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).
A departure for the director in terms of subject matter and visuals (with the latter relying more on practical effects than computer-generated wizardry), this action-filled 2017 WWII drama is Nolan's only film to focus on actual events, recounting the evacuation of Allied soldiers from northern France in 1940 from three different perspectives. In addition to scoring the best reviews of the director's career, Dunkirk finally brought Nolan his first best director Oscar nomination, and he received a second nomination for the film (as a producer) in the best picture category.
“The surpassing accomplishment of Dunkirk is to make us feel an almost literal fusion with its story. It's not so much that we've seen a splendid movie, though we have, but as if we've been taken inside a historic event, become wholly immersed in something real and alive.” —Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
| Buy on |
|
| Stream On |
|
| Stream On |
|
| Stream On |
|
| Stream On |
|