(L to R) Director Christopher Nolan with Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, ASC on set of his film 'The Odyssey', written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan. Photo: Universal Pictures.
(L to R) Director Christopher Nolan with Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, ASC on set of his film 'The Odyssey', written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Christoper Nolan is one of the most acclaimed and popular filmmakers working today.

The director first gained attention for his groundbreaking film 'Memento,' and has since helmed such beloved movies as 'Inception,' 'Interstellar', 'Dunkirk,' 'The Dark Knight' trilogy and 'Oppenheimer,' for which he finally received an Oscar for Best Director.

The Odyssey
The Odyssey
"Defy the gods."
80
Audience
85
Review
Release Jul 17, 2026Runtime 2h 53mBudget $250M

In honor of his new film 'The Odyssey,' which stars Matt Damon and opens in theaters on July 17th, Moviefone is counting down every film Christopher Nolan has ever directed, including his latest.

Let's begin!

Related Article: Movie Review: 'Oppenheimer'


13. 'Following' (1998)

Jeremy Theobald in 'Following'. Photo: Momentum Pictures.
Jeremy Theobald in 'Following'. Photo: Momentum Pictures.

Bill (Jeremy Theobald), an idle, unemployed aspiring writer, walks the crowded streets of London following randomly chosen strangers, a seemingly innocent entertainment that becomes dangerous when he crosses paths with a mysterious character.

Following
Following
"You're never alone."
71
Audience
Release Jun 4, 1999Runtime 1h 9mBudget $6,000

12. 'The Dark Knight Rises' (2012)

Tom Hardy as Bane in 'The Dark Knight Rises'. Photo: Warner Bros.
Tom Hardy as Bane in 'The Dark Knight Rises'. Photo: Warner Bros.

Following the death of District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), Batman (Christian Bale) assumes responsibility for Dent's crimes to protect the late attorney's reputation and is subsequently hunted by the Gotham City Police Department. Eight years later, Batman encounters the mysterious Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway) and the villainous Bane (Tom Hardy), a new terrorist leader who overwhelms Gotham's finest. The Dark Knight resurfaces to protect a city that has branded him an enemy.

The Dark Knight Rises
The Dark Knight Rises
"The legend ends."
78
Audience
Release Jul 20, 2012Runtime 2h 45mBudget $250M

11. 'Insomnia' (2002)

(L to R) Robin Williams and Al Pacino in 'Insomnia'. Photo: Warner Bros.
(L to R) Robin Williams and Al Pacino in 'Insomnia'. Photo: Warner Bros.

Two Los Angeles homicide detectives (Al Pacino and Martin Donovan) are dispatched to a northern town where the sun doesn't set to investigate the methodical murder of a local teen.

Insomnia
Insomnia
"A tough cop. A brilliant killer. An unspeakable crime."
70
Audience
Release May 24, 2002Runtime 1h 58mBudget $46M

10. 'Tenet' (2020)

(L to R) John David Washington and Robert Pattinson in 'Tenet'. Photo: Warner Bros.
(L to R) John David Washington and Robert Pattinson in 'Tenet'. Photo: Warner Bros.

Armed with only one word - Tenet - and fighting for the survival of the entire world, the Protagonist (John David Washington) journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real time.

Tenet
Tenet
"Time runs out."
72
Audience
Release Sep 3, 2020Runtime 2h 30mBudget $205M

9. 'Batman Begins' (2005)

(L to R) Gary Oldman and Christian Bale in 'Batman Begins'. Photo: Warner Bros.
(L to R) Gary Oldman and Christian Bale in 'Batman Begins'. Photo: Warner Bros.

Driven by tragedy, billionaire Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) dedicates his life to uncovering and defeating the corruption that plagues his home, Gotham City. Unable to work within the system, he instead creates a new identity, a symbol of fear for the criminal underworld - The Batman.

Batman Begins
Batman Begins
"Evil fears the knight."
77
Audience
Release Jun 15, 2005Runtime 2h 20mBudget $150M

8. 'The Prestige' (2006)

(L to R) Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman in 'The Prestige'. Photo: Buena Vista Pictures.
(L to R) Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman in 'The Prestige'. Photo: Buena Vista Pictures.

