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Christopher Nolan has built one of the most impressive filmographies in modern cinema. Since his 1998 debut, he has evolved from an independent filmmaker into one of Hollywood’s most recognizable directors, known for his ambitious storytelling and large-scale blockbusters. His films have grossed billions, completely redefined the superhero genre, and finally earned him his long-deserved Best Director Oscar.But how do his films stack up when standing side-by-side? From the mind-bending mazes of “Inception” to the atomic dread of “Oppenheimer,” I’ve taken on the impossible task of ranking his entire filmography.Just a quick heads-up: With his highly anticipated mythological epic “The Odyssey” releasing in theaters this Friday, I will be heading to the biggest IMAX screen I can find this weekend. Expect this list to be updated almost immediately afterward. For now, let’s rank all 12 movies.12. ‘Following’ (1998)
Following - Original Trailer - YouTube
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I know it might be surprising to see Nolan’s first feature-length film at the bottom of this list, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a great movie. When a director has a filmography this strong, something has to take last place. “Following” is an impressive movie because it was shot for roughly $6,000, which Nolan funded himself out of his own pocket. Plus, in a bizarre twist of fate, there is a scene where a character walks up to an apartment door with a "Batman" sticker.“Following” centers around a struggling young writer (Jeremy Theobald) in London who begins following strangers through the city to gather inspiration for his work. His habit leads him to Cobb (Alex Haw), a mysterious man who reveals himself to be a skilled burglar and invites the writer into his world of break-ins and stolen identities. As the pair explores the homes of unsuspecting victims, the writer becomes drawn into a complicated situation involving a woman with a troubled past.Watch on Philo11. ‘Tenet’ (2020)“Tenet” is perhaps the most “Christopher Nolan” film he’s ever made. This mind-bending blockbuster takes the classic James Bond-style espionage thriller and injects it with a heavy dose of theoretical physics. Unlike typical time travel films, where characters jump back and forth in time via a portal or machine, “Tenet” introduces time inversion, meaning people move backward through time in real-time while the rest of the world moves forward. As the movie states: “Don't try to understand it. Feel it.”Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.CIA operative known only as the Protagonist (John David Washington) is recruited by a mysterious organization called Tenet after a dangerous mission goes wrong. Tasked with preventing a global catastrophe, he teams up with Neil (Robert Pattinson), a skilled operative, to track down Russian oligarch Andrei Sator, whose plans could threaten the world. Their investigation takes them across multiple countries as they uncover a secret technology that changes how events unfold.Buy/rent on Amazon10. ‘The Prestige’ (2006)
