Nolan's second Batman film established a new bar for superhero films, summer blockbusters, and contemporary filmmaking.

Considered a study in dramatic escalation, "The Dark Knight" is a complex crime thriller that raises issues about the extent to which decent people would go to get justice. By eschewing campy fantasy in favor of the gripping intimacy associated with directors like Michael Mann, "The Dark Knight" established a new standard for dark and gritty superhero films long before it became a cliché.

Few film characters have had such an instant impact on mainstream culture, like Joker by Heath Ledger, who rates among the greatest film baddies of all time. Ledger's perverted ingenuity is both frightening and frighteningly intriguing; he is so overbearing onscreen that you cannot seem to help but empathize with the film's overwhelmed hero. Bale offers another heartfelt, heartbreaking performance, while Aaron Eckhart's transition into Harvey Dent heightens the misery in a narrative about the fuzziness of virtue and evil.

Year of Release: 2008

Stars: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger

IMDB: 9.0

Nolan is lighting it up with "Inception", generating a fresh summer blockbuster that is not based on previous material. The rich narrative behind the film's dream heists is intricate, yet Nolan conveys material and concepts gradually via exhilarating, approachable action capers. The set pieces are among his greatest sequences, particularly the now-famous zero-gravity battle scene.

Nolan also shows in "Inception" that he could make an emotional narrative about families without devolving into melodrama. Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) only wants to reconcile with his children and protect them from his horrific secrets; without Cobb's strong reason, none of the visual extravaganzas would matter. DiCaprio does an excellent job of eliciting the viewer's sympathies, and Nolan surrounds him with a strong and memorable cast, most notably Tom Hardy (who portrayed) the time-traveling forger Eames.

Additionally, the epic duration does not sap your interest due to Nolan's precise pacing. "Inception" is among the shortest 150-minute films you'll ever witness, and the film's rousing concluding minutes are among Nolan's most beautiful and haunting, thanks in part to the unforgettable soundtrack by regular collaborator Hans Zimmer. "Inception" is a daring, magnificent epic that ranks among the most innovative films of the twenty-first century.

Year of Release: 2010

Stars: Leonardo Di Caprio, Joseph Levitt

IMDB: 8.8

Nolan often cites Steven Spielberg and Stanley Kubrick as significant influences. Appropriately, Nolan combines Kubrickian nihilism with Spielbergian relationship drama in "Interstellar". "Interstellar" does both with a frightening portrayal of time loops (a common motif in Nolan's films) created through the personal narrative of a dad (Matthew McConaughey) attempting to keep promises to his daughter.

Nolan spent years studying the theory behind dark matter, wormholes, and the potential of going outside our solar system. The incorporation of plausible-sounding science heightens the drama behind McConaughey's quest to return home. The physics in "Interstellar" does not overshadow the spectacle, as Nolan imbues each planet with its personality. Each provides a unique challenge; a notable scene in which McConaughey must unload his spacecraft after it is damaged by the infamous Dr. Mann (played by Matt Damon) is utterly fascinating.

On the other side, Nolan's speech is frequently impenetrable, and the picture periodically devolves into melodrama. While the idea that passion surpasses rationality and reality is a satisfying finale to the space drama, the surprise is handled awkwardly through voiceover. A more effective strategy would have been symbolic.

Year of Release: 2014

Stars: Matthey McConaughey, Anne Hathaway

IMDB: 8.6

"The Prestige," Nolan's earliest historical picture, investigates the essence of creativity and the enthusiasm that surrounds modern technology via the rivalry of 2 magicians, Robert Angier (by Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (by Christian Bale). Their duel of wits gives the nineteenth century a delightfully current vibe. Of course, the true magician here is Nolan, who employs narrative deception and a deft framing technique — the picture begins with Michael Caine describing how magicians do their tricks — to convey information and skirt certain plot holes.

"The Prestige" has aspects of science fiction, but they are presented gradually, and David Bowie's appearance as Nikola Tesla is among the greatest cameos in modern years.

However, when Nolan purposely withholds facts to protect his major surprises, the cross-cutting between timeframes and conflicting views becomes tiresome. Bale and Jackman maintain the story's intrigue, but the complicated narrative twists make it difficult to engage entirely in either character. While richly built, "The Prestige” lacks Nolan's finest work's emotional core.

