Every Christopher Nolan movie ranked

Every Christopher Nolan Movie RANKED Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re ranking all 13 of Christopher Nolan’s feature films to find out which one is his magnum opus! From heady sci-fi movies to gritty comic book dramas, these are some of the best movies of the century, so this will definitely be a challenge! Let’s get started!

#13: “Following” (1998)

For those with a taste for plucky independent storytellers, Christopher Nolan’s debut feature has quite a bit to offer. Sure, “Following” definitely shows its age thanks to its $6000 budget, but Nolan makes supremely confident use of every single penny. Centering on a writer who follows strangers around to get inspiration for his novels, the movie introduces some of the director’s biggest trademarks right off the bat. Between the protagonist’s conflicted psyche and, of course, the movie’s nonlinear structure, “Following” may seem rather predictable and amateur when compared to his more mainstream movies. The payoff may not necessarily be worth the build-up with this one, but it’s nevertheless an engaging watch, not to mention a critical text to understanding Nolan’s signature style.

#12: “Tenet” (2020)

While we always welcome the challenge of unpacking Nolan’s most cerebral movies, “Tenet” may be the hardest box to unlock. When the nameless protagonist is recruited by the titular group, we’re plunged into a trippy thriller in which the action moves both forward and backward through time. For a seasoned filmmaker like Christopher Nolan, incredible staging and state-of-the-art visual effects are to be expected. But “Tenet” undercuts a lot of its momentum with a story that’s too confusing for its own good. Keeping track of the story’s many moving pieces is hard on its own, and the movie does itself few favors thanks to its oddly produced sound design. There are some ideas worth exploring, but you’ll definitely need subtitles in order to understand them.

#11: “The Dark Knight Rises” (2012)

The final entry in his “Dark Knight” trilogy reaffirms Nolan’s track record for terrific endings, even with the stumbles it takes along the way. Due to the unprecedented hype surrounding its predecessor, “The Dark Knight Rises” can’t help but pale in comparison. But it still meets the moment thanks to the committed ensemble and glorious use of IMAX photography. Anne Hathaway and Tom Hardy absolutely chew the scenery as Catwoman and Bane, respectively, and you’d be hard pressed to find a superhero movie with this much ambition. It’s an emotionally satisfying conclusion, to be sure, but it’s also one that’s so overstuffed with characters and plot holes that it can’t help but be scrutinized.

#10: “Insomnia” (2002)

Not only is this Christopher Nolan’s only remake, but it’s also the only one he didn’t write. For that reason alone, “Insomnia” may be the director’s most “un-Nolan” movie, but given his exceptional talent, that’s no reason to turn away from it. Al Pacino and Robin Williams lead this taut procedural in which a sleep-deprived detective finds himself being surveilled by a small-town murderer. The pair’s game of cat-and-mouse is palpable, as both are closely guarding major secrets that threaten their survival. Even though its light on Nolan’s typical flourishes, “Insomnia” is nevertheless an intriguing mystery worth seeing through to the end. More importantly, it confirmed his ability to work within the Hollywood system, allowing major studios to take chances on his one-of-a-kind ideas.

#9: “Batman Begins” (2005)

Speaking of Nolan’s big break in studio filmmaking, the superhero genre solidified its comeback once he signed on to reimagine the Caped Crusader’s origin story. “Batman Begins” leaves few stones unturned, giving us a new take on Gotham City that’s both grounded in reality yet steeped in characters who stay true to their hand-drawn counterparts. That’s especially true of Bruce Wayne, as Christian Bale fully commits to the character’s physical intensity without sacrificing his psychological trauma. Without reinventing the superhero wheel, “Batman Begins” works because of this balance, possessing an emotional gravitas that you rarely find in blockbuster movies nowadays. Not to mention, its emphasis on practical action leaves you eagerly anticipating the story that’s to follow. But hold on, we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

#8: “Dunkirk” (2017)

Nolan fans knew that his take on war would be something special, but few were expecting “Dunkirk” to completely flip the genre on its head. Spinning three different stories out of the Dunkirk evacuation of 1940, it engages with the Allied defeat from land, sea, and air at different rates of time. It’s a shockingly brilliant way for Nolan to expand upon his typical fascinations, giving us characters to root for despite how little we actually know about them. What’s more is that it’s one of his most absorbing movies from a theatrical standpoint. On top of Nolan’s direction, Hans Zimmer’s unrelenting score and the masterful cinematography make it a grand yet claustrophobic experience worthy of both Steven Spielberg and Alfred Hitchcock.

