Who is Christopher Nolan?
Christopher Nolan is a renowned British-American film director, screenwriter, and producer known for his complex narratives exploring themes of time, memory, and identity. He was born on July 30, 1970, in London, England.
Nolan is recognized for his non-linear storytelling, intricate plots, emphasis on practical effects and large-format film, strong sound design, and philosophical undertones.
He has received numerous awards, including Academy Awards (Best Director for Oppenheimer), BAFTA Awards, and Golden Globe Awards. He was also knighted by King Charles III for his services to film.
In this post, we’ve compiled all (12) of Christopher Nolan’s films and sorted them by IMDb rating from highest to lowest.
1
IMDb 9.0
The Dark Knight (2008)
Running Time:
2h 32m
Genres:
Action, Crime,
Drama, Thriller
Release:
18 July 2008 (US)
Director:
Christopher Nolan
Starring:
Christian Bale
Heath Ledger
Aaron Eckhart
Michael Caine
Gary Oldman
Storyline of The Dark Knight (2008):
Batman, Lieutenant Gordon, and District Attorney Harvey Dent form an alliance to dismantle organized crime in Gotham City. Their efforts are disrupted by the Joker, a chaotic mastermind who throws the city into anarchy and pushes Batman to his limits. The film explores themes of chaos versus order and the nature of heroism.
2
IMDb 8.8
Inception (2010)
Running Time:
2h 28m
Genres:
Action, Sci-Fi,
Thriller, Adventure
Release:
16 July 2010 (US)
Director:
Christopher Nolan
Starring:
Leonardo DiCaprio
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Elliot Page
Tom Hardy
Ken Watanabe
Storyline of Inception (2010):
Dom Cobb is a skilled thief who steals corporate secrets through the use of dream-sharing technology. Instead of stealing information, he is hired for an “inception” mission: planting an idea into the mind of a business executive. This complex and dangerous mission takes Cobb and his team through multiple layers of dreams.
3
IMDb 8.7
Interstellar (2014)
Running Time:
2h 49m
Genres:
Adventure, Drama,
Sci-Fi
Release:
5 November 2014 (US)
Director:
Christopher Nolan
Starring:
Matthew McConaughey
Anne Hathaway
Jessica Chastain
Michael Caine
Mackenzie Foy
Storyline of Interstellar (2014):
In a near future where Earth is becoming uninhabitable, a team of explorers uses a newly discovered wormhole to travel through space in search of a new home for humanity. They face incredible challenges and must make difficult decisions to ensure human survival.
4
IMDb 8.5
The Prestige (2006)
Running Time:
2h 10m
Genres:
Drama, Mystery,
Thriller, Sci-Fi
Release:
20 October 2006 (US)
Director:
Christopher Nolan
Starring:
Hugh Jackman
Christian Bale
Michael Caine
Scarlett Johansson
David Bowie
Storyline of The Prestige (2006):
In 19th century London, two stage magicians, Robert Angier and Alfred Borden, engage in a fierce rivalry. Their competition escalates as they strive to create the ultimate illusion, leading to obsession, sabotage, and dangerous consequences. The film explores themes of ambition, secrecy, and the price of deception.
5
IMDb 8.4
Memento (2000)
Running Time:
1h 53m
Genres:
Mystery, Thriller,
Crime
Release:
16 March 2001 (US)
Director:
Christopher Nolan
Starring:
Guy Pearce
Carrie-Anne Moss
Joe Pantoliano
Mark Boone Junior
Stephen Tobolowsky
Storyline of Memento (2000):
Leonard Shelby suffers from short-term memory loss after a violent attack that killed his wife. Unable to form new memories, he uses a system of Polaroid photos, notes, and tattoos to track down his wife’s murderer. The film unfolds in reverse chronological order, mirroring Leonard’s fragmented mental state and forcing the viewer to piece together the truth alongside him.
6
IMDb 8.4
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Running Time:
2h 45m
Genres:
Action, Thriller,
Crime
Release:
20 July 2012 (US)
Director:
Christopher Nolan
Starring:
Christian Bale
Tom Hardy
Anne Hathaway
Michael Caine
Gary Oldman
Storyline of The Dark Knight Rises (2012):
Eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, Gotham is enjoying a period of peace. However, this peace is shattered by the arrival of Bane, a masked terrorist with a plan to destroy the city. Batman must return to protect Gotham and face his most formidable foe yet.
