Christopher Nolan is a talented director with tremendous appeal. He is known as a visionary director, as seen in his films. All the movies that Christopher Nolan has worked on, on average, become the best films in their class, we can take the examples of Oppenheimer and The Dark Knight.
His films, with their intricate plots and intertwined stories, often bring the audience into a world that is more than just a narrative. This is a unique space that we can call Nolan Land, where stunning cinematic beauty is present in every detail.
Best Christopher Nolan Movies
12. Following – 1998
Christopher Nolan first movies on a very limited budget was released in 1998, when he was still working full-time. He utilized natural lighting and affordable film materials.
It felt like a student project: ambitious, somewhat clumsy, full of fresh ideas, yet often seemingly immature. Nonetheless, Nolan’s skill is already evident, with many elements that would later reappear in his later films, such as non-linear narratives, manipulative characters, unexpected endings, and the exploration of human psychology through certain objects.
The ironic theme at the heart of the story, about a man who steals from others to make them appreciate life more, is Nolan’s trademark.
For those who are interested in the works of this director, this movie is worth watching. However, the technical limitations and lack of experience at the time make it one of the less powerful works in his list of films.
| Title: | Following |
| Year of Release: | 1998 |
| Cast: | Jeremy Theobald Alex Haw Lucy Russell |
| Link to Watch Following | MUBI |
11. Insomnia – 2002
The next movies by director Christopher Nolan is Insomnia. Insomnia is one of the best films by Christopher Nolan in his early debut. This movie is an adaptation of a Norwegian crime thriller released in 1997.
The story follows a police officer who is dealing with a variety of problems and has a dark background. While investigating a murder case in a small Alaskan town, he accidentally kills his own partner and tries to cover up the mistake.
This work demonstrates the director’s ability to successfully transition from low-budget indie film productions to larger, successful studio projects. He stated that this movie was an important milestone in his career, as it opened up opportunities for him to be involved in bigger budget movie productions.
| Title: | Insomnia |
| Year of Release: | 2002 |
| Cast: | Al Pacino Robin Williams Hilary Swank |
| Link to Watch Insomnia | Stan. |
10. Tenet – 2020
Next up is the 2020 release Tenet. This movie might be one of the hardest to follow, especially during the unarmed fight scenes. John David Washington plays a CIA agent, facing off against an opponent dressed in riot gear.
In the scene, the audience is expected to notice that Washington’s character is moving forward in time, while his enemy is moving backward.
However, like many other aspects of this exciting and enigmatic action thriller, it’s all presented in Nolan’s trademark complex style: intriguing in idea, but often confusing in execution.
For the first 45 minutes, the movie is quite enthralling, with Washington, who exudes dangerous charisma, facing off against Kenneth Branagh who plays a ruthless Russian gangster, plotting dramatic events, such as a 747 crashing into an airport building that holds a safe with valuable paintings.
At the end of the movie “Tenet,” there is a big action scene full of explosions and backwards movement that looks impressive and an interesting idea. However, the connection between all the elements in the scene is quite elusive.
| Title: | Tenet |
| Year of Release: | 2020 |
| Cast: | John David Washington Robert Pattinson Elizabeth Debicki |
| Link to Watch Tenet | Max |
9. The Prestige – 2006
Christopher Nolan next movies is The Prestige. If his latest film, The Oddysey is an adaptation of a literary work, this film is Nolan’s first adaptation in the literary world. The Prestige adapts the novel by Christopher Priest released in 1995, presenting characters that are very deep and complicated.
In this movie, Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale play two competing magicians in London in the early 20th century. They have a strong attraction, but also a dark side due to their obsession with each other.
This is what makes The Prestige interesting to watch again and again, unlike many other movies that rely on puzzles and big surprises; with each viewing, we understand the complex layers of the story more and more.
It is also a captivating illusion, with an intricate plot and many deceptive traps. Like Christopher Nolan’s other works, the structure of the movie and its effect on the audience reflects the psychological journey of the characters.