A mysterious story of two magicians (Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale) whose intense rivalry leads them on a life-long battle for supremacy -- full of obsession, deceit and jealousy with dangerous and deadly consequences.

The Prestige
The Prestige
"Are you watching closely?"
82
Audience
Release Oct 20, 2006Runtime 2h 10mBudget $40M

7. 'Interstellar' (2014)

(L to R) Anne Hathaway and Matthew McConaughey in 'Interstellar'. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
(L to R) Anne Hathaway and Matthew McConaughey in 'Interstellar'. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

The adventures of a group of explorers who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage.

Interstellar
Interstellar
"Mankind was born on Earth. It was never meant to die here."
85
Audience
Release Nov 7, 2014Runtime 2h 49mBudget $165M

6. 'Memento' (2001)

Guy Pearce in 'Memento'. Photo: Summit Entertainment.
Guy Pearce in 'Memento'. Photo: Summit Entertainment.

Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) is tracking down the man who raped and murdered his wife. The difficulty of locating his wife's killer, however, is compounded by the fact that he suffers from a rare, untreatable form of short-term memory loss. Although he can recall details of life before his accident, Leonard cannot remember what happened fifteen minutes ago, where he's going, or why.

Memento
Memento
"Some memories are best forgotten."
82
Audience
Release May 25, 2001Runtime 1h 53mBudget $9M

5. 'The Odyssey' (2026)

(L to R) Matt Damon is Odysseus and Zendaya is Athena in 'The Odyssey', written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan. Photo: Universal Pictures.
(L to R) Matt Damon is Odysseus and Zendaya is Athena in 'The Odyssey', written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Odysseus (Matt Damon), the legendary King of Ithaca, embarks on a long and perilous journey home following the Trojan War. Throughout his voyage, he is forced to confront the whims of gods, mythological monsters, and trials that stretch both his cunning and his humanity to the breaking point.

The Odyssey
The Odyssey
"Defy the gods."
80
Audience
85
Review
Release Jul 17, 2026Runtime 2h 53mBudget $250M

4. 'Dunkirk' (2017)

(L to R) James D'Arcy and Kenneth Branagh in Christopher Nolan's 'Dunkirk.' Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.
(L to R) James D'Arcy and Kenneth Branagh in Christopher Nolan's 'Dunkirk.' Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

The story of the miraculous evacuation of Allied soldiers from Belgium, Britain, Canada and France, who were cut off and surrounded by the German army from the beaches and harbor of Dunkirk between May 26th and June 4th 1940 during World War II.

Dunkirk
Dunkirk
"When 400,000 men couldn't get home, home came for them."
75
Audience
Release Jul 21, 2017Runtime 1h 47mBudget $150M

3. 'Inception' (2010)

Leonardo DiCaprio in Christopher Nolan's 'Inception.' Photo: Warner Bros.
Leonardo DiCaprio in Christopher Nolan's 'Inception.' Photo: Warner Bros.

Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), a skilled thief who commits corporate espionage by infiltrating the subconscious of his targets is offered a chance to regain his old life as payment for a task considered to be impossible: "inception", the implantation of another person's idea into a target's (Ken Watanabe) subconscious.

Inception
Inception
"Your mind is the scene of the crime."
84
Audience
Release Jul 16, 2010Runtime 2h 28mBudget $160M

2. 'Oppenheimer' (2023)

Cillian Murphy is J. Robert Oppenheimer in 'Oppenheimer,' written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan.
Cillian Murphy is J. Robert Oppenheimer in 'Oppenheimer,' written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan.

The story of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s (Cillian Murphy) role in the development of the atomic bomb during World War II.

Oppenheimer
Oppenheimer
"The world forever changes."
80
Audience
95
Review
Release Jul 21, 2023Runtime 3h 1mBudget $100M

1. 'The Dark Knight' (2008)

(L to R) Heath Ledger and Christian Bale in 'The Dark Knight'. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
(L to R) Heath Ledger and Christian Bale in 'The Dark Knight'. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

Batman (Christian Bale) raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as the Joker (Heath Ledger).

The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight
"Some men just want to watch the world burn."
85
Audience
Release Jul 18, 2008Runtime 2h 32mBudget $185M