View source for Christopher Nolan

{{Short description|British and American filmmaker (born 1970)}}{{pp-protected|small=yes}}
<!--See talk page before changing nationality-->
{{Redirect|Chris Nolan|other people named Christopher or Chris Nolan|Christopher Nolan (disambiguation)}}
{{Featured article}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = [[Sir]]
| name             = Christopher Nolan
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}}
| image            = ChrisNolanBFI150224 (10 of 12) (53532289710) (cropped2).jpg
| caption          = Nolan in 2024
| alt              = 
| birth_name       = Christopher Edward Nolan
| birth_date       = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1970|7|30}}
| birth_place      = London, England<!--Per [[WP:OVERLINK]] "The names of subjects with which most readers will be at least somewhat familiar", including locations with London as an example, do not typically need to be linked)-->
| citizenship      = {{hlist|United Kingdom|United States}}
| alma_mater       = [[University College London]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| occupation       = {{hlist|Film director|producer|screenwriter}}
| years_active     = 1993–present
| works            = {{hlist|[[Christopher Nolan filmography|Filmography]]|[[Cinematic style of Christopher Nolan|cinematic style]]}}
| organisation     = [[Syncopy Inc.]]
| spouse           = {{marriage|[[Emma Thomas]]|1997}}
| children         = 4
| relatives        = {{Plainlist|
* [[Jonathan Nolan]] (brother)
* [[John Nolan (British actor)|John Nolan]] (uncle)
}}
| awards           = [[List of awards and nominations received by Christopher Nolan|Full list]]
}}

'''Sir Christopher Edward Nolan''' (born 30 July 1970) is a British and American<!--See talk page before changing nationality--> filmmaker. Known for his [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] [[Blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbusters]] with complex storytelling, he is considered a leading filmmaker of the 21st century. [[Christopher Nolan filmography|Nolan's films]] have earned over $6.6&nbsp;billion worldwide, making him the [[List of highest-grossing film directors|seventh-highest-grossing film director]]. [[List of awards and nominations received by Christopher Nolan|His accolades]] include two [[Academy Awards]], a [[Golden Globe Award]] and two [[British Academy Film Awards]]. Nolan was appointed a [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] in 2019, and received a [[Knight Bachelor|knighthood]] in 2024 for his contributions to film.

Nolan developed an interest in filmmaking from a young age. After studying [[English literature]] at [[University College London]], he made several short films before his feature film debut with ''[[Following]]'' (1998). Nolan gained international recognition with his second film, ''[[Memento (film)|Memento]]'' (2000), and transitioned into studio filmmaking with ''[[Insomnia (2002 film)|Insomnia]]'' (2002). He became a high-profile director with [[Batman in film#The Dark Knight trilogy|''The Dark Knight'' trilogy]] (2005–2012), and found further success with ''[[The Prestige (film)|The Prestige]]'' (2006), ''[[Inception]]'' (2010), ''[[Interstellar (film)|Interstellar]]'' (2014), and ''[[Dunkirk (2017 film)|Dunkirk]]'' (2017). After the release of ''[[Tenet (film)|Tenet]]'' (2020), Nolan parted ways with longtime distributor [[Warner Bros. Pictures]], and signed with [[Universal Pictures]] for the biographical thriller ''[[Oppenheimer (film)|Oppenheimer]]'' (2023), which won him Academy Awards for [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]] and [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]].

[[Cinematic style of Christopher Nolan|Nolan's work]] regularly features in the listings of best films of their respective decades. Infused with a [[metaphysical]] outlook, his films thematise [[epistemology]], [[existentialism]], ethics, the construction of time, and the malleable nature of memory and personal identity. They feature [[Mathematics and art|mathematically inspired]] images and concepts, unconventional [[Nonlinear narrative|narrative structures]], [[practical special effects]], experimental soundscapes, [[70 mm film|large-format]] film photography, and [[Materialism|materialistic]] perspectives. He has co-written several of his films with his brother, [[Jonathan Nolan|Jonathan]], and runs the production company [[Syncopy Inc.]] with his wife, [[Emma Thomas]].
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== Early life ==
Christopher Edward Nolan was born on 30 July 1970 in [[Westminster]], London.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Heidmann |first1=Patrick |title=Christopher Nolan: "I did not intend any message" |url=https://the-talks.com/interview/christopher-nolan/ |website=The Talks |access-date=17 March 2025 |date=26 July 2023}}</ref> His father, Brendan James Nolan, was a British advertising executive of Irish descent<ref>{{cite web|title=Christopher Nolan, although a native of London, proudly traces his lineage back to Irish roots' |url=https://www.irishhistory.com/genealogy/irish-surnames/nolan-family-name-history/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312001606/https://www.irishhistory.com/genealogy/irish-surnames/nolan-family-name-history/ |archivedate=12 March 2024 }}</ref> who worked as a [[creative director]]. His mother, Christina Jensen, was an American flight attendant from [[Evanston, Illinois]]; she would later work as a teacher of English. He has an elder brother, Matthew, and a younger brother, [[Jonathan Nolan|Jonathan]], also a filmmaker. The three brothers were raised [[Catholic]] in [[Highgate]] and would spend their summers in Evanston.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grimes |first=Christopher |date=21 July 2023 |title=Director Christopher Nolan: 'Oppenheimer is absolutely a cautionary tale' |url=https://www.ft.com/content/e47df8a6-21fa-4d8c-9817-351f1a438aef |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230918224920/https://www.ft.com/content/e47df8a6-21fa-4d8c-9817-351f1a438aef |archive-date=18 September 2023 |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=[[Financial Times]] |issn=0307-1766}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqGrR2Upz0M |title=Writers Bloc Presents: Christopher Nolan, Tom Shone and Kenneth Branagh |date=2 December 2020 |publisher=Writers Bloc Presents |time=56:02 |access-date=10 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209153617/https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=PqGrR2Upz0M |archive-date=9 February 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> Nolan also spent time living in Chicago during his youth, and he holds both UK and US citizenship.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gomez |first1=Luis |title=Batman's Chicago connection |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2014/07/22/batmans-chicago-connection/ |work=Chicago Tribune |date=22 July 2014}}</ref>{{sfn|Nathan|2022|pp=12–13}}

[[File:Flaxman Gallery, UCL.JPG|thumb|alt=An image showing the top of the oculus in the Flaxman Gallery, University College London|Nolan attended [[University College London]] and used its Flaxman Gallery for a scene in ''[[Inception]]'' (2010).<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 July 2010 |title=Nolan's Mind Games |publisher=[[Film London]] |url=http://filmlondon.org.uk/news/2010/july/nolans_mind_games |url-status=dead |access-date=11 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122213601/http://filmlondon.org.uk/news/2010/july/nolans_mind_games |archive-date=22 November 2010}}</ref>]]
Growing up, Nolan was particularly influenced by the work of Sir [[Ridley Scott]] and the science fiction films ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey]]'' (1968) and ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' (1977).{{sfn|Mooney|2018|p=4}}{{sfn|Nathan|2022|pp=116, 159}} He would repeatedly watch the latter film and extensively research its making.{{sfn|Nathan|2022|p=159}} Nolan began making films at the age of seven, borrowing his father's [[Super 8 film|Super{{nbsp}}8 camera]] and shooting short films with his action figures.{{sfn|Nathan|2022|pp=11, 16}} These films included a [[stop motion animation]] homage to ''Star Wars'' called ''Space Wars''. He cast his brother Jonathan and built sets from "clay, flour, egg boxes and toilet rolls".{{sfn|Mooney|2018|p=4}} His uncle, who had worked at [[NASA]] building guidance systems for the [[Apollo program|Apollo]] rockets, sent him some launch footage: "I re-filmed them off the screen and cut them in, thinking no-one would notice", Nolan later remarked.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Purcell |first1=Andrew |title=Christopher Nolan's Interstellar brings back the Spielberg-style family blockbuster |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/christopher-nolans-interstellar-brings-back-the-spielbergstyle-family-blockbuster-20141104-11gjqp.html |access-date=9 December 2022 |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=4 November 2014 |archive-date=9 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209185721/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/christopher-nolans-interstellar-brings-back-the-spielbergstyle-family-blockbuster-20141104-11gjqp.html |url-status=live }}</ref> From the age of 11, he aspired to be a professional filmmaker.<ref name="telegraph">{{Cite news |last=Lawrence|first=Will |date=19 July 2012 |title=Christopher Nolan interview for ''Inception'' |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmmakersonfilm/7894376/Christopher-Nolan-interview-for-Inception.html |url-status=live |access-date=3 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131117141943/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmmakersonfilm/7894376/Christopher-Nolan-interview-for-Inception.html |archive-date=17 November 2013|url-access=subscription}} {{subscription required}}</ref> Between 1981 and 1983, Nolan enrolled at Barrow Hills, a Catholic prep school in [[Witley]], Surrey.{{sfn|Shone|2020|p=26}} In his teenage years, Nolan started making films with Adrien and [[Roko Belic]]. Nolan and Roko co-directed the [[surrealism|surreal]] 8{{nbsp}}mm ''Tarantella'' (1989), which was shown on ''Image Union'', an independent film and video showcase on the [[Public Broadcasting Service]].{{efn|Nolan has continued his collaboration with the Belic brothers, receiving a credit for his editorial assistance on their Oscar-nominated documentary ''[[Genghis Blues]]'' (1999).{{sfn|Mooney|2018|p=156}}}}{{sfn|Mooney|2018|p=5}}{{sfn|Shone|2020|p=48}} After a fan posted a copy of ''Tarantella'' online, in 2021, Nolan's production company filed a copyright infringement claim, to have the film removed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuo |first=Christopher |date=7 March 2024 |title=The Film Christopher Nolan Doesn't Want You to Watch |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/07/movies/christopher-nolan-larceny.html |access-date=7 March 2024 |website=New York Times |archive-date=7 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307192552/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/07/movies/christopher-nolan-larceny.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Nolan was educated at [[Haileybury and Imperial Service College]], an independent school in [[Hertford Heath]], [[Hertfordshire]], and later studied [[English literature]] at [[University College London]] (UCL). Opting out of a traditional film education, he pursued "a degree in something unrelated", which his father suggested "gives a different take on things".{{sfn|Mooney|2018|p=6}} He chose UCL specifically for its filmmaking facilities, which comprised a [[Steenbeck|Steenbeck editing suite]] and [[16 mm film#Cameras|16{{nbsp}}mm film cameras]].<ref name="Tempest">{{cite news|last=Tempest|first= Matthew |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2011/feb/24/inception-christopher-nolan-film-oscar-director |title=I was there at the ''Inception'' of Christopher Nolan's film career|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005100119/http://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2011/feb/24/inception-christopher-nolan-film-oscar-director |archive-date=5 October 2013|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=24 February 2011|access-date=21 September 2011}}</ref> Nolan was president of the Union's Film Society,<ref name="Tempest" /> and with [[Emma Thomas]] (his girlfriend and future wife) he screened [[feature film]]s in [[35 mm movie film|35mm]] during the school year and used the money earned to produce 16{{nbsp}}mm films over the summers.<ref name="British Cinematographer pt2">{{Cite web |year=2010 |title=Wally Pfister ASC on Christopher Nolan's ''Inception'' |url=http://www.thecinematographer.info/articles/18-wally-pfister.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120411005825/http://www.thecinematographer.info/articles/18-wally-pfister.html |archive-date=11 April 2012 |access-date=12 February 2013 |publisher=[[American Society of Cinematographers]]}}</ref>