Nolan understands his audience very well: He gives us all the information we need to follow the story, but presents it in a way that is mysterious enough that we struggle to connect all the elements.
| Title: | The Prestige |
| Year of Release: | 2006 |
| Cast: | Christian Bale Hugh Jackman Scarlett Johansson |
| Link to Watch The Prestige | Catchplay |
8. Dunkirk – 2017
Dunkirk is one of the best movies made by Christopher Nolan. It is an impressive work of war and arguably the culmination of Nolan’s many experiments in editing and storytelling.
Set against the backdrop of the British evacuation from France in 1940, which came as a result of a disheartening early defeat against the Nazis, the director combines three stories of different lengths, creating a number of surprises in the plot.
But more interestingly, the film shows that Nolan is ready to let go of control; he trusts the audience to understand the story without much explanation or dialog.
This approach eliminates many of the clichés that often appear in war movies: no strategy meetings, no scenes where characters explain what they are fighting for, and so on. Instead, the movie feels dense, concise, and full of tension from start to finish.
| Title: | Dunkirk |
| Year of Release: | 2017 |
| Cast: | Fionn Whitehead Barry Keoghan Mark Rylance |
| Link to Watch Dunkirk | Catchplay |
7. Batman Begins – 2005
The movie marked the beginning of Nolan’s modern signature style: stylish yet realistic, visually bold yet grand, and presenting threats from within and around.
In one of the most elegant and dramatic superhero films, Nolan tells the origin story of Batman, or Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), who after witnessing the death of his parents, leaves his prison in Bhutan to be trained by the League of Shadows under the direction of Liam Neeson who plays the charismatic mentor.
He then established his identity as the Dark Knight who has a dark side. Although Nolan didn’t change the entire formula of the comic, the movie is full of the spirit of cinematography that he brought.
After 15 years of mediocre “Batman” movies, “Batman Begins” is here to raise the bar, not only for the Caped Crusader, but also for the entire superhero genre that has now become a hallmark of Hollywood cinema.
| Title: | Batman Begins |
| Year of Release: | 2005 |
| Cast: | Christian Bale Michael Caine Ken Watanabe |
| Link to Watch Batman Begins | MAX |
6. Interstellar – 2014
Interstellar is one of the best movies of all time by Christopher Nolan. Nolan’s sci-fi film is one of the most depressing and desolate space stories ever. Following Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway’s journey through a wormhole to find a new home for humanity, the movie received mixed reactions upon its release.
However, over time, many have begun to recognize this film as one of Nolan’s best works. It is the most sincere movie, where the combination of impressive visual effects, interesting scientific concepts, environmental dystopian themes, and deep emotions may feel overwhelming to some.
At the heart of the story is the relationship between parents and children, the fear of letting go, and the importance of balancing dreams with the needs of loved ones. On the other hand, the movie also brings up the theme of survival; how the survival of the planet, species, and individuals are often at odds with each other.
The way Nolan brings these concepts together in a narrative that combines complex scientific theories with original sci-fi imagery can feel jarring. However, if you’re willing to open your mind, Interstellar will be one hell of an emotional experience.
| Title: | Interstellar |
| Year of Release: | 2014 |
| Cast: | Matthew McConaughey Anne Hathaway Jessica Chastain |
| Link to Watch Interstellar | Catchplay |
5. The Dark Knight Rises – 2012
Director Christoper Nolan next movies is the second sequel to Batman Begins or the final film of Nolan’s Batman trilogy. Nolan continues the great success of The Dark Knight with a story of Batman’s defeat.
In this movie, Batman breaks his back due to an attack by Bane (Tom Hardy) and is thrown into a deep prison, forcing him to watch the destruction of Gotham from afar. Although the movie also received a positive response from audiences, it’s hard not to feel a little disappointed after seeing the incredible achievement of The Dark Knight.
However, the movie still deserves an award for successfully portraying the hero’s sense of desolation, where the city’s bridges and buildings collapsed, its citizens were in conflict with each other, and the social order was broken.