#7: “Interstellar” (2014)

Easily Nolan’s most emotional movie to date, “Interstellar” is also a marvelous spectacle with enough visual grandeur to match its big thematic swings. Matthew McConaughey leads the way as an astronaut searching for a new world for humanity to inhabit while also hoping to reunite with his daughter. The actor’s newfound relevance as a dramatic force gives “Interstellar” a serious edge, as do the intense situations he finds himself in when the mission is thrown for several loops. While some believe Nolan bites off more than he can chew in “Interstellar,” especially with that mind-bending climax, it remains a modern epic in the truest sense. With amazing visuals and hyper-accurate science, it’s a depiction of space travel that inspires wonder and fear in equal measure.

#6: “The Prestige” (2006)

When Christopher Nolan makes a movie about magicians, you just know he’s going to stage the whole thing like one elaborate trick. That’s exactly what he does in “The Prestige,” which pits Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale against one another as rival illusionists torn apart about tragedy in Victorian-era London. Revenge and jealousy consume the two leading men as they become obsessed with learning the other one’s secrets. Despite its dark themes, however, “The Prestige” is just as willing to lean into the more ridiculous side of showmanship if it means completely fooling the audience. In many ways, it’s a personal statement about Nolan’s fondness for misdirection, with the movie’s elaborate structure and shocking twists propelling it to endless rewatches as a result.

#5: “The Odyssey” (2026)

With a massive scope, a who’s who of A-list talent, and a generations-old story, we’d say “The Odyssey” is the kind of epic Hollywood doesn’t make anymore. This is very much Christopher Nolan’s take on the genre, though, and nobody does it quite like him. He approaches this classic tale in a way that’s pure Nolan, from the dialogue, to the action, to the way he makes a mythical setting feel almost grounded. Yes, even the Cyclopes! With Nolan’s filmography being synonymous with scale, it’s surreal to think it took him this long to tackle swords and sandals. The combination of this director and material proves to be a match made in heaven as our hero journeys to Hades and back.

#4: “Memento” (2000)

Since we’re discussing inventive stories and jaw-dropping twists, Christopher Nolan may not be a pre-eminent filmmaker had he not conceived of this trippy thriller. Not only is “Memento” a good reminder that he can still dazzle audiences on a smaller budget, but the mesmerizing collision of narratives make it one of the most unique mysteries ever made. Guy Pearce gives one of his greatest performances as Leonard, an amnesiac searching for his wife’s killer. “Memento” shows us his disorienting state-of-mind firsthand, telling the primary story in reverse while interspersing them with details presented chronologically. It’s a brilliant move from Nolan and editor Dody Dorn, who make “Memento” an intelligent yet thoughtful work about the value of our memories and how easy they are to manipulate.

#3: “Inception” (2010)

A tentpole for the sci-fi and heist genres, “Inception” sees Nolan stretch his imagination to its limit while keeping things remarkably digestible for even the most casual moviegoer. With Leo DiCaprio leading a team of thieves who steal information from people through their dreams, the strength of “Inception” is the time it spends explaining its complicated mechanics. Once Cobb’s team have infiltrated their latest target, the movie trusts our familiarity enough to let the layered story and groundbreaking visual effects take it from there. Between that unbelievable hallway fight and, of course, the heavily debated ending, “Inception”’s legacy has already spoken for itself. Like a puzzle daring us to solve it, it’s far too easy to call it one of Nolan’s most rewatchable movies.

#2: “Oppenheimer” (2023)

Scoring Nolan his first Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture, “Oppenheimer” earns that recognition completely off its own merits. The towering biopic does the unthinkable by turning discussions of nuclear physics and American politics into a theater-worthy thriller. Far more than just a recreation of the Manhattan Project, it’s a haunting portrayal of one man’s determination to change the world and the regret he’s left with once he does. Cillian Murphy’s work in the lead role is nothing short of spectacular, but “Oppenheimer”’s hefty ensemble and unforgettable imagery also contribute to Nolan’s supreme vision. It may be a sobering look at the entire world’s loss of innocence, but you could argue it’s also the movie that Nolan was born to make.

#1: “The Dark Knight” (2008)

If defining a genre makes you a hero, then completely transcending one makes a legend. Taking cues from “Heat” and “The Godfather,” “The Dark Knight” is not only a far cry from Batman’s pulpy origins, but a thematically rich reckoning with the state of 21st-century society. We have Heath Ledger’s timeless performance as the Joker to thank for much of that, but nearly every scene in “The Dark Knight” is dripping with iconic dialogue and fantastic performances. The battle for Gotham’s soul is a hard-hitting crime epic that’s eerie in its realism, though Nolan pulls off some of his most impressive action sequences for good measure. Throw everything together, and you have Nolan’s finest achievement and one of the very best movies ever made! What’s your favorite Christopher Nolan movie? And, more importantly, how would you rank his movies? Put a smile on our face and let us know down in the comments!