== Career ==
=== 1993–2003: Early career and breakthrough ===
After earning his bachelor's degree in English literature in 1993, Nolan worked as a [[Script analyst|script reader]], [[camera operator]] and director of [[corporate film]]s and [[industrial films]].<ref name="Tempest" /><ref name="Feinberg">{{Cite magazine |last=Feinberg, Scott |date=3 January 2015 |title=Christopher Nolan on ''Interstellar'' Critics, Making Original Films and Shunning Cell Phones and Email (Q&A) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/christopher-nolan-interstellar-critics-making-760897 |url-status=live |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117111636/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/christopher-nolan-interstellar-critics-making-760897 |archive-date=17 January 2018 |access-date=1 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=''Fearville'' (1997) |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b81581f07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107104214/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b81581f07 |archive-date=7 November 2017 |access-date=1 February 2017 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]]}}</ref> He directed, wrote and edited the short film ''[[Larceny (short film)|Larceny]]'' (1996),{{sfn|Nathan|2022|p=34}} which was filmed over a weekend in black and white with limited equipment and a small cast and crew.{{sfn|Mooney|2018|p=5}}<ref>{{Cite news |title=Christopher Nolan: The Movies. The Memories |url=https://www.empireonline.com/interviews/interview.asp?IID=1052 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924064331/http://www.empireonline.com/interviews/interview.asp?IID=1052 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |access-date=12 February 2013 |work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|issue=253}}</ref> Funded by Nolan and shot with the [[UCL Union]] Film society's equipment, it appeared at the [[Cambridge Film Festival]] in 1996 and is considered one of UCL's best shorts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UCLU Film Society, London |url=http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~uczxflm/productions/archive/9495 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120810232748/http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~uczxflm/productions/archive/9495/ |archive-date=10 August 2012 |access-date=12 February 2013 |publisher=[[University College London]]}}</ref> For unknown reasons, the film has since been removed from public view.{{sfn|Nathan|2022|p=34}} Nolan filmed a third short, ''[[Doodlebug (film)|Doodlebug]]'' (1997), about a man seemingly chasing an insect with his shoe, only to discover that it is a miniature of himself.{{sfn|Mooney|2018|p=6}}<ref name="independent">{{Cite news |last=Hooton |first=Christopher |date=10 April 2017 |title=Christopher Nolan's student short film ''Doodlebug'' shows the ''Dunkirk'' director's humble beginnings |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/christopher-nolan-director-dunkirk-short-first-film-doodlebug-student-ucl-london-a7675861.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722194629/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/christopher-nolan-director-dunkirk-short-first-film-doodlebug-student-ucl-london-a7675861.html |archive-date=22 July 2019 |access-date=22 July 2019 |work=[[The Independent]]|url-access=registration}}</ref>

Nolan and Thomas first attempted to make a feature in the mid-1990s titled ''Larry Mahoney'', which they scrapped.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Whitington |first1=Paul |title=How Christopher Nolan has held true to his sweeping vision with ''Tenet'' |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/how-christopher-nolan-has-held-true-to-his-sweeping-vision-with-tenet-39466428.html |access-date=10 December 2022 |work=[[Irish Independent]] |date=22 August 2020 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=10 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210113740/https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/how-christopher-nolan-has-held-true-to-his-sweeping-vision-with-tenet-39466428.html |url-status=live }}{{subscription required}}</ref> During this period in his career, Nolan had little to no success getting his projects off the ground, facing several rejections; he added, "[T]here's a very limited pool of finance in the UK. To be honest, it's a very clubby kind of place&nbsp;... Never had any support whatsoever from the British film industry."<ref name="AndrewPulver05">{{Cite news |last=Pulver |first=Andrew |date=15 June 2005 |title=He's not a god – he's human |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2005/jun/15/features.features11 |url-status=live |access-date=23 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224110327/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2005/jun/15/features.features11 |archive-date=24 December 2013}}</ref>

Shortly after abandoning ''Larry Mahoney'', Nolan conceived the idea for his first feature, ''[[Following]]'' (1998), which he wrote, directed, photographed and edited. The film depicts an unemployed young writer ([[Jeremy Theobald]]) who trails strangers through London, hoping they will provide material for his first novel, but is drawn into a criminal underworld when he fails to keep his distance. It was inspired by Nolan's experience of living in London and having his apartment burgled; he observed that the common attribute between larceny and pursuing someone through a crowd was that they both cross social boundaries.{{sfn|Nathan|2022|pp=20–21}} Co-produced by Nolan with Thomas and Theobald,{{sfn|Shone|2020|p=441}} it was made on a budget of around £3,000. Most of the cast and crew were friends of Nolan, and shooting took place on weekends over the course of a year.{{sfn|Nathan|2022|pp=24; 42}} To conserve [[film stock]], each scene was rehearsed extensively to ensure that the first or second take could be used in the final edit.{{sfn|Mooney|2018|p=6}}<ref name="Tobias">{{cite news|author=Tobias, Scott|url=https://www.avclub.com/christopher-nolan-1798208223|title= Interview: Christopher Nolan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018024630/http://www.avclub.com/articles/christopher-nolan,13769/ |archive-date=18 October 2013 |work=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=5 June 2002|access-date=10 December 2022}}</ref> ''Following'' won several awards during its festival run and was well-received by critics who labelled Nolan a majorly talented debutant.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tiger Awards Competition: previous winners |url=http://www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com/en/about/awards-and-jury/tiger-awards/previous-winners |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121013119/http://www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com/en/about/awards-and-jury/tiger-awards/previous-winners/ |archive-date=21 January 2013 |access-date=12 February 2013 |publisher=[[International Film Festival Rotterdam]]}}</ref>{{sfn|Nathan|2022|pp=30–31}} [[Scott Timberg]] of ''[[New Times LA]]'' wrote that it "echoed [[Hitchcock]] classics", but was "leaner and meaner".<ref name="Timberg">{{Cite news |last=Timberg |first=Scott |author-link=Scott Timberg|date=15 March 2001 |title=Indie Angst |url=http://cinefiles.bampfa.berkeley.edu/cinefiles/DocDetail?docId=49987 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815135228/https://cinefiles.bampfa.berkeley.edu/cinefiles/DocDetail?docId=49987 |archive-date=15 August 2017 |access-date=4 June 2013 |work=[[New Times LA]]|via=[[CineFiles]]}}</ref> [[Janet Maslin]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' was impressed with its "spare look" and "agile hand-held camerawork", saying, "As a result, the actors convincingly carry off the before, during and after modes that the film eventually, and artfully, weaves together."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Maslin |first=Janet |author-link=Janet Maslin |title=Film Festival Review: Walking Along a Crooked Path |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C0CE1D71439F931A35757C0A96F958260 |url-status=dead |access-date=3 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204011800/http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C0CE1D71439F931A35757C0A96F958260 |archive-date=4 February 2017|url-access=limited|date=2 April 1999}}</ref>

