Before we proceed, it has to be pointed out. While the headline clearly reads “best Christopher Nolan movies of all time,” this is every Christopher Nolan movie. Ranked from most groundbreaking to least groundbreaking.
Over his illustrious quarter-decade career as a director, Hollywood’s king of high-concept filmmaking has clearly favoured quality > quantity. Hence why he’s racked up countless award nominations and wins, consistently attracted A-list star talent to his projects, and generated close to $6 billion in box office revenue (making him the 7th highest-grossing director of all time).
Here’s where we landed on the talented Mr Nolan’s oeuvre.
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Ranked: The Best Christopher Nolan Movies Of All Time
It’s almost unfair to stack this humble £6,000 indie against world-renowned blockbusters like Interstellar (2014) and Oppenheimer (2023). But it was Christopher Nolan’s debut feature. And even more importantly, it showcased early signs of the Nolan signature: manifestations of internal psychology, a non-linear narrative, as well as a twist ending. He’d also recycle the name of Alex Haw’s Cobb for another thief character — Leonardo DiCaprio‘s in Inception — and upscale a good deal of the story elements for Memento (2000).
There’s no question why The Dark Knight Rises (2012) ranks so low. Despite the billion-dollar-grossing spectacle, Tom Hardy’s transformative performance, and the wildly impressive practical effects, it’s the weakest of both Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy, and his filmography. The writing was, more often than not, eye-rollingly lacklustre in comparison to the visuals. And all in all, it just didn’t live up to the standard set by The Dark Knight (2008).
This is yet another film that suffers from comparison. But something has to be placed around the bottom. Batman Begins (2005) is objectively a brilliant entry that effectively revolutionised the superhero genre with its gritty + grounded change of direction post-Schumacher’s campy Batmans. Batnipples, Bat-Credit Card, and the rest.
Is it a tad convoluted? Yes, to the point of being overwritten. Is it bloody hard to hear? Also yes, but that’s arguably just as integral to the Christopher Nolan signature as practical effects. Tenet (2020) is a film that benefits from multiple viewings and proves to be greater than what you remember each time. And unless the ongoing rumours are true, it’s the closest we’ll ever get to a Nolan-directed Bond movie. The magnetic performances of John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, and Kenneth Branagh also don’t hurt.
Controversial opinion: I didn’t particularly enjoy Dunkirk (2017). Personally speaking, it was a gorgeously shot drag a la Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s The Revenant (2015) and from my own perspective, quite possibly the least enjoyable Christopher Nolan to date. That being said, I can still recognise what a stunning technical achievement both were, which is why it isn’t ranked dead last.
You can nitpick at the script all you want. That doesn’t change the fact this was next-level storytelling complete with actual rotating corridors, a real-life MC Escher staircase, a replica steam train barrelling through the street, and an exploding alpine fortress. The full-scale approach and universe-building surrounding the concept of lucid dreaming was only rivalled by the sheer star power of a cast led by Leonardo DiCaprio and Ken Watanabe.
Side note: the documentary covering this production’s behind-the-scenes process is as entertaining as Inception (2010) itself… if not more so.
Insomnia (2002) is perhaps the most underrated Christopher Nolan flick to date. This taut psychological thriller of a remake highlighted both Al Pacino and the late Robin Williams‘ capacity for claustrophobically introspective acting; it’s a crying shame these two never shared the screen more.
Any film that casts David Bowie as Nikola Tesla and blatantly reveals the twist at the very beginning, only to have you still marvelling at the latter’s execution by the third act, is a winner in my books. It’s every part high-concept as it is psychological, wielding heartbreak like a switchblade, and elevates the original source material to all-new brooding heights. A stunning masterclass in showcasing human obsession.
There are a few directors who could’ve realistically pulled off this star-studded affair — an affair, it’s worth noting, which didn’t allow the profile of its cast members to overshadow the story at hand — and Christopher Nolan is certainly among the top of the list. This ambitious examination of J. Robert Oppenheimer, as well as the implications of developing nuclear arms, is as powerful in message as it is unforgettable in pathos. Although we probably could’ve done without all the MCU-style cameos from Tom Conti’s Albert Einstein.
Almost zero explanation is required for why it’s this high. Although one may be required for why it isn’t higher. Where Batman Begins (2005) changed the game, The Dark Knight (2008) redefined it and set a lofty expectation that has yet to be exceeded by any other within the genre. Bale kills it. The late Heath Ledger kills it. Aaron Eckhart kills it. F**k it… everyone kills it.
If I only had one opportunity to demonstrate blockbuster cinema in all its glory with a single film, I think it’d have to be Interstellar (2014). As bold as it may be to claim, this is — in my eyes — modern film’s answer to its direct predecessor in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968); with a rare touch of heartfelt sentimentality in what is otherwise a rather cynical body of work. Hands down the most emotional Christopher Nolan movie by a country mile. The only reason it’s not #1 is because the fourth dimension is — groan — love.
It’s the one that put Christopher Nolan on the map — and for very good reason. With a paltry sub-$10 million production budget, ingenious writing (adapted from his brother Jonathan Nolan’s short story Memento Mori), and just a handful of heavyweight screen players, the man crafted an incredibly memorable film for the ages. One that proves even if you take away his expensive bag of tricks, large-scale practical effects sequences and all, he can still keep us all hooked. Even the United States Library of Congress has deemed it “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant” enough for preservation within the National Film Registry.
There’s more where that came from. Find out what we’ve ranked as the 10 best Al Pacino movies of all time plus the 101 best action movies of all time.
If you agree/disagree with our picks for the best Christopher Nolan movies of all time, sound off in the comments with where you think we went wrong.
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Best Christopher Nolan Movies — Frequently Asked Questions
What is Christopher Nolan's best film?
According to both Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb, Christopher Nolan’s best film is The Dark Knight (94% | 9/10). But according to Boss Hunting, it has to be Memento.
What is Christopher Nolan's highest-grossing film?
Christopher Nolan’s highest-grossing film is The Dark Knight Rises at $1.082 billion, followed closely by The Dark Knight at $1.006 billion.
What is Christopher Nolan's most underrated movie?
Christopher Nolan’s most underrated movie, due to the lack of mentions whenever the conversation involves his work, has to be Insomnia starring Al Pacino and Robin Williams.
