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On this list of the greatest cinema directors of all time, we have recognizable names like Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, Quentin Tarantino, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorcese, and many others. If we look outside the Western world, we can name Akira Kurosawa out of Japan and Guillermo del Toro out of Mexico as some of the most influential directors of all time.
However, in the 21st century, newer directors have emerged and have cemented themselves as notable figures in film history. And, if we’re talking about the best directors of the past two decades, it’s hard to put anyone higher on the list than Christopher Nolan.
Nolan, the British-American director who was born and raised in London, began his career after he attended University College London and started working on his short film Larceny shortly after in 1995 Later, in 1997, he filmed Doodlebug, his most famous short film about a man who seems to be chasing a bug around his apartment.
Later, in 1998, he broke onto the directorial scene with his premier feature-length film Following with a budget of only £3,000. Since then, Christopher Nolan has made himself a household name and has directed some of the most renowned movies of the last 20 years.
With all the amazing contributions that Christopher Nolan has had to the world of cinema, it’s hard to identify the very best of Nolan’s movies. However, in this article, I’ll attempt to narrow down which of Nolan’s films have been the most defining in his career.
Of course, everyone has their different tastes, and this is just one writer’s opinion on which of Nolan’s films are the greatest. So, with that in mind, here are the best films of Christopher Nolan’s career, in my opinion.
1. Memento
Every time I watch Memento my mind is blown again and again and again. Of course, after watching this movie more times than I can count on my hands, I know all of the twists and hidden Easter eggs. However, when you really try to understand how someone could formulate the concept and structure for this film in their mind, it becomes all the more impressive.
Memento is the story who’s trying to solve the mystery of his wife’s murder and exact revenge against her killer; however, a serious brain injury has left him incapable of forming new memories and every day he wakes up in a completely new situation.
The storyline is told entirely in reverse, making the story structure in this film one of the most original to ever grace the silver screen. This was only Nolan’s second film and, with the aid of a stunning performance by Guy Pearce, it put Nolan on the map as a director. Between how amazing this film is all around and how significant it was to Nolan’s career, I believe this has to be considered the best Christopher Nolan movie ever.
2. The Prestige
The only time that Christopher Nolan has ever adapted one of his films from literature was in his 2006 film The Prestige. And, wow, did it work out well for him. I would say that this film has more realistic, relatable, and complex characters than any other Christopher Nolan film.
Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale play competing magicians who push each other through their vicious rivalry to expand the boundaries of magic. This is a story about magicians, but the film itself is also one giant magic trick.
Among the other notable actors in the film are Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, and David Bowie (who plays real-life inventor Nikola Tesla). First of all, how could you make a bad movie with such an amazing cast?
This film was also the time when Christopher Nolan was really hitting his stride as a director. So, the combination of incredible scriptwriting, a star-studded cast that rose to the challenge, and Nolan being true to his directorial style made this an undeniably legendary film.
3. The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight is probably most well-known as the final film of Heath Ledger’s career; however, it should also be notable as one of the paramount works of Christopher Nolan’s. Sincerely, I don’t believe that any superhero movie has ever been made that can even hold a candle to The Dark Knight. That’s because it was so much more than a superhero movie; it was a deep dive into the human psyche that blurs the lines between good and evil.
Indeed, Heath Ledger’s performance in this film deserves to be hailed as one of the best acting performances of the 21st century and Christian Bale certainly didn’t disappoint either, but the screenwriting of David S. Goyer and the directing of Christopher Nolan certainly deserve recognition as well. I could watch The Dark Knight hundreds of times and still be thrilled and intrigued.
4. Inception
Yet another of Christopher Nolan’s movies that I could watch on repeat for days is Inception. Out of his entire filmography, Inception may be the one movie that’s most difficult to fully comprehend the first time you watch it, and that’s part of what makes it so enjoyable.
Understanding how time works in the different dream levels is pivotal to getting a full grasp on the film, and each rewatch gives you more and more insight into the mechanics of this sci-fi universe.
On top of how complex the structure of this film is, it’s also just purely adrenaline-inducing. You have some wonderful acting performances from Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Cillian Murphy, Michael Caine, and Elliot Page (all of whom could easily make my list of favorite actors). Plus, this movie is just an all-around visual masterpiece with bending dreamscapes and awe-inspiring filming locations.
5. Interstellar
With how many hundreds of space epic movies have been made over the years, it’s an extremely difficult undertaking to make a space epic that’s original and captivating. With that being said, Christopher Nolan’s 2014 film Interstellar proved original and exceptionally made. Even more impressive is that Nolan co-wrote, directed, and produced this film, proving just how versatile he is as an artist.
Of course, the success of this film was aided by outstanding performances from Anne Hathaway, Matthew McConaughey, and the rest of the cast. However, another incredible aspect of the film was the aesthetically dazzling space scenes that keep the viewers’ eyes glued to the screen.
If I had one gripe with this film, it’s that it may have had a bit too much explanation. Especially with space epics, there should be some mysterious elements for the viewer to make their own inferences about, and I felt like Nolan may have given the audience a little too much information in this film. For this reason, it’s dropped down a bit on my list of best Christopher Nolan films. But, it’s still a great film nonetheless.
6. Dunkirk
As with space epics, it’s a difficult undertaking to try and make a war movie that’s fresh and original. However, Nolan was able to accomplish just that by choosing a point in war history that had seldom been covered and by adapting it to an entirely new cinematic structure.
The film recounts the British evacuation of France in 1940 after a vicious defeat by the Nazis and the script was only 76 pages long. If you haven’t seen this film, you’ll be astonished by how little dialogue there is. But, the lack of speaking gives a realistic sense of the desolation of war.
This film strays from the typical war film structure by weaving three different storylines together, making for some interesting twists. The film is tense and anxiety-inspiring from the very beginning to the ending credits. Is it Christopher Nolan’s very best film? No. is it still a massively respectable piece of cinematic art? Absolutely.