{{Quote box
| width = 25%
| quote = "The difference between shooting ''[[Following]]'' with a group of friends wearing our own clothes and my mum making sandwiches to spending $4&nbsp;million of somebody else's money on ''[[Memento (film)|Memento]]'' and having a crew of a hundred people is, to this day, by far the biggest leap I've ever made."
| source = —Nolan on the jump from his first film to his second (2012)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Macdonald |first1=Moira |title=An interview with Christopher Nolan |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/movies/an-interview-with-christopher-nolan/ |access-date=1 December 2022 |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |date=17 July 2012 |archive-date=1 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201164842/https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/movies/an-interview-with-christopher-nolan/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

''Following''{{'s}} success afforded Nolan the opportunity to make ''[[Memento (film)|Memento]]'' (2000), which became his breakthrough film. His brother Jonathan pitched the idea to him, about a man with [[anterograde amnesia]] who uses notes and tattoos to hunt for his wife's murderer. Jonathan worked the idea into a short story, "[[Memento Mori (short story)|Memento Mori]]" (2001), and Nolan developed it into a screenplay that told the story in reverse. Aaron Ryder, an executive for [[Newmarket Films]], said it was "perhaps the most innovative script I had ever seen".{{sfn|Mottram|2002|p=176}} The film was optioned and given a budget of $4.5{{nbsp}}million, with [[Guy Pearce]] and [[Carrie-Anne Moss]] in the starring roles.{{sfn|Mottram|2002|p=177}} Newmarket also distributed the film after it was rejected by studios who feared that it would not attract a wide audience. Following a positive [[word of mouth]] and screenings in 500 theatres, it earned $40{{nbsp}}million.{{sfn|Nathan|2022|pp=45–48}} ''Memento'' premiered at the [[Venice Film Festival]] in September 2000 to critical acclaim.{{sfn|Mottram|2002|pp=62–64}} [[Joe Morgenstern]] of ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' wrote in his review, "I can't remember when a movie has seemed so clever, strangely affecting and slyly funny at the very same time."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Morgenstern |first=Joe |title=Hero With No Memory Turns ''Memento'' Into Unforgettable Trip |author-link=Joe Morgenstern |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB9846986937127287|date=16 March 2001 |url-status=live |access-date=21 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326002730/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB9846986937127287 |archive-date=26 March 2015|url-access=subscription}} {{subscription required}}</ref> In the book ''The Philosophy of Neo-Noir'', Basil Smith drew a comparison with [[John Locke]]'s ''[[An Essay Concerning Human Understanding]]'', which argues that conscious memories constitute our identities – a theme Nolan explores in the film.{{sfn|Smith|2007|p=35}} ''Memento'' earned Nolan many accolades, including nominations for an [[Academy Award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay)|Academy Award]] and a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay]], as well as two [[Independent Spirit Award]]s: [[Independent Spirit Award for Best Director|Best Director]] and [[Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]].<ref name="nytimesawards">{{Cite news |date=2013 |title=Christopher Nolan awards |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/240025/Christopher-Nolan/awards |url-status=dead |access-date=26 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024065520/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/240025/Christopher-Nolan/awards |archive-date=24 October 2013|url-access=limited}}</ref>{{sfn|Shone|2020|p=19}} Six critics listed it as one of the best [[2000s in film|films of the 2000s]].<ref name="Metadecade">{{Cite web |last=Dietz|first=Jason|date=3 January 2010 |title=Film Critics Pick the Best Movies of the Decade |url=https://www.metacritic.com/feature/film-critics-pick-the-best-movies-of-the-decade |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428073436/http://www.metacritic.com/feature/film-critics-pick-the-best-movies-of-the-decade |archive-date=28 April 2017 |access-date=4 September 2012 |publisher=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref> In 2001, Nolan and Emma Thomas founded the production company [[Syncopy Inc.]]<ref name="syncopy"/>{{efn|The name of the company is derived from [[Syncope (medicine)|syncope]], a medical term for fainting. [[Sorcha Ní Fhlainn]], a lecturer specialising in film studies, alluded this wordplay to Nolan's style of "disorientation" in his work. She also associated the name with synthetic and philosopher [[Jean Baudrillard]]'s [[treatise]] ''[[Simulacra and Simulation]]''.{{sfn|Ní Fhlainn|2015|p=161}}}}

Impressed by his work on ''Memento'', filmmaker [[Steven Soderbergh]] recommended Nolan to [[Warner Bros.]] to direct the [[psychological thriller]] ''[[Insomnia (2002 film)|Insomnia]]'' (2002), although the studio initially wanted a more seasoned director.{{sfn|deWaard|Tait|2013|p=49}} A remake of the 1997 [[Insomnia (1997 film)|Norwegian thriller of the same name]], the film is viewed as "the outlier of Nolan's filmography" due to its perceived lack of unconventionality he is known for.{{sfn|Nathan|2022|p=50}} Starring [[Al Pacino]], [[Robin Williams]] and [[Hilary Swank]],{{sfn|Shone|2020|p=442}} ''Insomnia'' follows two Los Angeles detectives sent to a northern Alaskan town to investigate the murder of a local teenager. It received positive reviews from critics and earned $113{{nbsp}}million against a budget of $46{{nbsp}}million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=''Insomnia'' |date=24 May 2002 |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1114154-insomnia/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100802163407/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1114154-insomnia/ |archive-date=2 August 2010 |access-date=18 January 2014 |publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=''Insomnia'' |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=insomnia.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808004401/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=insomnia.htm |archive-date=8 August 2010 |access-date=18 January 2014 |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> Film critic [[Roger Ebert]] praised the film for introducing new perspectives and ideas on the issues of morality and guilt, adding, "Unlike most remakes, the Nolan ''Insomnia'' is not a pale retread, but a re-examination of the material, like a new production of a good play."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ebert |first=Roger |date=24 May 2002 |title=''Insomnia'' review |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/insomnia-2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213010524/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/insomnia-2002 |archive-date=13 February 2015 |access-date=18 February 2015 |work=RogerEbert.com|author-link=Roger Ebert}}</ref> [[Richard Schickel]] of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' deemed ''Insomnia'' a "worthy successor" to ''Memento'' and "a triumph of atmosphere over a none-too-mysterious mystery".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Schickel |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Schickel|date=19 May 2002 |title=Sleepless in Alaska |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,238623,00.html |url-status=live |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113065714/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,238623,00.html |archive-date=13 January 2015 |access-date=16 February 2015}}</ref>

