Christopher Nolan is one of the greatest and most prominent filmmakers of contemporary history. He has produced some of the most iconic films in modern culture, and his ability to evoke deep emotion in his audience is his most outstanding legacy.

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With an illustrious career spanning over 30 years, Nolan has tried his hand at directing action blockbusters, sci-fi dramas, biopics and psychological thrillers. From the thriller Inception to the stratospheric interstellar epic, here are some of Christopher Nolan's best works.
10
Insomnia
(2002)
2002's Insomnia ostensibly begins as a murder mystery, with veteran detectives Dormer and Eckhart flying to a remote town in Alaska to solve a gruesome murder. But after witnesses witness Dormer's killer mistakenly kill Eckhart, Dormer is forced to work with the killer to cover up both of their respective crimes.
Al Pacino steals the show as Dormer, brilliantly portraying the character's guilt, poor outlook on life, and corrupt morals. The story takes you through the emotional ups and downs and the gradual descent into madness and despair for its main character, which reaches a satisfying conclusion at the end.
9
Batman begins
(2005)
Nolan returns to the Batman franchise with 2005's Batman Begins, the first Batman film since 1997's Batman and Robin. The film features a memorable performance by Cillian Murphy as the Scarecrow and cements Christian Bale's portrayal of Batman as one of the best and most authentic.
The film's story charts the rise of Batman and delves deeper into Bruce Wayne's fears and motivations and what drove him to don the Batman costume. He fights Scarecrow's noxious fear gas and Ra's al Ghul's plan to destroy Gotham City while finding his place as Gotham's ultimate hero.
8
The Dark Knight Rises
(2012)
The final installment of the Dark Knight trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises takes place eight years after the events of The Dark Knight. The story of the film follows Batman's fight against the forces of Bane and Talia Al Ghul, who are determined to pick up where Ra's Al Ghul left off and destroy Gotham.
Once again, the villains of this franchise attract attention and Tom Hardy's charming performance as Ben is one of the unforgettable ones. The story was written by Nolan and David Goyer, who was responsible for writing the 2013 film Man of Steel and helped write the three Call of Duty: Black Ops games. The film broke records as the highest-grossing Batman film and provided a solid and satisfying conclusion to the Batman narrative arc.
7
souvenir
(2000)
Memento is Nolan's second directorial masterpiece and it was a true masterpiece. As soon as the film begins, you are left with the impression that its protagonist, Leonard Shelby, is an unreliable narrator. Because Shelby suffers from short-term memory loss and jots down notes everywhere to get clues about her future, she may misunderstand people and events.

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The movie is told in a non-linear format and you are doing police work to piece together the chain of events. The acting of the actors was first class and the story never failed to keep the audience involved. The characters are well-written and complex, and those who seem believable at first quickly reveal that they are not who you think they are.
6
the dark knight
(2008)
The Dark Knight is one of the best superhero movies ever made, focusing on Batman's iconic and long-time nemesis, the Joker. The Joker is trying to discover Batman's identity, sending Batman and his allies on a wild goose chase with deadly traps and many rabbits.
Heath Ledger dominates the film with his performance as the Joker, portraying the unpredictability and chaotic madness of his character well. With one unforgettable scene after another, The Dark Knight sticks to the nature of the characters of Batman and Joker, and shows how easily one's morals can be corrupted under the right circumstances.
5
Oppenheimer
(2023)
The movie that dominated the internet for months along with Barbie Gerwig, Oppenheimer, is Nolan's last movie and one of his best movies. Its events are based on American Prometheus, the biography of the legendary physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer.
The story follows Oppenheimer's journey to build the first atomic bomb and his subsequent struggle with his guilt over losing his life in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. With engaging dialogues and deep character exploration, you will also enjoy the brilliant performances of its star cast. The film garnered Oscar nominations and accolades left and right, cementing it as one of the greats of cinema.
4
Prestige
(2006)
One of the best psychological thrillers out there, The Prestige is full of twists and turns. The story takes place in Victorian England and the story focuses on two magicians named Borden and Angier, whose rivalry begins after the death of Angier's wife. What follows is an obsession on both sides to outdo each other by any means necessary to the detriment of each of their personal lives.
The movie itself was a big magic show with subtle hints and clues for a surprising twist at the end. Overall, The Prestige did an incredible job of maintaining its unpredictability and keeping its audience not knowing what was going to happen next, let alone what the big reveal was going to be.
3
Dunkirk
(2017)
Nolan shows he's not afraid to tackle historical war epics, and Dunkirk underscores his masterful take on the genre. Set at the height of World War II, the film focuses on the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940, where civilian boats were used to help evacuate thousands of stranded Allied soldiers.

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The evacuation is told from the perspective of various characters, all trying to survive the German invasion and return home to England. The story is profoundly profound and moving, telling its story of survival and heroism without losing that sense of authenticity. Dunkirk is certainly up there with Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan as one of the best war movies ever made.
2
the beginning
(2010)
Nolan reached his creative peak in 2010 with the mind-bending Inception, dipping his toes into the sci-fi genre and achieving massive success. The film tells the story of Cobb, who has developed a technology that allows him to infiltrate the dreams of others. He was eventually hired to use his technology to convince billionaire heir Robert Fisher to shut down his father's company.
The film grapples with themes of greed, ambition, grief and guilt, with an ending that is entirely up to interpretation. Its story remains relevant and compelling, and its themes still resonate with audiences nearly two decades after its release. Plus, you get amazing performances from a talented cast of Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, and many more that make Inception one of the best and most watchable movies of all time.
1
interstellar
(2014)
Nolan's best and most iconic work, the 2014 sci-fi drama Interstellar is a master class in cinematic storytelling. The story follows a version of Earth plagued by crop failures and weather disturbances, which prompts a group of determined scientists and pilots to find another habitable planet. The main character, Cooper, is forced to abandon his two children while joining the expedition.
Matthew McConaughey and Jessica Chastain take center stage as Cooper and Murphy respectively, and the CGI and cinematographers are out of this world (no pun intended). Accompanied by a wonderful score by Hans Zimmer, the film really shines during its emotional and moving scenes and leaves you feeling sad at the end.

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