nolan’s latest creation, I can confidently say that “The Odyssey” deserves a place among the filmmaker’s very best work. Tackling Homer’s seminal epic was no easy undertaking. But Nolan transports us to the ancient world, honoring the spirit of Homer’s classic while reinvigorating the tale with his own compelling spin. It’s a colossal movie, fueled by the artistic ambition and technical know-how of a filmmaker at the top of his game. Nolan’s “The Odyssey” is epic in every sense of the word.
I still remember the sheer elation that rushed over me after hearing that Christopher Nolan was directing a World War II film. And boy did he deliver in spades. “Dunkirk” was an astonishing experience that had me completely engrossed in every thrilling second of its runtime. From the mind-blowing spectacle to the heart-wrenching human cost, Nolan brings his audience into the combat with such staggering proficiency, once again playing with time while offering three unique perspectives on the same harrowing event. I’m still in awe of what he pulls off. It’s no wonder Quentin Tarantino calls “Dunkirk” a masterpiece. I agree.
While “Batman Begins” delighted fans by introducing Christopher Nolan’s take on the classic DC character, its sequel, “The Dark Knight” was Nolan’s masterclass on what the superhero genre could be. In my opinion, “The Dark Knight” remains the greatest superhero movie of all time in large part because it transcends the genre. Yet it’s also proudly a Batman movie, with Christian Bale establishing himself as the quintessential Dark Knight and the late Heath Ledger giving us one of the screen’s greatest villain performances as the Joker. Everything in the movie clicks which is big reason why so many rightly consider “The Dark Knight” to be one of Nolan’s very best films.
Christopher Nolan has made a habit of blowing me away with his movies. But none blew my mind quite like “Inception”. And while nearly all of his films have stuck with me to varying degrees, none have left a long-lasting mark like his 2010 mind-bending masterpiece. “Inception” melds together both science-fiction and action, but it’s ultimately a heist movie with a Nolan twist – the heists take place within dreams. The concept is bonkers yet brilliantly realized. And the cast is perfectly in-tune with Nolan’s fearless vision. “Inception” is a film unlike any other, and an accomplishment that could only come from one visionary filmmaker.
Keith & the Movies 