''Following'', ''Memento'' and ''Insomnia'' established Nolan's image as an "[[auteur]]".{{sfn|Hill-Parks|2015|p=26}} After the lattermost, he wrote a screenplay for a [[Howard Hughes]] biopic. Nolan reluctantly tabled his script after learning that [[Martin Scorsese]] was already making one such film: ''[[The Aviator (2004 film)|The Aviator]]'' (2004).{{sfn|Nathan|2022|pp=64–65}} He was then briefly attached to direct a film adaptation of [[Ruth Rendell]]'s novel ''[[The Keys to the Street]]'' for [[Fox Searchlight Pictures]] but chose to direct ''[[Batman Begins]]'' instead.<ref name=chapman>{{cite web|last=Chapman|first=Wilson|title=Christopher Nolan's Unmade Films: Movies the ''Oppenheimer'' Director Almost Made|date=20 July 2023|website=IndieWire|url=https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/christopher-nolan-unmade-films/|accessdate=11 August 2023|archive-date=26 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826135828/https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/christopher-nolan-unmade-films/|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2003, filmmaker [[David O. Russell]] put Nolan in a [[Grappling hold|headlock]] at a Hollywood party after learning that [[Jude Law]], whom Russell wanted to cast, had decided to work with Nolan instead. Russell pressured Nolan to display "artistic solidarity" by relinquishing Law from his cast.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Waxman |first=Sharon |author-link=Sharon Waxman |date=19 September 2004 |title=The Nudist Buddhist Borderline-Abusive Love-In |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/19/movies/the-nudist-buddhist-borderlineabusive-lovein.html |access-date=27 December 2022 |url-access=limited |archive-date=14 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014203253/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/19/movies/the-nudist-buddhist-borderlineabusive-lovein.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="vulture">{{Cite news |last=Zhan |first=Jennifer |date=5 October 2022 |title=A Timeline of the Allegations Against Amsterdam Director David O. Russell |url=https://www.vulture.com/2022/10/david-o-russell-abuse-assault-allegations-timeline.html |access-date=27 December 2022 |work=[[New York (magazine)|Vulture]] |archive-date=26 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226011317/https://www.vulture.com/2022/10/david-o-russell-abuse-assault-allegations-timeline.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 2003–2013: Widespread recognition ===
In early 2003, Nolan was set to direct ''[[Troy (film)|Troy]]'' (2004), based on [[Homer]]'s the ''[[Iliad]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://deadline.com/2013/06/yet-another-warner-bros-shake-up-jeff-robinov-quitting-movie-studio-after-no-new-contract-offered-and-kevin-tsujiharas-war-of-silence-sue-kroll-dan-fellman-greg-silverman-may-lead-as-triumvira-521215/ |title=2nd Update: Warner Bros Shake-Up – Jeff Robinov Quitting Movie Studio After No New Contract Offered And Kevin Tsujihara's War Of Silence; Sue Kroll, Dan Fellman, And Greg Silverman May Become Triumvirate |website=Deadline |first=Nikki |last=Finke |date=June 21, 2013 |access-date=June 18, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831054123/http://deadline.com/2013/06/yet-another-warner-bros-shake-up-jeff-robinov-quitting-movie-studio-after-no-new-contract-offered-and-kevin-tsujiharas-war-of-silence-sue-kroll-dan-fellman-greg-silverman-may-lead-as-triumvira-521215/ |url-status=live |archive-date=August 31, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1888064/christopher-nolan-greek-mythology-movie-before-the-odyssey-troy/ |title=The Greek Mythology Movie Christopher Nolan Almost Directed Before The Odyssey |website=[[/Film]] |first=Ryan |last=Scott |date=June 16, 2025 |access-date=June 18, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Jagernauth |first=Kevin |title=Trivia: When Christopher Nolan First Came to Warner Bros., He Was Offered ''Troy'' to Direct |publisher=[[IndieWire]] |date=21 June 2013|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/trivia-when-christopher-nolan-first-came-to-warner-bros-he-was-offered-troy-to-direct-20130621 |url-status=dead |access-date=12 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813021758/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/trivia-when-christopher-nolan-first-came-to-warner-bros-he-was-offered-troy-to-direct-20130621 |archive-date=13 August 2014}}</ref> After leaving ''Troy'', Nolan approached Warner Bros. with the idea of making a new [[Batman]] film, based on the character's origin story.<ref name="bb-latimes">{{Cite news |last=Greenberg |first=James |date=8 May 2005 |title=Rescuing Batman |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-may-08-ca-batman8-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217132113/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-may-08-ca-batman8-story.html |archive-date=17 December 2019 |access-date=17 December 2019 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> Nolan was fascinated by the notion of grounding it in a more realistic world than a comic-book fantasy.{{sfn|Nathan|2022|pp=73–75}} He relied heavily on traditional [[stunt]]s and [[miniature effect]]s during filming, with minimal use of [[computer-generated imagery]] (CGI).{{sfn|Nathan|2022|p=69}} ''[[Batman Begins]]'' (2005), the biggest project Nolan had undertaken to that point,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Foundas |first=Scott |title=Christopher Nolan looks back over the ''Dark Knight'' trilogy in this extended interview |url=http://filmcomment.com/article/cinematic-faith-christopher-nolan-scott-foundas |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820002832/https://www.filmcomment.com/article/cinematic-faith-christopher-nolan-scott-foundas/ |archive-date=20 August 2017 |access-date=27 June 2013 |work=Film Comment}}</ref> was released to critical acclaim and commercial success.<ref>{{Cite web |title=''Batman Begins''|date=15 June 2005 |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/batman_begins/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115152611/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/batman_begins/ |archive-date=15 January 2018 |access-date=18 January 2014 |publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Starring [[Christian Bale]] as [[Bruce Wayne (Dark Knight trilogy)|Bruce Wayne / Batman]]—along with [[Michael Caine]], [[Gary Oldman]], [[Morgan Freeman]] and [[Liam Neeson]]—''Batman Begins'' revived the franchise.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sims|first=David|title=The Complicated Legacy of ''Batman Begins'' |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/06/the-complicated-legacy-of-batman-begins/395477/|date=10 June 2015 |url-status=live |work=[[The Atlantic]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611041139/http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/06/the-complicated-legacy-of-batman-begins/395477/ |archive-date=11 June 2015 |access-date=10 June 2015|url-access=subscription}} {{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=Shawn|last= Adler |date=14 August 2008 |title=He-Man' Movie Will Go Realistic: 'We're Not Talking About Putting Nipples on the Trapjaw Suit |url=http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/08/14/he-man-movie-will-go-realistic-were-not-talking-about-putting-nipples-on-the-trapjaw-suit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080902155525/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/08/14/he-man-movie-will-go-realistic-were-not-talking-about-putting-nipples-on-the-trapjaw-suit |archive-date=2 September 2008 |access-date=8 April 2013|publisher=[[MTV]]}}</ref> ''Batman Begins'' was 2005's ninth-highest-grossing film and was praised for its psychological depth and contemporary relevance;<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=2005 Worldwide Box Office |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/world/2005/?ref_=bo_cso_table_1 |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=13 December 2022 |archive-date=7 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707054520/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=2005&p=.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Christopher Nolan Season at BFI Southbank in July 2012 |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-press-release-christopher-nolan-season-at-bfi-southbank-in-july-2012-06-06.pdf|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093423/http://www.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-press-release-christopher-nolan-season-at-bfi-southbank-in-july-2012-06-06.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=31 March 2014 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]]}}</ref> it is cited as one of the most influential films of the 2000s.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rothman|first=Michael|title=''Batman Begins'': 5 Ways the Movie Changed Hollywood|publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=16 June 2019|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/batman-begins-ways-movie-changed-hollywood/story?id=31802311|access-date=3 December 2022|archive-date=26 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726151554/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/batman-begins-ways-movie-changed-hollywood/story?id=31802311|url-status=live}}</ref> Film author Ian Nathan wrote that within five years of his career, Nolan "[went] from unknown to indie darling to gaining creative control over one of the biggest properties in Hollywood, and (perhaps unwittingly) fomenting the genre that would redefine the entire industry".{{sfn|Nathan|2022|pp=58–59}}

Nolan directed, co-wrote and produced ''[[The Prestige (film)|The Prestige]]'' (2006), an adaptation of [[The Prestige|the Christopher Priest novel]] about two rival 19th-century magicians.{{sfn|Nathan|2022|p=78}} The screenplay was the result of an intermittent, five-year collaboration between him and his brother Jonathan, who had begun writing it already in 2001. Nolan initially intended to make the film as early as 2003, but had postponed the project after agreeing to make ''Batman Begins''.{{sfn|Nathan|2022|p=79}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fleming|first=Michael|date=16 April 2003|title=Nolan wants 'Prestige' |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2003/film/news/nolan-wants-prestige-1117884751 |url-status=live |access-date=9 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005094256/http://variety.com/2003/film/news/nolan-wants-prestige-1117884751/ |archive-date=5 October 2013}}</ref> Starring [[Hugh Jackman]] and Christian Bale in the lead roles of rival magicians, ''The Prestige'' received critical acclaim and received two Academy Award nominations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Child |first1=Ben |title=Prestige novelist: Christopher Nolan's Batman movies 'boring and pretentious' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/nov/28/prestige-novelist-christopher-nolans-batman-movies-boring-and-pretentious |access-date=13 December 2022 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=28 November 2014 |archive-date=13 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213170546/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/nov/28/prestige-novelist-christopher-nolans-batman-movies-boring-and-pretentious |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Oscars 2007: full list of winners and nominees |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2007/feb/26/awardsandprizes.oscars2007|date=26 February 2007 |url-status=live |access-date=26 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815183501/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2007/feb/26/awardsandprizes.oscars2007 |archive-date=15 August 2017}}</ref> Roger Ebert described it as "quite a movie{{snd}}atmospheric, obsessive, almost satanic",<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ebert|first=Roger |title=Now you see him...now you see him! |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-prestige-2007 |date=6 September 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203004736/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-prestige-2007 |archive-date=3 February 2014 |access-date=18 January 2014 |work=RogerEbert.com|author-link=Roger Ebert}}</ref> and [[Kenneth Turan]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' called it an "ambitious, unnerving melodrama".<ref>{{Cite news |first=Kenneth |last=Turan|author-link=Kenneth Turan|title=They've got something up their sleeves |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-oct-20-et-prestige20-story.html|date=20 October 2006 |url-status=live |access-date=23 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814051743/http://articles.latimes.com/2006/oct/20/entertainment/et-prestige20 |archive-date=14 August 2016}}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]''{{'s}} [[Philip French]] wrote: "In addition to the intellectual or philosophical excitement it engenders, ''The Prestige'' is gripping, suspenseful, mysterious, moving and often darkly funny."<ref>{{Cite news|last=French|first=Philip |author-link=Philip French|title=''The Prestige'' |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/nov/12/drama.sciencefictionandfantasy |url-status=live |access-date=27 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221084521/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/nov/12/drama.sciencefictionandfantasy |archive-date=21 December 2016|date=12 November 2006}}</ref> Despite a negative box-office prognosis, the film earned over $109{{nbsp}}million against a budget of $40{{nbsp}}million.{{sfn|Nathan|2022|pp=85, 94–95}}

[[File:The Dark Knight European Premier - Leicester square2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|left|Nolan (left) with the cast and crew of ''[[The Dark Knight]]'' at the 2008 European premiere in London|alt=Christopher Nolan speaking to the mic while four people are standing behind him]]

