The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight holds the #1 slot here thanks to how strongly Christopher Nolan fans rate it against the rest of the filmography. Check MovieLinks for ratings, posters, and where to watch each film in this ranked set.
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This list ranks all twelve Christopher Nolan feature films from highest to lowest TMDB score. Nolan has built one of the most consistent filmographies in modern cinema — from the reverse-chronology puzzle of Memento to the IMAX-scale epics of Interstellar and Oppenheimer. Rotten Tomatoes scores are shown alongside for a fuller picture of critical reception.
Christopher Nolan Films Ranked
Interstellar
At #2, Interstellar is one of the most cited Christopher Nolan films when viewers rank the director's catalog. Compare scores and streaming options on MovieLinks before you queue the next title.
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Inception
At #3, Inception is one of the most cited Christopher Nolan films when viewers rank the director's catalog. Check MovieLinks for ratings, posters, and where to watch each film in this ranked set.
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Memento
Memento holds the #4 slot here thanks to how strongly Christopher Nolan fans rate it against the rest of the filmography. Check MovieLinks for ratings, posters, and where to watch each film in this ranked set.
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The Prestige
The Prestige holds the #5 slot here thanks to how strongly Christopher Nolan fans rate it against the rest of the filmography. Compare scores and streaming options on MovieLinks before you queue the next title.
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Oppenheimer
Oppenheimer holds the #6 slot here thanks to how strongly Christopher Nolan fans rate it against the rest of the filmography. Check MovieLinks for ratings, posters, and where to watch each film in this ranked set.
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The Dark Knight Rises
The Dark Knight Rises ranks #7 in this Christopher Nolan filmography guide — a signature entry for fans working through the director's work. Compare scores and streaming options on MovieLinks before you queue the next title.
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Batman Begins
Batman Begins holds the #8 slot here thanks to how strongly Christopher Nolan fans rate it against the rest of the filmography. Compare scores and streaming options on MovieLinks before you queue the next title.
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Dunkirk
Dunkirk holds the #9 slot here thanks to how strongly Christopher Nolan fans rate it against the rest of the filmography. Compare scores and streaming options on MovieLinks before you queue the next title.
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Tenet
Tenet holds the #10 slot here thanks to how strongly Christopher Nolan fans rate it against the rest of the filmography. Compare scores and streaming options on MovieLinks before you queue the next title.
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Following
Following holds the #11 slot here thanks to how strongly Christopher Nolan fans rate it against the rest of the filmography. Compare scores and streaming options on MovieLinks before you queue the next title.
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Insomnia
Insomnia holds the #12 slot here thanks to how strongly Christopher Nolan fans rate it against the rest of the filmography. Compare scores and streaming options on MovieLinks before you queue the next title.
OpenFAQ
How are these Christopher Nolan movies ranked?
This list ranks all twelve Nolan-directed feature films by TMDB user score from highest to lowest. Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer scores are shown on each card for additional context. Rankings reflect audience ratings and can shift over time.
What is Christopher Nolan's best movie?
By TMDB score, The Dark Knight and Interstellar tie at the top. Critics and audiences often debate between those two, Inception, and Oppenheimer. Memento and Dunkirk are frequently cited as his most rewatchable films outside the blockbusters.
Which Nolan movie should I watch first?
Memento is the best entry point for Nolan's puzzle-box style. For blockbuster scale, start with Inception or The Dark Knight. Oppenheimer works as a standalone biographical epic with no prior knowledge required.
Are Nolan's films connected?
No. Each film is a standalone story except the Dark Knight trilogy, which should be watched in order: Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises.
Does this list include films Nolan only wrote or produced?
No. This ranking covers only the twelve feature films Christopher Nolan directed. It does not include Man of Steel, which he co-wrote and produced, or his short films.
