Excitement is ramping up for Christopher Nolan's next star-studded film, Oppenheimer, which will battle Greta Gerwig's Barbie for the hearts of cinephiles worldwide. As one of the world's most acclaimed filmmakers, Nolan has garnered a considerable following, with many believing he has yet to make a bad film. The ranking of his best has been long debated, and users of Ranker have also got in on that conversation.
Ranking Nolan's work through fan votes and the top and bottom of the list are hardly surprising, but hardcore fans of certain works of Nolan's filmography are sure to be surprised if not annoyed by the placements of certain films.
NOTE: Ranker's poll list is live and can change; this list is accurate as of the time of publishing.
Following (1998)
Following is Christopher Nolan's feature debut, and is both the most inaccessible of his films and the one so often put at the bottom of the rankings of his films. Yet, the movie is not necessarily bad; that is a testament to Nolan's consistency.
A thriller following a young writer in London, Following is a small movie with a $6,000 budget and a runtime of just over an hour. It is this scale and perhaps the lack of experience of Nolan as a filmmaker that holds this movie back, which is usually the case for directorial debuts. While not the greatest movie ever, it is a tight and well-told story that is interesting to look back on, given how far Nolan has come.
Insomnia (2002)
Usually, Nolan's films are original pieces of work, and this is where Insomnia sticks out in his filmography. It is a remake of a Norwegian film of the same name from 1997. Even though Ranker has it low down on the Nolan rankings, many see this as Nolan's most underrated work.
Other than Following, this is Nolan's most unseen work and perhaps his most 'typical,' in that it is not full of the grandiose and hugeness of films that would come. The fact that it is a remake also holds it back, with the original being viewed as superior to many. Nevertheless, Pacino and Williams' performances in this psychological crime thriller and Nolan's already assured direction make it a memorable remake for those who have seen it.
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Over the past decade, there has been so much discourse surrounding The Dark Knight Rises, with it being viewed as an incredible comic book/action movie by some and viewed as a mess by others. This divisiveness is likely why Ranker has it in the lower half of Nolan's filmography.
While the movie does, in many ways, provide a satisfying conclusion to what many believe to be the greatest superhero trilogy to date, with some awesome performances and action, many messy aspects take it down a peg for people. The passing of time, the runtime, some of how it showcases the class system, the Talia Al-Ghul twist, and that ending are all divisive parts of the movie and reasons why Ranker has it as the weakest of the trilogy.
Batman Begins (2005)
While few are out there heralding The Dark Knight rises as the best of the Dark Knight trilogy, Batman Begins has fans who view it as the best work Nolan did in the Batman world and see it as perhaps the best origin story ever told by a comic book movie. There have and always will be criticisms of both Bale's Batman voice and the lack of chemistry between Bale and Katie Holmes as love interests. But there is so much brilliance throughout this hugely important film too.
With Nolan and the talented on-screen performers, this dark and brooding story - which is now the norm - stood out as one of the most unique superhero movies ever to this point and is a brilliant retelling of Batman's classic origin story. It is perhaps just the quality of Nolan's other films and some minor criticisms, as mentioned before.
Dunkirk (2017)
Dunkirk is an event film, a spectacle that is focused on a singular thing, looking at it from three viewpoints. It is seen as one of the greatest war movies ever made and a stunning movie.
It is Nolan's shortest movie but still packs so much into it. This is seen as one of the best war films ever by many, with its direction, visuals, score, and cast all shining to make this a horrific, emotional depiction of a real-life event that is still hugely affecting even though it is not a character study of any kind. All of this increases its stock, and it is perhaps just how iconic, and influential Nolan's other works are that keep Dunkirk from Ranker's top 5.
Interstellar (2014)
Some see Interstellar as the greatest film ever. Some see it as Nolan's worst movie. Either way, there is no denying how experiential and awe-inspiring the movie is to watch, particularly on the big screen.
The exposition, the ending, the messiness, the length, and the vast ideas that the movie's execution may not meet hold it back in the minds of some. To many others, though, all of this works in tandem with the stunning visuals and effects, the performances, Nolan's direction, and Hans Zimmer's untouchable score to make it one of Nolan's best works. Ergo, it makes sense for this film to fall right in the middle of the pack.
The Prestige (2006)
The Prestige is the kind-of dark horse in Nolan's filmography. It is not as well seen as his biggest five or six blockbusters and may sometimes fall under the radar but is a truly excellent film loved by so many who watch it.
Strangely enough, this is one of the lowest Nolan films in terms of Rotten Tomatoes ranking, sitting at 76%. But with a 92% audience score, an 8.5 on IMDb, and fourth spot on Ranker's best Nolan list, it is clear that the challenging period piece with its excellent exploration of artistic obsession, with its many twists and turns, terrific performances, and great script work well for so many.
Memento (2000)
After his debut with Following, Christopher Nolan established himself as a filmmaker on the up and up with his sophomore film Memento, a stunning thriller that leaves audiences constantly guessing, and what may be the best piece looking into his obsession with time thus far.
People adore this film, and that is understandable. Not only does it have a couple of great lead performances and one of Nolan's best female characters - an aspect of his films often criticized - but the writing and direction are pretty outstanding. Most who have seen this put it in the top 5, top 3, or top 1 of Nolan films largely to its awesome twists and unique form of storytelling. It is Nolan's first of many genuinely great movies.
Inception (2010)
Inception has proven itself to be perhaps the sci-fi film of the 2010s and even the 21st century thus far, having an awesome ensemble that helped bring Nolan's complex, visually brilliant vision to life.
From its insane practical effects to its look at existentialism, memory, and time, Inception has all the trademarks of a Nolan movie and arguably pulls off these ideas better than any of his other movies. The big experience of this movie is one of the best that many filmgoers will have, with the train in the streets and hallway scene being some of the most memorable images from 21st-century sci-fi cinema. There are a bunch of film fans who see this as Nolan's best work, so it is no surprise to see Ranker putting rating it this highly.
The Dark Knight (2008)
There is not a lot to be said about The Dark Knight that has not already been said ad-nauseum. To most, it is one of, if not the greatest superhero movie ever and Nolan's best piece of work thus far.
Even though it does have some logic holes and a couple of small criticisms, such as the whole sonar, few people care because it is that good of a film. The practical effects, score, grounded tactical aspects, and many of the character dynamics all work brilliantly. Of course, what makes this film is Heath Ledger, whose portrayal of the Joker will forever be known as one of the greatest acting performances ever, with the iconic villain being at the heart of so many outstanding scenes.