''[[The Dark Knight]]'' (2008), the follow-up to ''Batman Begins'', was Nolan's next venture. Initially reluctant to make a sequel, he agreed after Warner Bros. repeatedly insisted.{{sfn|Nathan|2022|pp=96–97}} Nolan wanted to expand on the [[Film noir|noir]] quality of the first film by broadening the canvas and taking on "the dynamic of a story of the city, a large crime story{{nbsp}}... where you're looking at the police, the justice system, the vigilante, the poor people, the rich people, the criminals".<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Jolin|first=Dan |title=''The Dark Knight'': The Original Feature |url=https://www.empireonline.com/features/dark-knight |url-status=dead |magazine=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713133553/http://www.empireonline.com/features/dark-knight |archive-date=13 July 2012 |access-date=23 December 2013}}</ref> Continuing to minimise the use of CGI, Nolan employed high-resolution [[IMAX]] cameras, making it the first major motion picture to use this technology.{{sfn|Joy|2015|p=13}}<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tapley |first1=Kristopher |title=''The Dark Knight'' Set for 10th Anniversary Imax Re-Release (Exclusive) |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/dark-knight-10th-anniversary-imax-re-release-1202875906/ |access-date=4 December 2022 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=18 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719004545/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/dark-knight-10th-anniversary-imax-re-release-1202875906/ |archive-date=19 July 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Dark Knight'' has been ranked as one of the best films of the 2000s and one of the [[List of films considered the best#Superhero|best superhero films ever made]].{{efn|Attributed to multiple references<ref name="Metadecade" /><ref name="Paste">{{Cite news |date=3 November 2009 |title=The 50 Best Movies of the Decade (2000–2009) |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2009/11/50-best-movies-of-the-decade-2000-2009.html?p=4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017223108/https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2009/11/50-best-movies-of-the-decade-2000-2009.html?p=4 |archive-date=17 October 2017 |access-date=14 December 2011 |work=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]}}</ref><ref name="Empiredecade">{{Cite news |title=Review of the Decade – Year-By-Year: ''Empire''{{'s}} Films of the Decade |url=https://www.empireonline.com/features/reviewofthedecade/films-of-the-decade/9.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924063908/http://www.empireonline.com/features/reviewofthedecade/films-of-the-decade/9.asp |archive-date=24 September 2015 |access-date=4 September 2012 |work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Dockterman |first1=Eliana |title=35 Sequels That Are Better Than the Original Movie |url=https://time.com/5353143/sequels-better-than-original/ |access-date=4 December 2022 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=30 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830181714/https://time.com/5353143/sequels-better-than-original/ |archive-date=30 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Readers' Poll: The 15 Greatest Superhero Movies |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/readers-poll-the-15-greatest-superhero-movies-10865/1-the-dark-knight-256287/ |access-date=4 December 2022 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=9 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811220136/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/readers-poll-the-15-greatest-superhero-movies-10865/ |archive-date=11 August 2022}}</ref>}} Many critics declare ''The Dark Knight'' to be "the most successful comic book film ever made".{{sfn|Zornado|Reilly|2021|p=166}} [[Manohla Dargis]] of ''The New York Times'' found the film to be of higher artistic merit than many Hollywood blockbusters: "Pitched at the divide between art and industry, poetry and entertainment, it goes darker and deeper than any Hollywood movie of its comic-book kind."<ref name="Dargis">{{Cite news |first=Manohla|last=Dargis |author-link=Manohla Dargis |date=18 July 2008 |title=''The Dark Knight''-Showdown in Gotham Town |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/18/movies/18knig.html |url-status=live |access-date=21 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810124137/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/18/movies/18knig.html |archive-date=10 August 2016|url-access=limited}}</ref> Ebert expressed a similar point of view, describing it as a "haunted film that leaps beyond its origins and becomes an engrossing tragedy".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=16 July 2008 |title=''The Dark Knight'' |work=RogerEbert.com |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080716/REVIEWS/55996637 |url-status=live |access-date=21 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102060140/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080716/REVIEWS/55996637 |archive-date=2 January 2012}}</ref> ''The Dark Knight'' set many box-office records during its theatrical run,<ref>{{Cite news |first=Brooks |last=Barnes |date=28 July 2008 |title=''Dark Knight'' Wins Again at Box Office |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/28/movies/28box.html |url-status=live |access-date=21 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411150617/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/28/movies/28box.html |archive-date=11 April 2009|url-access=limited}}</ref> earning over $1{{nbsp}}billion worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=''The Dark Knight'' (2008) |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=darkknight.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221104243/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=darkknight.htm |archive-date=21 February 2014 |access-date=17 November 2012 |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> At the [[81st Academy Awards]], the film was nominated in eight categories, winning two: [[Academy Award for Best Sound Editing|Best Sound Editing]] for [[Richard King (sound designer)|Richard King]] and a posthumous [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor award]] for [[Heath Ledger]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/81st-winners.html |title=The 81st Academy Awards (2009) Nominees and Winners |date=7 October 2014 |access-date=2 December 2022 |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20141018060312/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2009 |archive-date=18 October 2014}}</ref> The film's failure to garner a Best Picture nomination was criticised by the media. Beginning in 2010, the [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|Academy]] increased their Best Picture nominees from five to ten, a change known as "The Dark Knight Rule".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Weldon |first1=Glen |title=A Superhero Movie Got a Screenplay Nomination: Glitch or Game-Changer? |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/01/25/580219918/a-superhero-movie-got-a-screenplay-nomination-glitch-or-game-changer |publisher=[[NPR]] |access-date=10 December 2022 |date=25 January 2018 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210120859/https://www.npr.org/2018/01/25/580219918/a-superhero-movie-got-a-screenplay-nomination-glitch-or-game-changer |url-status=live }}</ref> Nolan received many [[List of accolades received by The Dark Knight|awards and nominations]] for his work on the film.<ref name="nytimesawards" /> In the late 2000s, Nolan was reported to direct a film adaptation of the 1960s television series ''[[The Prisoner]]''.<ref name=chapman/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/christopher-nolan-oppenheimer-pay-1235938430/|title=Christopher Nolan's Final 'Oppenheimer' Payday Close to $100 Million (EXCLUSIVE)|last=Siegel|first=Tatiana|publisher=Variety|date=12 March 2024|access-date=12 March 2024|language=en|archive-date=12 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312171444/https://variety.com/2024/film/news/christopher-nolan-oppenheimer-pay-1235938430/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The success of ''The Dark Knight'' allowed Warner Bros. to sign Nolan to write, direct and co-produce ''[[Inception]]'' (2010) – a film for which he had the idea around nine years before its release.{{sfn|McGowan|2012|p=147}} Nolan described the film as "a contemporary sci-fi actioner set within the architecture of the mind".<ref name="Tackles">{{Cite news |last=Fleming |first=Michael |date=11 February 2009 |title=Nolan tackles ''Inception'' for WB |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2009/film/features/nolan-tackles-inception-for-wb-1117999988/ |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414183155/http://variety.com/article/VR1117999988.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 |archive-date=14 April 2009}}</ref> Starring a large ensemble cast led by [[Leonardo DiCaprio]], the film became a critical and commercial success upon its release.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Goldberg|first=Matt|date=23 December 2010 |title=Warner Bros. Keeping ''Inception'' in Oscar-voters' Minds With 'New' Behind-the-Scenes Featurette |work=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |url=https://collider.com/inception-oscar-featurette |url-status=live |access-date=15 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822054454/http://collider.com/inception-oscar-featurette/ |archive-date=22 August 2017}}</ref> Film critic [[Mark Kermode]] named it the best film of 2010, stating "''Inception'' is proof that people are not stupid, that cinema is not trash, and that it is possible for blockbusters and art to be the same thing."<ref name="Kermode">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/markkermode/entries/5e3e4864-ca72-3dda-b4ab-6b8a1debc437 |title=Kermode Uncut: My Top Five Films of the Year |date=24 December 2010 |last=Kermode |first=Mark |publisher=[[BBC]] |author-link=Mark Kermode |time=5:05 |access-date=21 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106172155/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/markkermode/2010/12/my_top_five_films_of_the_year.html |archive-date=6 January 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Philosophy professor [[David Kyle Johnson]] wrote that "''Inception'' became a classic almost as soon as it was projected on silver screens", praising its exploration of philosophical ideas, including [[leap of faith]] and [[allegory of the cave]].{{sfn|Johnson|2020|p=2}} The film grossed over $836{{nbsp}}million worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=''Inception'' (2010) |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt1375666/?ref_=bo_rl_ti |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030220255/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=inception.htm |archive-date=30 October 2012 |access-date=2 November 2012 |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> Nominated for eight Academy Awards—including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay—it won [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]], [[Best Sound Mixing]], [[Academy Award for Best Sound Editing|Best Sound Editing]] and [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]].<ref name="Academy Awards 2010 (83rd)">{{Cite web |title=2011 Academy Awards Nominations and Winners |url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2011/I?qt-honorees=1#block-quicktabs-honorees |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802040831/http://oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2011/I?qt-honorees=1#block-quicktabs-honorees |archive-date=2 August 2017 |access-date=26 July 2017|publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]]}}</ref> Nolan was nominated for a [[BAFTA Award for Best Direction|BAFTA Award]] and a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Director]], [[List of accolades received by Inception|among other accolades]].<ref name="nytimesawards" />

