Every Christopher Nolan Movie, Ranked
Originally published in 2020. Updated July 2023 to add Oppenheimer.
Whether it is by taking existing franchises (Batman) to new heights or creating memorable original works in genres ranging from sci-fi to war drama, Christopher Nolan has established himself as one of the top directors of the 21st century. In the gallery on this page we rank every film directed by Nolan throughout his career from worst to best by Metascore, a number from 0-100 that captures the opinions of top professional critics (with higher numbers indicating better reviews).
While most Nolan films are filled with action, 2023's much-hyped Oppenheimer is a character study focusing on Manhattan Project physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) as he works to develop the world's first nuclear weapons. But Nolan structures the first-person (and partially black-and-white) biopic as a thriller (or even, at times, like a horror film), which makes the three-hour epic fly by, according to critics. And it's designed for the big screen, not home viewing—all the better to showcase Nolan's love for practical effects including a simulated atom bomb explosion filmed without CGI. The result is one of the finest works of Nolan's storied career.
“Oppenheimer is a monumental achievement in grown-up filmmaking. For years, Nolan has been perfecting the art of the serious blockbuster – crafting smart, finely-tuned multiplex epics that demand attention; that can’t be watched anywhere other than in a cinema, uninterrupted, without distractions. But this, somehow, feels bigger.” —Paul Bradshaw, NME
| Stream On |
|
| Stream On |
|
| Stream On |
|
| Stream On |
|