Year of Release: 2006

Stars: Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman

IMDB: 8.5

Given the proliferation of superhero movies that have been released since the film's premiere, "The Dark Knight Rises" has aged exceptionally well, owing to its rarity as a comic book film that examines repercussions. There is a feeling of closure that comes with ending Nolan's Batman series, and the grandeur of "The Dark Knight Rises" sets it distinct from "Batman Begins” intimate character study and "The Dark Knight's epic criminal narrative. Bane (by Tom Hardy)’s attack on Gotham is enormous, yet it adheres to the realism established by Nolan in the two previous films.

Between both the murder of Harvey Dent (by Aaron Eckhart) and the events of "The Dark Knight Rises," Bruce Wayne (played by Christian Bale) is damaged, and it's fascinating to watch the millionaire return to rescue a city that publicly rejected him. It's the most emotionally charged film in the trilogy, especially the devastating exchanges between Bruce Wayne and Alfred (by Michael Caine), who pleads with his old friend to abandon his cause. Nolan does not fail to have fun, as seen by the interplay between Batman and Catwoman Selina Kyle ( by Anne Hathaway).

Nevertheless, "The Dark Knight Rises" logic is not always at its best. Bane's plot to take over Gotham City is complicated, and the uncomfortable final revelation of Talia al Ghul (by Marion Cotillard) drags on, particularly considering the film's over three-hour running length. And yet Nolan ends on a high note, handing over the Batman legacy to John Blake (by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) in a stunning closing scene that sends the Hans Zimmer music into high gear.

Year of Release: 2012

Stars: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway

IMDB: 8.4

While "Following" marks Nolan's directorial debut, " Memento" establishes his aesthetic to a wider audience. Nolan is interested in perplexing his audience with "Memento," but it is not a riddle that values sophistication above human empathy. "Memento" captivates audiences with its deft structure, but the tale itself engages them, making the film's eventual discoveries all the more compelling. Leonard Shelby, played by Guy Pearce, is a guy who is incapable of forming new memories and develops into one of Nolan's finest characters.

While "Memento" makes use of the "late wife" cliché that Nolan is sometimes accused of exploiting, Shelby's quest for the perpetrator of his spouse's death is irritating due to his inability to put together the evidence. He's perplexed, unsure as to where he is and what his brief ambitions are, and Pearce brilliantly conveys his anguish.

Nolan was working on a smaller budget than he would use on subsequent projects, but he is exceedingly frugal, making the most of restricted space. Additionally, Nolan's visual palette is enriched by the startling black-and-white flashbacks.

For "Memento," Nolan received his first Academy Award for outstanding original screenplay, and the film's startling surprise finale serves as a satisfying finish to a difficult plot. Although some of Nolan's works need many viewings to fully appreciate, "Memento" begs more than it compels.

Year of Release: 2000

Stars: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss

IMDB: 8.4

It isn't easy to overstate the extent to which Christopher Nolan altered mainstream perceptions of superhero genres.

While the "Spider Man" and "X-Men" brands remained viable, Batman had been a hilarious joke ever since the disgrace of "Batman and Robin," and subsequent flops like "Daredevil" and “Hulk" and "failed to captivate fans' imaginations. Then we had "Batman Begins," which demonstrated that comic book pictures could be realistic, compelling tales about people rather than overblown world-building.

This origin tale introduces the tragic circumstances that motivate Bruce Wayne to act, explains his dread of bats and how it manifested as his heroic persona, and demonstrated how the training days with The League of Shadows technically prepared him for his duty while also motivating his theatricality. Setting the League of Shadows as the film's opponent fills the gap between Batman's earlier past and his first mission, demonstrating Wayne's development as he battles his former master, Ra's al Ghul (Liam Neeson).

Despite its severity, "Batman Begins" is a sincere picture that devotes time to discussions on accountability. It's a rarity for a Nolan picture to be devoid of spectacle, and the foggy last act is significantly less engaging than the more personal dialogue-driven parts. Nolan would improve as an action director when shooting "The Dark Knight," a movie he was certainly considering while directing "Batman Begins"; the last scene, which hints at the Joker, is an absolute cliffhanger.