[[File:Christopher Nolan, London, 2013 (crop).jpg|thumb|upright|Nolan at the 2013 premiere of ''[[Man of Steel (film)|Man of Steel]]'' in London|alt=Christopher Nolan is looking directly towards the camera.]]
Around the release of ''[[The Dark Knight Rises]]'' (2012), Nolan's third and final Batman film, Joseph Bevan of the [[British Film Institute]] wrote a profile on him: "In the space of just over a decade, Christopher Nolan has shot from promising British indie director to undisputed master of a new brand of intelligent escapism."<ref name="bevan">{{cite web |last1=Bevan |first1=Joseph |title=Christopher Nolan: escape artist |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/features/christopher-nolan-escape-artist |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] |access-date=22 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204090138/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/features/christopher-nolan-escape-artist |archive-date=4 December 2014 |date=18 July 2012}}</ref> After initial hesitation, Nolan agreed to return to direct ''The Dark Knight Rises'' and worked with his brother and [[David S. Goyer]] to develop a story that he felt would end [[Batman in film#The Dark Knight trilogy|the trilogy]] on a high note.{{sfn|Nathan|2022|pp=138–139}} The film was released to positive reviews.<ref>{{Cite news|title=''The Dark Knight Rises'' receives overwhelmingly positive early reviews |url=https://www.nme.com/filmandtv/news/the-dark-knight-rises-receives-overwhelmingly-positive/275513 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305150913/http://www.nme.com/filmandtv/news/the-dark-knight-rises-receives-overwhelmingly-positive/275513 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |access-date=17 April 2020 |work=[[NME]]}}</ref> Kenneth Turan found the film "potent, persuasive and hypnotic" and "more than an exceptional superhero movie, it is masterful filmmaking by any standard".<ref>{{cite news|last=Turan|first=Kenneth|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-dark-knight-20120719-story.html |title=Review: ''The Dark Knight Rises'' more than shines, and on many levels|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=18 July 2012|access-date=6 December 2022|author-link=Kenneth Turan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513141228/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-dark-knight-20120719-story.html |archive-date=13 May 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Christy Lemire]] of ''[[HuffPost]]'' wrote in her review that Nolan concluded his trilogy in a "typically spectacular, ambitious fashion", but disliked the "overloaded" story and excessive grimness.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lemire |first=Christy |date=16 July 2012 |title=Batman Review: Is ''The Dark Knight Rises'' an Epic Letdown? |work=[[HuffPost]] |agency= |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/16/batman-review-dark-knight-rises-letdown_n_1677247.html |url-status=live |access-date=16 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317011538/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/16/batman-review-dark-knight-rises-letdown_n_1677247.html |archive-date=17 March 2014}}</ref> ''The Dark Knight Rises'' was a box office success, becoming the thirteenth film to gross $1{{nbsp}}billion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=2 September 2012 |title=Box Office Milestone: ''Dark Knight Rises'' Crosses $1 Billion Worldwide |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-milestone-dark-knight-rises-warner-bros-christopher-nolan-christian-bale-367476 |url-status=live |access-date=17 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109092114/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-milestone-dark-knight-rises-warner-bros-christopher-nolan-christian-bale-367476 |archive-date=9 January 2014}}</ref> During a midnight showing of the film in [[Aurora, Colorado]], [[2012 Aurora, Colorado shooting|a gunman opened fire inside the theatre]], killing 12 people and injuring 58 others.{{sfn|Koole et al.|2013|pp=147–148}} Nolan released a statement expressing his condolences for the victims of what he described as a "senseless tragedy".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Morley|first=Will|date=20 July 2012|title=Christopher Nolan on Theater Shooting: 'I Would Like to Express Our Profound Sorrow' |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/07/20/christopher-nolan-dark-knight-rises-shooting-statement |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721130638/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/07/20/christopher-nolan-dark-knight-rises-shooting-statement/ |archive-date=21 July 2012 |access-date=6 December 2022|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref>

''The Dark Knight'' trilogy inspired a trend in future superhero films seeking to replicate its gritty, realistic tone to little success. The second instalment in particular revitalised the genre at a time when recent superhero films had failed to meet expectations.<ref name="Child2015">{{cite news |last1=Child |first1=Ben |title=Christopher Nolan's Batman movies will endure |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jan/12/christopher-nolan-batman-movies-superhero-escapism-fad |access-date=6 December 2022 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=12 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131223820/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jan/12/christopher-nolan-batman-movies-superhero-escapism-fad |archive-date=31 January 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sims |first1=David |title=''The Dark Knight'' Changed Hollywood Movies Forever |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/07/the-dark-knight-legitimized-the-superhero-movie-for-better-and-worse/565448/ |access-date=11 December 2022 |work=[[The Atlantic]] |date=18 July 2018 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220310192048/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/07/the-dark-knight-legitimized-the-superhero-movie-for-better-and-worse/565448/|archive-date=10 March 2022}} {{subscription required}}</ref> Ben Child of ''The Guardian'' wrote that the three films "will remain thrilling totems of the genre for decades to come".<ref name="Child2015"/> During story discussions for ''The Dark Knight Rises'', Goyer told Nolan of his idea about ''[[Man of Steel (film)|Man of Steel]]'' (2013), which the latter would produce.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dibdin |first1=Emma |title=''Dark Knight'' inspired ''Man of Steel'' |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a468532/man-of-steel-writer-david-s-goyer-inspired-by-dark-knight-rises/ |access-date=30 December 2022 |work=[[Digital Spy]] |date=26 March 2013 |archive-date=30 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230201626/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a468532/man-of-steel-writer-david-s-goyer-inspired-by-dark-knight-rises/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Impressed with [[Zack Snyder]]'s work in ''[[300 (film)|300]]'' (2006) and ''[[Watchmen (2009 film)|Watchmen]]'' (2009), Nolan hired him to direct the film.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Itzkoff |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Itzkoff|date=22 May 2013 |title=Alien, Yet Familiar |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/26/movies/man-of-steel-aims-to-make-superman-relevant-again.html |url-status=live |access-date=22 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523184437/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/26/movies/man-of-steel-aims-to-make-superman-relevant-again.html |archive-date=23 May 2013|url-access=limited}}</ref> Starring [[Henry Cavill]] as [[Superman (DC Extended Universe)|Clark Kent]] who learns that he is a powerful alien, ''Man of Steel'' received mixed reviews and grossed more than $660{{nbsp}}million against a budget of $220{{nbsp}}million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=''Man of Steel'' Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/man-of-steel |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706192545/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/man-of-steel |archive-date=6 July 2014 |access-date=12 June 2013 |publisher=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=''Man of Steel'' |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0770828/ |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=31 December 2022 |archive-date=17 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221217133914/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0770828/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 2014–2019: ''Interstellar'', ''Dunkirk'' and other activities ===
[[File:Jonathan Nolan by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Nolan and his younger brother, [[Jonathan Nolan|Jonathan]] (''pictured'' in 2017), wrote several screenplays together, including that of ''Interstellar''.|alt=Jonathan Nolan looking to his left]]

