Christopher Nolan's films: where to start
From Memento to The Odyssey: which Nolan film works as a first one, which need more patience and in which order to watch the Batman films. Spoiler-free.
Christopher Nolan is one of the few directors whose name alone gets people into cinemas. His films are big, often long, happily nested, and almost always shot with real sets and little computer trickery. If you are new to him, the question is: where to begin? Here is a path through his work, without a ranking and without spoilers.
The easy way in
The Dark Knight
2008, 152 minutes. Batman against the Joker, played by Heath Ledger, who won the Oscar for the role after his death. A superhero film that feels more like a big-city thriller. You do not need to have seen Batman Begins first, but it helps a little.
Inception
2010, 148 minutes. Thieves who break into dreams. The film explains its rules carefully and then rewards you with a finale on several levels at once. If you only want to watch one Nolan film, this is a good choice.
For a long evening
Interstellar
2014, 169 minutes. Earth is slowly dying, and a former pilot, played by Matthew McConaughey, is sent through a wormhole to find a new home. Physicist Kip Thorne worked on the science in the film. At its heart, though, Interstellar is a film about a father and his daughter, which is why it works for people who do not care much for science fiction.
Oppenheimer
2023, 181 minutes. The life of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who led the development of the atomic bomb. Cillian Murphy plays him, and the film won seven Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. Lots of dialogue, little action, but gripping throughout.
For puzzle lovers
The Prestige
2006, 130 minutes. Two magicians and their rivalry. Perhaps the Nolan film that is most fun to watch a second time.
Memento
2000, 113 minutes. The film that made Nolan's name: told backwards, with a hero who has no short-term memory. Small budget, big idea.
Tenet
2020, 150 minutes. An agent, objects that move backwards through time, and action scenes running in two directions at once. The hardest film on this list; even fans often need two attempts. Not a good place to start.
History with few words
Dunkirk
2017, 107 minutes. The evacuation of British soldiers from Dunkirk in 1940, told on three timelines: a week on the beach, a day at sea, an hour in the air. Hardly any dialogue, tension almost throughout. Ideal on a big screen with good sound.
The Batman order
Nolan's Batman trilogy is best watched in release order: (2005), (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012). Each film stands on its own, and together they tell a complete story.
And the newest?
Couchmood suggests films and series that fit your taste and shows where they stream right now. No account, set up in a minute.