7
IMDb 8.3
Oppenheimer (2023)
Running Time:
3h
Genres:
Biography, Drama,
History
Release:
21 July 2023 (US)
Director:
Christopher Nolan
Starring:
Cillian Murphy
Emily Blunt
Matt Damon
Robert Downey Jr.
Florence Pugh
Storyline of Oppenheimer (2023):
Oppenheimer tells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a brilliant theoretical physicist. He becomes the director of the Los Alamos Laboratory during the Manhattan Project. This top-secret project aimed to develop the first atomic bombs during World War II. The film explores the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by Oppenheimer and his team. It delves into the consequences of their creation and its impact on the world.
8
IMDb 8.2
Batman Begins (2005)
Running Time:
2h 20m
Genres:
Action, Adventure,
Crime, Thriller
Release:
15 June 2005 (US)
Director:
Christopher Nolan
Starring:
Christian Bale
Michael Caine
Liam Neeson
Katie Holmes
Gary Oldman
Storyline of Batman Begins (2005):
After witnessing his parents’ murder as a child, Bruce Wayne travels the world seeking a way to fight injustice. He is trained by the mysterious League of Shadows and returns to Gotham City to become Batman, a symbol of hope and fear for the criminal underworld. He must confront his inner demons and a growing criminal threat that aims to destroy the city.
9
IMDb 7.8
Dunkirk (2017)
Running Time:
1h 46m
Genres:
Action, History
Release:
21 July 2017 (US)
Director:
Christopher Nolan
Starring:
Fionn Whitehead
Tom Hardy
Mark Rylance
Kenneth Branagh
Harry Styles
Storyline of Dunkirk (2017):
In May 1940, hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers are trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk, surrounded by the German army. The film tells the story of the evacuation from three perspectives: land, sea, and air. Soldiers on the beach desperately await rescue, while civilian boats join the effort to save them. The film portrays the courage and resilience of those involved in this historic event.
10
IMDb 7.4
Following (1998)
Running Time:
1h 10m
Genres:
Crime, Thriller,
Mystery
Release:
7 September 1998 (UK)
Director:
Christopher Nolan
Starring:
Jeremy Theobald
Alex Haw
Lucy Russell
John Nolan
Erica Holmes
Storyline of Following (1998):
A young, unemployed writer in London develops a peculiar habit of following random strangers, hoping to find inspiration for his work. This seemingly harmless pastime takes a dark turn when he encounters a charismatic thief named Cobb. Drawn into Cobb’s world of burglaries and deception, the writer soon finds himself entangled in a dangerous game where the lines between observer and participant become increasingly blurred.
11
IMDb 7.3
Tenet (2020)
Running Time:
2h 30m
Genres:
Action, Sci-Fi,
Thriller
Release:
3 September 2020 (US)
Director:
Christopher Nolan
Starring:
John David Washington
Robert Pattinson
Elizabeth Debicki
Kenneth Branagh
Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Storyline of Tenet (2020):
An unnamed CIA agent, known as the Protagonist, is recruited into a mysterious organization called Tenet. He is tasked with preventing a global threat that involves time inversion, a technology that allows objects and people to move backward through time. The Protagonist must master this complex concept to stop a future attack. The film explores themes of time, fate, and free will.
12
IMDb 7.2
Insomnia (2002)
Running Time:
1h 58m
Genres:
Mystery, Thriller,
Crime, Drama
Release:
24 May 2002 (US)
Director:
Christopher Nolan
Starring:
Al Pacino
Robin Williams
Hilary Swank
Maura Tierney
Martin Donovan
Storyline of Insomnia (2002):
Two Los Angeles detectives are sent to a small Alaskan town to investigate the murder of a teenage girl. The experienced detective, Will Dormer, struggles with guilt after accidentally shooting his partner during the pursuit of the suspect. The constant daylight of the Alaskan summer exacerbates his insomnia, blurring the lines between reality and his troubled conscience.
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