Nolan next directed, wrote and produced the science-fiction film ''[[Interstellar (film)|Interstellar]]'' (2014). The first drafts of the script were written by Jonathan Nolan, and it was originally to be directed by [[Steven Spielberg]].{{sfn|Nathan|2022|pp=160–161}} Based on the scientific theories of [[theoretical physicist]] [[Kip Thorne]], the film follows a group of [[astronaut]]s who travel through a [[wormhole]] in search of a new home for humanity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jagernauth|first=Kevin |date=10 January 2013 |title=Christopher Nolan's Merging an Original Idea with Jonah Nolan's Old Screenplay for ''Interstellar'' |url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/christopher-nolans-merging-an-original-idea-with-jonah-nolans-old-screenplay-for-interstellar-20130110 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130112010928/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/christopher-nolans-merging-an-original-idea-with-jonah-nolans-old-screenplay-for-interstellar-20130110 |archive-date=12 January 2013 |access-date=13 January 2013 |publisher=[[IndieWire]]}}</ref> In a 2014 discussion of the film's physics, Nolan expressed his admiration for [[scientific objectivity]], wishing it were applied "in every aspect of our civilisation".<ref name="ThorneNolan">{{Cite magazine |last=Kluger|first=Jeffery|title=Watch Christopher Nolan and Kip Thorne Discuss the Physics of ''Interstellar'' |url=https://time.com/3602525/christopher-nolan-physics-interstellar-kip-thorne/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160214175028/http://time.com/3602525/christopher-nolan-physics-interstellar-kip-thorne/ |archive-date=14 February 2016 |access-date=15 August 2017|date=24 November 2014}}</ref> ''Interstellar'' – starring [[Matthew McConaughey]], [[Anne Hathaway]] and [[Jessica Chastain]] – was released to positive reviews and grossed $773{{nbsp}}million worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=''Interstellar'' Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/interstellar |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804225550/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/interstellar |archive-date=4 August 2017 |access-date=13 November 2014 |publisher=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=''Interstellar'' (2014) |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0816692/?ref_=bo_rl_ti |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316082328/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=interstellar.htm |archive-date=16 March 2015 |access-date=12 January 2015 |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> Observing its "visual dazzle, thematic ambition", ''The New York Times''{{'s}} [[A. O. Scott]] wrote that ''Interstellar'' is a "sweeping, futuristic adventure driven by grief, dread and regret".<ref>{{Cite news |title=Off to the Stars, with Grief, Dread and Regret |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=4 November 2014 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/05/movies/interstellar-christopher-nolans-search-for-a-new-planet.html |url-status=live |access-date=16 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828121417/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/05/movies/interstellar-christopher-nolans-search-for-a-new-planet.html |archive-date=28 August 2016|last1=Scott |first1=A. O. |author-link=A. O. Scott|url-access=limited}}</ref> Documentary filmmaker [[Toni Myers]] called the film "a real work of art" and praised it for exploring a story spanning multiple generations.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Richard |last=Trenholm|title=Space station film school: How astronauts shot this glorious IMAX movie |url=https://www.cnet.com/science/space-station-film-school-how-astronauts-shot-this-glorious-imax-documentary/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610145325/http://www.cnet.com/news/space-station-film-school-how-astronauts-shot-this-glorious-imax-documentary/ |date=10 June 2016|archive-date=10 June 2016 |access-date=27 January 2016 |publisher=[[CNET]]}}</ref> ''Interstellar'' was particularly praised for its scientific accuracy, which led to the publication of two [[scientific papers|academic papers]].{{sfn|James et al.|2015a}}{{sfn|James et al.|2015b}} The ''[[American Journal of Physics]]'' called for it to be shown in school science lessons.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ghosh |first=Pallab |date=23 June 2015 |title=''Interstellar'' 'should be shown in school lessons' |publisher=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-33173197 |url-status=live |access-date=23 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150624075813/http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-33173197 |archive-date=24 June 2015}}</ref>{{sfn|James et al.|2015b|p=486}} At the [[87th Academy Awards]], the film won Best Visual Effects and received four other nominations.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=D'Addario|first=Daniel|date=15 January 2015 |title=Oscars 2015: See the Full List of Nominees |url=https://time.com/3668006/oscars-2015-nominations/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115180510/http://time.com/3668006/oscars-2015-nominations/ |archive-date=15 January 2015 |access-date=16 January 2015}}</ref> Also in 2014, Nolan and Emma Thomas served as executive producers on ''[[Transcendence (2014 film)|Transcendence]]'', the directorial debut of his longtime cinematographer [[Wally Pfister]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=13 June 2012 |title=Christopher Nolan to Exec Produce Wally Pfister's Directorial Debut |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/christopher-nolan-wally-pfister-dark-knight-rises-337015 |url-status=live |access-date=23 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922192453/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/christopher-nolan-wally-pfister-dark-knight-rises-337015 |archive-date=22 September 2012}}</ref>

In the mid-2010s, Nolan took part in several ventures for film preservation and distribution of the work of lesser-known filmmakers. His production company, Syncopy, formed a joint venture with [[Zeitgeist Films]] to release [[Blu-ray]] editions of Zeitgeist's films.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=McNary |first=Dave |date=19 February 2015 |title=Christopher Nolan's Syncopy Teaming With Zeitgeist on Blu-ray Releases (Exclusive) |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/christopher-nolans-syncopy-teaming-with-zeitgeist-on-blu-ray-releases-exclusive-1201437195/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224023820/http://variety.com/2015/film/news/christopher-nolans-syncopy-teaming-with-zeitgeist-on-blu-ray-releases-exclusive-1201437195/ |archive-date=24 February 2015 |access-date=23 February 2015}}</ref> As a part of the Blu-ray release of the animation films of the [[Brothers Quay]], Nolan directed the documentary short ''[[Quay (film)|Quay]]'' (2015). He initiated a theatrical tour, showcasing the Quays' ''[[In Absentia (film)|In Absentia]]'', ''The Comb'' and ''[[Street of Crocodiles]]''. [[IndieWire]] wrote that the brothers "will undoubtedly have hundreds, if not thousands more fans because of Nolan, and for that ''The Quay Brothers in 35mm'' will always be one of [the] latter's most important contributions to cinema".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sharf |first=Zack |date=20 August 2015 |title=Why 'The Quay Brothers in 35mm' Is One of Christopher Nolan's Greatest Accomplishments |publisher=[[IndieWire]] |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2015/08/why-the-quay-brothers-in-35mm-is-one-of-christopher-nolans-greatest-accomplishments-59077/ |url-status=live |access-date=21 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821010112/http://www.indiewire.com/article/why-the-quay-brothers-in-35mm-is-one-of-christopher-nolans-greatest-accomplishments-20150820 |archive-date=21 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Labrecque |first=Jeff |date=27 July 2015 |title=Christopher Nolan's next movie is a documentary short |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2015/07/27/christopher-nolan-short-film-quay? |url-status=live |access-date=28 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150729031620/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/07/27/christopher-nolan-short-film-quay |archive-date=29 July 2015}}</ref> An advocate for the survival of the analogue medium, Nolan and visual artist [[Tacita Dean]] invited representatives from leading American film archives, laboratories and presenting institutions to participate in an informal summit entitled ''Reframing the Future of Film'' at the [[Getty Museum]] in March 2015.<ref name="filmvsdigital 2">{{Cite news |last=Foundas |first=Scott |date=11 March 2015 |title=Christopher Nolan Rallies the Troops to Save Celluloid Film |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/columns/christopher-nolan-rallies-the-troops-to-save-celluloid-film-1201450536/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150313152211/http://variety.com/2015/film/columns/christopher-nolan-rallies-the-troops-to-save-celluloid-film-1201450536/ |archive-date=13 March 2015 |access-date=12 March 2015 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|first=Ben|last=Child |date=31 July 2014 |title=Tarantino and Nolan share a Kodak moment as studios fund film processing |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jul/31/quentin-tarantino-christopher-nolan-kodak-film |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227150531/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jul/31/quentin-tarantino-christopher-nolan-kodak-film |archive-date=27 February 2017 |access-date=27 February 2017 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> Subsequent events were held at [[Tate Modern]] in London, [[Museo Rufino Tamayo, Mexico City|Museo Tamayo]] in Mexico City and [[Tata Theatre]] in [[Mumbai]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sahani |first1=Alaka |title=On Christopher Nolan's upcoming visit to India, celluloid in digital era and preservation of film heritage |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/celluloid-dreams-4/ |access-date=13 December 2022 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=29 March 2018 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=13 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213172609/https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/celluloid-dreams-4/ |url-status=live }}{{subscription required}}</ref> In April 2015, Nolan joined the board of directors of [[The Film Foundation]], a non-profitable organisation dedicated to [[film preservation]],<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=22 April 2015 |title=Christopher Nolan Joins Film Foundation Board |url=https://deadline.com/2015/04/christopher-nolan-joins-film-foundation-board-1201414195/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424184303/http://deadline.com/2015/04/christopher-nolan-joins-film-foundation-board-1201414195/ |archive-date=24 April 2015 |access-date=22 April 2015}}</ref> and was appointed, along with Martin Scorsese, by the [[Library of Congress]] to serve on the [[National Film Preservation Board]] as DGA representatives.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 May 2015 |title=DGA Congratulates Martin Scorsese and Christopher Nolan on Appointments to National Film Preservation Board |url=http://www.dga.org/News/PressReleases/2015/150507-DGA-Congratulates-Martin-Scorsese-and-Christopher-Nolan-for-NFPB-appointments.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521043452/http://www.dga.org/News/PressReleases/2015/150507-DGA-Congratulates-Martin-Scorsese-and-Christopher-Nolan-for-NFPB-appointments.aspx |archive-date=21 May 2015 |access-date=19 May 2015 |publisher=[[The Directors Guild of America]]}}</ref> Nolan serves on the [[Motion Picture & Television Fund]] Board of Governors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://mptf.com/about-us/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209111559/https://mptf.com/about-us/ |archive-date=9 February 2021 |access-date=4 February 2021 |publisher=[[Motion Picture & Television Fund]]}}</ref>