For anyone who has been following Bruce Wayne’s struggle to fix Gotham, this situation is heartbreaking. There are many interesting elements in this movie, from the smart and sharp character of Catwoman (Anne Hathaway) to the stunning action scenes.
| Title: | The Dark Knight Rises |
| Year of Release: | 2012 |
| Cast: | Christian Bale Tom Hardy Anne Hathaway |
| Link yo Watch The Dark Knight Rises | MAX |
4. Inception – 2010
Let’s think about it for a moment: Nolan presents a movie that tells the story of a master thief who is able to enter other people’s dreams to steal hidden ideas. However, in this story, they are given the task of secretly implanting ideas in someone’s mind.
To achieve this, they have to enter the person’s dream, but in order not to be detected, they need to explore the various layers of the dream. Therefore, they create a dream within a dream to proceed to the next layer, and this process must be repeated.
However, if they go too deep into the dream, they can get stuck forever and risk damaging their minds. Besides, each layer of the dream runs at a different speed; five minutes in the real world could be equivalent to an hour in the dream, and the deeper they explore, the more time will slow down.
What happens in one layer can impact the next. Now, remember that the movie Inception was loved by millions of viewers and earned $825 million worldwide. This shows that Christopher Nolan is indeed a maestro.
| Title: | Inception |
| Year of Release: | 2010 |
| Cast: | Leonardo DiCaprio Joseph Gordon-Levitt Elliot Page |
| Link to Watch Inception | MAX |
3. Memento – 2000
The movie truly depicts Christopher Nolan’s signature style; a mental exploration that seems to take place in the mind of the main character, who struggles to retain all the information at hand.
Guy Pearce gives a profound and darkly nuanced performance as Leonard, an insurance investigator who suffers from anterograde amnesia, rendering him unable to remember recent events.
To help him, he created a system of clues: recording his experiences using a Polaroid camera and tattooing important details on his body. The goal was to find the person who had raped and murdered his wife.
The way Nolan structures “Memento” in almost reverse order makes it seem as if Leonard is running towards his past while trying to get away from those memories.
The movie feels alive and vibrating in the present, being one of the most extraordinary existential thrillers in cinema history. While it may feel as complex as a rubik’s puzzle, the depth of the human drama within gives it a powerful appeal.
| Title: | Memento |
| Year of Release: | 2000 |
| Cast: | Guy Pearce Carrie-Anne Moss Joe Pantoliano |
| Link to Watch Memento | Apple TV |
2. Oppenheimer – 2023
The story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb, is presented in a three-hour psychological drama that is very interesting and rich in historical details. Nonetheless, the movie still has Christopher Nolan’s trademark.
Viewers will experience his unique way of structuring time, making Oppenheimer’s life journey a dramatic cinematic experience. Cillian Murphy gives an outstanding performance as “Oppie”, portraying an elegant yet cunning figure, a cold genius and humanitarian at the same time.
He faces the world he built with a shield of guilt that is far from conscious. The first part of the movie “Oppenheimer” is compelling, and the tension leading up to the creation of the first atomic bomb is thrilling.
| Title: | Oppenheimer |
| Year of Release: | 2023 |
| Cast: | Cillian Murphy Emily Blunt Matt Damon |
| Link to Watch Oppenheimer | Catchplay |
1. The Dark Knight – 2008
More than just the best superhero movie ever, the second installment of Nolan’s “Batman” trilogy transcends genre boundaries. It offers a work inspired by the amazing crime cinema of the 70s, where corruption ruled everything to the point of appearing as a distorted moral norm.
In this movie, we are introduced to the Joker (Heath Ledger), a psychopath obsessed with chaos. He is a force that wants to shake up the world order… just for the fun of it.
Unlike the other villains, the Joker has no clear goal, which adds even more tension to the storyline. For the first time, Batman has the depth of a classic Hollywood antihero: full of dedication and passion.
The movie is a conspiracy thriller filled with violence and a complex storyline about a half-crazed criminal.
| Title: | The Dark Knight |
| Year of Release: | 2008 |
| Cast: | Christian Bale Heath Ledger Aaron Eckhart |
| Link to Watch The Dark Knight | Catchplay |
