Christopher Nolan: All The Director's Films Ranked

With a star-studded cast, Oppenheimer finally made it to the cinemas. Starring Cillian Murphy, the new film by Christopher Nolan explores the trajectory of the physicist who created the atomic bomb, presenting crucial moments in the personal and professional life of the expert.

Thus, we take the opportunity of Oppenheimer's debut to take a trip through Christopher Nolan's filmography, ranking all his films from worst to best. It is worth noting that the list was made based on the average approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Shall we?

12 - Tenet (2020)

Starting with the Christopher Nolan film that least pleased the audience, Tenet appears last in the ranking. The film arrived in cinemas amidst a pandemic crisis, bringing to the big screen a science fiction with all the style already known from the director. However, opinions on the work fell into mixed territory after the release.

Starring John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, and Elizabeth Debicki, the film follows the journey of a secret agent who must prevent the start of World War III.

With a barrage of scientific concepts, Tenet is no less a visual spectacle. But that was not enough to win the hearts of critics: many pointed out that the plot is extremely confusing and chaotic, affecting the cinematic experience.

11 - Interstellar (2014)

Some love it, and some hate it, but the fact is that Interstellar remains one of the most popular films in Christopher Nolan's filmography. Moreover, the film is a great exponent of the science fiction genre in recent years, and it moved many people with the story of a father who does everything to find his daughter.

Starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, and Jessica Chastain, Interstellar is set on an Earth where the planet's natural reserves are running out. Soon, to try to save humanity, a group of astronauts embarks on a mission to find a new home, thus keeping the human species alive. It is in this scenario that Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) comes in, a farmer who decides to leave his children behind to lead the mission.

Like many of Nolan's works, Interstellar stands out for its technical development, but that was not enough for the majority to like the film. Many see it as a big pile of empty and overly complicated explanations without a real need.

10 - The Prestige (2006)

Set in the 19th century, The Prestige is always remembered by the audience for its twists and shocking revelations. The film, starring Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman, follows the story of two magician friends who become rivals. With one always trying to outdo the other, the film shows how their obsession ends up resulting in tragic consequences.

Although beloved by the public, The Prestige is not among the best-rated films of Nolan's career. Even so, the film maintains an approval average from specialized critics of 76%, and many highlight the excellent direction and setting of the period drama, although the excess of twists may hinder the experience at times.

9 - Following (1998)

Considered Christopher Nolan's noir, Following was the director's debut on the big screen. With a tight budget, the thriller is seen by critics as a production that served as a kind of experiment for what Nolan would show in the future.

Following tells the story of Bill (Jeremy Theobald), a young aspiring writer who begins to follow people on the streets of London to find inspiration. But it's when he meets a criminal that things start to get complicated.

Although somewhat hidden in Nolan's filmography, Following is described as a great thriller that captures the entire atmosphere of classic noir.

8 - Batman Begins (2005)

Batman Begins marked the beginning of Christopher Nolan's acclaimed Dark Knight trilogy. Released in 2005, the film presented the origin story of Batman with an iconic performance by Christian Bale from a very realistic perspective that ended up influencing a wave of genre productions in Hollywood.

With an approval rating of 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, Batman Begins is acclaimed for its dark version of Gotham City, as well as Bale's poise as Bruce Wayne. Although not the trilogy's favorite, it still carries its share of enthusiasts with it.

7 - Batman: The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

The conclusion of the Dark Knight trilogy is seen by many specialized critics as a spectacular conclusion to the vigilante's saga on the big screen. The film hit theaters four years after the release of the second film, causing a great stir in the industry by finishing the trilogy in a grand way.

Although not as unanimous as Batman: The Dark Knight (2008), Batman: The Dark Knight Rises puts the hero in a forced exile after the tragic events of the previous film. With a new batch of vigilantes and mysterious villains, the film ends Christian Bale's journey with everything that made Christopher Nolan famous in Hollywood.

6 - Inception (2010)

One of the most popular films of Christopher Nolan's career, Inception put Leonardo DiCaprio in the science fiction that would become a great classic of the director's filmography. In the plot, we follow the story of a thief who must perform the perfect crime: placing an idea in the mind of an empire's heir while he sleeps.

Considered by many as one of the director's masterpieces, Inception is an example of a blockbuster that is not just about big explosions or chase sequences. Nolan bet on aspects that became recurrent in his career – such as complex and very expositional themes – to build this universe that, although not pleasing everyone, still managed to capture the attention of a good part of the audience.

5 - Insomnia (2002)

Insomnia is another director's film overshadowed by more famous productions, but that does not diminish its prestige in his filmography. Opening the Top 5 of the ranking, the film stars Al Pacino and Robin Williams and follows the investigations of a murder in a small town.

Although not one of Nolan's most popular works, Insomnia is acclaimed by a large part of the specialized critics for being an intelligent mystery film that delves into the psychology of its characters. Additionally, the performances of Pacino and Williams are major highlights of the production.

4 - Dunkirk (2017)

Christopher Nolan also has a war film to call his own: Dunkirk hit theaters in 2017 to rebuild the Battle of Dunkirk, in France, during World War II, captivating the public and critics with impressive visuals and high immersive content.

With stars like Tom Hardy and Cillian Murphy in the cast, Dunkirk gathers a star-studded cast to explore the war scenario with grandiose technicality, something Nolan knows how to craft like no one else. Although some people criticize the lack of character development, the film has earned a prominent position in the director's career, considered by many as one of his best projects.

3 - Oppenheimer (2023)

Oppenheimer has barely arrived in cinemas around the world and is already a huge success for Christopher Nolan. Ranked third, the film starring Cillian Murphy tells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist responsible for creating the atomic bomb, while exploring the development of the initial tests and the repercussions on Oppenheimer's career.

With a visual and auditory spectacle, Nolan's new film has been highly acclaimed by the vast majority of specialized critics, who emphasize Murphy's fantastic performance as one of the highest points of the movie.

2 - Memento (2000)

Starring Guy Pearce, Memento uses a fragmented narrative to explore the traumas of a man suffering from recent memory loss as he tries to find out who was his wife's murderer. This was only the second feature film of Nolan's career, but it is still considered by many as one of his best works.

With a striking twist, Memento is the perfect example of what Nolan can achieve when he masterfully combines technique and narrative. In addition to having an excellent performance by Pearce, it's the kind of movie that will make you search for the missing pieces of a tragic puzzle.

1 - Batman: The Dark Knight (2008)

In the very first place, Batman: The Dark Knight takes the spot of the best movie in Christopher Nolan's career. In addition to being one of the most acclaimed superhero films in cinema history, the production earned great prestige in Hollywood as a whole, mainly due to Heath Ledger's iconic performance as the Joker, a work that earned him a posthumous Oscar in 2009.

Recognized for its excellence in the superhero universe, Batman: The Dark Knight is also hailed as a crime thriller that goes beyond the boundaries of a blockbuster, becoming a major visual and narrative phenomenon.