Movie review: Christopher Nolan movies ranked by Daniel Kilgallon

"Dunkirk” marks the tenth full length feature for director Christopher Nolan, one of the most acclaimed names in all of Hollywood and my personal favorite filmmaker. Of course, this all creates a great excuse to put together a list ranking his first ten movies to date. Many of his films are similar, totally in terms of big time special effects, which are typically accompanied by an epic Hans Zimmer score. Additionally, non-linear storytelling is a recurring theme throughout much of Nolan’s work. On top of that, he also likes to reuse his actors, including names such as Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Marion Cotillard, and the legendary Michael Caine. All things considered, this list alone illustrates that Christopher Nolan has had a phenomenal career thus far and I truly hope that it will be expanded to an even more impressive top 20 and beyond in the years to come.
 

10. “Following” (1998)

Run Time: 69 mins.

My Rating: 7/10

Too long to be a short film, at just over an hour, Nolan’s impressive debut was shot on a shoestring budget of $6,000 – unbelievable!

 

9. “Memento” (2000) 

Run Time: 113 mins.

My Rating: 7.5/10

Many re-watches are necessary to fully unravel this absurdly complicated debut thriller that is told primarily in reverse order.

8. “Insomnia” (2002) 

Run Time: 118 mins.

My Rating: 8/10

A powerhouse cast featuring: Al Pacino, the late Robin Williams, and Hilary Swank; they all blow it out of the park in this underrated thriller.

7. “Interstellar” (2014)

Run Time: 169 mins.

My Rating: 8/10

This is breathtaking science fiction, which is Nolan’s boldest film in my opinion, but at the same time, his most overrated project.

6. “Dunkirk” (2017)

Run Time: 106 mins.

My Rating: 8/10

With very limited dialogue and little to no characterization, Nolan still provides an incredible, unique, experience of a war film.

5. “The Dark Knight Rises” (2012)

Run Time: 164 mins.

My Rating: 8.5/10

The weak-link of Nolan’s signature “Dark Knight” trilogy is an epic conclusion that stomps just about any other film of the genre.

4. “The Prestige” (2006)

Run Time: 130 mins.

My Rating: 9/10

Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman are outstanding as highly competitive, 20th century magicians in this severely underrated gem.

3. “Batman Begins” (2005)

Run Time: 140 mins.

My Rating: 9.5/10

In my opinion, this character re-boot and near-perfect origin story, remains the best pure Batman film ever made.

2. “The Dark Knight” (2008)

Run Time: 152 mins.

My Rating: 10/10

There have already been over fifty superhero films made since the release of Nolan’s highest grossing movie, but in my opinion, this year’s “Logan” is the only one in the same league as this monumental project. “The Dark Knight” remains the best comic book film ever made and helped make the genre into the box office king that it is today.

1. “Inception” (2010)

Run Time: 148 mins.

My Rating: 10/10

Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece is easily one of my favorite movies ever and in my opinion, the best film of the 2010s to date by a wide margin. The mind blowing visuals can match any great science fiction film made before or since; but the fully original and intriguing story brings this movie to a whole different level.