Year of Release: 2005

Stars: Christian Bale, Michael Caine

IMDB: 8.2

Nolan reinterpreted the World War II classic in "Dunkirk" by depicting a historical event as a real-time suspense narrative. A week-long evacuation from French coastlines, a day-long operation to rescue survivors of a naval war, and an hour-long air duel are shown concurrently, portraying the struggle as an intensified survival drama.

Each of the three narratives is engrossing, replete with profoundly human situations and heroic individuals. A young, naive trooper (Fionn Whitehead), a simple working-class guy (Mark Rylance) fulfilling his civic duty, and a tired, exhausted warrior (Tom Hardy) each give a unique viewpoint on the battle zone. Notwithstanding the cross-cutting, the audience never loses sight of anyone's tale.

While "Dunkirk" lacks language, Nolan's opinions on war are evident in the film's concluding minutes, when the troops observe that surviving is a success in and of itself. Unlike many war movies, "Dunkirk" does not depend on a pivotal inspiring moment or unassailable hero. Rather than that, it is a compilation of heroic acts by a whole community. "Dunkirk" is a deliberate reinvention of a well-known genre and remains one of the best war pictures ever created.

Year of Release: 2017

Stars: Fionn Whitehead, Barry Keoghan

IMDB: 7.8

"Tenet" requires patience to comprehend, and not simply because of the film's primary idea, "time inversion." The tone may be off-putting; that's the closest Nolan has ever been to a James Bond film, but he forgoes 007's charming romanticism in favor of a universe of solemn professionals who relate only via their mutual interest in work. While it may seem that Nolan is isolating his characters from feeling, sophisticated portrayals by Robert Pattison, John David Washington, and Elizabeth Debicki reveal that they are alienated by their failures to lead regular lives. At the same time, the destiny of the world is at risk.

While only ardent Nolan devotees can keep up with the film's rapid-fire expositional speech, the objectives of every set piece are always clear. Nolan produces some of his most remarkable action scenes to date in "Tenet," with meticulously staged moments such as the Oslo Fremont robbery and the introductory opera escape compounded by the confluence of present and future timelines.

"Tenet" inundated the audience with details to the degree that it might be easy to overlook critical elements; the horrific environmental incident that drives villain Andrei Sator (by Kenneth Branagh) receives less attention in comparison to the tedious effort spent to understand time inversion. The unrelenting tempo ensures that there is never a moment of boredom, but the amount of critical attention required for each scene may be draining.

Year of Release: 2020

Stars: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson

IMDB: 7.4

While "Insomnia" seems to be the only picture in Nolan's lifetime that he did not write, the neo-noir criminal thriller has his trademark twisting narrative. Based on a 1997 Norwegian film, this investigative mystery follows an aged investigator (Al Pacino) as he confronts the consequences of his professional decisions. It was one of Pacino's final amazing performances, plus Nolan does an excellent job dissecting the character by raising the issue of whether acting from outside law is ever justifiable.

Pacino's role, Will Dormer, asserts that he violates the process only when his beliefs are beyond question. Nolan effectively underscores Dormer's fears with a parallel Internal Affairs inquiry to the primary whodunnit. While "Insomnia" is less complex than Nolan's subsequent films, it is frightening. Dormer is an outsider in a tiny Alaskan hamlet that has been devastated by the death of a young girl, and the Fbi investigator is anguished by the environment's coldness and local individuals' unwillingness to give information to an outsider. A sense of impending uneasiness rises when the adversary Walter Finch (by Robin Williams) is revealed, a monster who unsettles Dormer with his frank confessions of guilt.

Though the issues of accountability and remorse confronting a career law enforcement officer are not new to "Insomnia," Nolan addresses them in a fascinating, original manner. Given how neatly the tale concludes, it is not a very rewatchable picture, but it is an intriguing anomaly in Nolan's oeuvre. Its poor placement reflects more on the strength of Nolan's filmography than on "Insomnia."

Year of Release: 2002

Stars: Al Pacino, Robin Williams

IMDB: 7.2