After serving as an executive producer on Zack Snyder's ''[[Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice]]'' (2016) and ''[[Justice League (film)|Justice League]]'' (2017),{{sfn|Nathan|2022|p=246}}{{sfn|Nathan|2022|p=247}} Nolan returned to directing with ''[[Dunkirk (2017 film)|Dunkirk]]'' (2017). Based on his own original screenplay and co-produced with Thomas, the film is set amid World War II in 1940 and the [[Dunkirk evacuation|evacuation]] of [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] soldiers from the beaches of [[Dunkirk]], France. Describing the film as a survival tale with a [[triptych]] structure, Nolan wanted to make a "sensory, almost experimental movie" with minimal dialogue.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Golhen |first=Gaël |date=28 February 2017 |title=Exclu: Christopher Nolan et ses collaborateurs révèlent 7 infos sur ''Dunkerque'' |url=http://www.premiere.fr/Cinema/News-Cinema/EXCLU-Christopher-Nolan-et-ses-collaborateurs-revelent-7-infos-sur-Dunkerque|trans-title=Exclusive: Christopher Nolan and his collaborators reveal 7 facts about ''Dunkirk'' |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228144316/http://www.premiere.fr/Cinema/News-Cinema/EXCLU-Christopher-Nolan-et-ses-collaborateurs-revelent-7-infos-sur-Dunkerque/ |archive-date=28 February 2017 |access-date=28 February 2017 |work=[[Première (magazine)|Première]]|language=fr}}</ref> He said he waited to make ''Dunkirk'' until he had earned the trust of a major studio to let him make it as a British film but with an American budget.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nolan |first=Christopher |date=8 July 2017 |title=Spitfires, flotillas of boats, rough seas and 1,000 extras: Christopher Nolan on the making of ''Dunkirk'', his most challenging film to date |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2017/07/08/spitfires-flotillas-boats-rough-seas-1000-extras-christopher/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 July 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170710035754/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2017/07/08/spitfires-flotillas-boats-rough-seas-1000-extras-christopher/ |archive-date=10 July 2017|url-access=subscription}} {{subscription required}}</ref> Before filming, Nolan sought advice from Spielberg, who later said in an interview with ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', "knowing and respecting that Chris [Nolan] is one of the world's most imaginative filmmakers, my advice to him was to leave his imagination, as I did on ''[[Saving Private Ryan|Ryan]]'', in second position to the research he was doing to authentically acquit this historical drama".<ref name="LangVariety">{{Cite news |last=Lang |first=Brent |date=8 November 2017 |title=Christopher Nolan Gets Candid on the State of Movies, Rise of TV and Spielberg's Influence |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/christopher-nolan-dunkirk-oscars-movies-tv-spielberg-1202607836/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108202018/http://variety.com/2017/film/news/christopher-nolan-dunkirk-oscars-movies-tv-spielberg-1202607836/ |archive-date=8 November 2017 |access-date=9 November 2017 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> Starring an ensemble cast,<ref>{{Cite news |last=McNary |first=Dave |date=11 March 2016 |title=Harry Styles, Fionn Whitehead to Star in Christopher Nolan WW2 Action-Thriller ''Dunkirk'' |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/harry-styles-one-direction-christopher-nolan-dunkirk-1201728153 |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504152927/http://variety.com/2016/film/news/harry-styles-one-direction-christopher-nolan-dunkirk-1201728153/ |archive-date=4 May 2016}}</ref> ''Dunkirk'' was released to widespread critical acclaim and strong box office results.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McMillan |first=Graeme |date=17 July 2017 |title=''Dunkirk'': What the Critics Are Saying |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dunkirk-review-roundup-what-critics-are-saying-1021889 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170720161842/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dunkirk-review-roundup-what-critics-are-saying-1021889 |archive-date=20 July 2017 |access-date=19 July 2017 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=''Dunkirk'' Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/dunkirk/critic-reviews |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722182106/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/dunkirk/critic-reviews |archive-date=22 July 2017 |access-date=21 July 2017 |publisher=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Keegan |first=Rebecca |date=24 July 2017 |title=How ''Dunkirk'', Summer's Boldest Box-Office Gamble, Paid Off |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/07/dunkirk-success-christopher-nolan |url-status=live |magazine=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727032810/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/07/dunkirk-success-christopher-nolan |archive-date=27 July 2017 |access-date=1 August 2017}}</ref> It grossed over $526{{nbsp}}million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing World War{{nbsp}}II film of all time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mithaiwala|first=Mansoor|date=15 September 2017 |title=''Dunkirk'' Becomes Highest Grossing WWII Film at Global Box Office |url=https://screenrant.com/dunkirk-highest-grossing-world-war-2-movie/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103140621/https://screenrant.com/dunkirk-highest-grossing-world-war-2-movie/ |archive-date=3 November 2019 |access-date=13 December 2019 |publisher=[[Screen Rant]]}}</ref> In his review, [[Mick LaSalle]] of the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' wrote: "It's one of the best [[war film]]s ever made, distinct in its look, in its approach and in the effect it has on viewers. There are movies—they are rare—that lift you out of your present circumstances and immerse you so fully in another experience that you watch in a state of jaw-dropped awe. ''Dunkirk'' is that kind of movie."<ref>{{Cite news |first=Mick |last=LaSalle|author-link=Mick LaSalle|title=Not a victory, but a triumph in ''Dunkirk'' |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |url=https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Dunkirk-is-Christopher-Nolan-s-masterpiece-11297495.php|date=18 July 2017 |url-status=live |access-date=28 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528083008/https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Dunkirk-is-Christopher-Nolan-s-masterpiece-11297495.php |archive-date=28 May 2019}}</ref> The film received [[List of accolades received by Dunkirk|many accolades]], including Nolan's first Oscar nomination for [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]].<ref name="Sharf-2020"/>

[[File:Cannes 2018 4.jpg|thumb|upright=1.13|right|Nolan (right) with [[Keir Dullea]], Katharina Kubrick, Ron Sanders and [[Jan Harlan]] at the [[2018 Cannes Film Festival]]|alt=A picture showing five people standing on a red carpet]]
In 2018, Nolan supervised a new [[70 mm film|70{{nbsp}}mm]] print of [[Stanley Kubrick]]'s ''2001: A Space Odyssey'' (1968), made from the [[original camera negative]]; he presented it at the [[2018 Cannes Film Festival]].{{sfn|Elsaesser|2020|p=43}} ''[[USA Today]]'' observed that festival-goers greeted Nolan "like a rock star with a standing ovation".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mandell |first=Andrea |date=13 May 2018 |title=Christopher Nolan inspires crazed Cannes crowd, talks ''Batman'' trilogy |work=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2018/05/13/cannes-festival-christopher-nolan-inspires-crazed-crowd-talks-batman/605699002/ |url-status=live |access-date=14 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513200908/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2018/05/13/cannes-festival-christopher-nolan-inspires-crazed-crowd-talks-batman/605699002/ |archive-date=13 May 2018}}</ref> A year later, Nolan and Thomas received executive producer credits on ''[[The Doll's Breath]]'' (2019), an animated short directed by the Quay brothers.<ref name="Quay-Doll">{{Cite web |date=11 September 2019 |title=''The Doll's Breath'' |url=https://www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-dolls-breath/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906110213/https://www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-dolls-breath/ |archive-date=6 September 2020 |access-date=11 September 2019 |publisher=Illuminations Media}}</ref>

=== 2020–present: ''Tenet'', ''Oppenheimer'' and ''The Odyssey'' ===
Nolan's next film was the science fiction film ''[[Tenet (film)|Tenet]]'' (2020), described by [[Tom Shone]] of ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' as "a globe-spinning riff on all things Nolanesque".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shone |first=Tom |author-link=Tom Shone|date=23 August 2020a |title=Film review: ''Tenet'' |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/film-review-tenet-2q6btbzrl |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823183242/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/film-review-tenet-2q6btbzrl |archive-date=23 August 2020 |access-date=23 August 2020 |work=[[The Sunday Times]]|url-access=subscription}} {{subscription required}}</ref> Nolan had worked on the screenplay for more than five years after deliberating about its central ideas for over a decade.<ref name="Maytum-Jun2020">{{Cite magazine |last=Maytum |first=Matt |date=June 2020 |title=Time to Spy |magazine=[[Total Film]] |issue=299 |pages=30–35}}</ref> Delayed three times due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], ''Tenet'' was the first Hollywood [[Tent-pole (entertainment)|tent-pole]] to open in theatres after the pandemic shutdown.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pamela, McClintock |date=6 September 2020 |title=Box Office: ''Tenet'' Debuts to $20M as U.S. Theaters Reopen, Nears $150M Globally |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-tenet-opens-to-20m-as-u-s-theaters-reopen-nears-150m-globally |url-status=live |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906220921/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-tenet-opens-to-20m-as-u-s-theaters-reopen-nears-150m-globally |archive-date=6 September 2020 |access-date=7 September 2020}}</ref> The film tells the story of an unnamed protagonist (played by [[John David Washington]]) who travels through time to stop a world-threatening attack.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Nate |title=A Beat-by-Beat Explanation of What Happens in ''Tenet'' |url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/09/tenet-explained-whats-going-on-in-the-plot-of-this-movie.html |access-date=13 December 2022 |work=[[New York (magazine)|Vulture]] |date=4 September 2020 |archive-date=13 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213164958/https://www.vulture.com/2020/09/tenet-explained-whats-going-on-in-the-plot-of-this-movie.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It grossed $363{{nbsp}}million worldwide on a production budget of $200{{nbsp}}million, becoming Nolan's first to underperform at the box-office.{{sfn|Nathan|2022|p=199}} ''Tenet'' was described as his most polarising film; critics praised the ambition and technical aspects but found its story confusing.<ref>{{cite web |title=''Tenet'' |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tenet |publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=15 December 2022 |archive-date=26 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200826154802/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tenet |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Sharf-2020">{{Cite web |last=Sharf |first=Zack |date=21 August 2020 |title=''Tenet'' Divides Critics: Nolan's Latest Called a 'Monumental Spectacle' and 'Head-Scratching' Dud |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2020/08/tenet-critics-divided-christopher-nolan-1234581611/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109175125/https://www.indiewire.com/2020/08/tenet-critics-divided-christopher-nolan-1234581611/ |archive-date=9 January 2021 |access-date=9 January 2020 |publisher=[[IndieWire]]}}</ref> [[Peter Bradshaw]] of ''The Guardian'' awarded it five out of five, calling it "a cerebral [[cadenza]], a deadpan flourish of crazy implausibility—but supercharged with steroidal energy and imagination".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bradshaw |first=Peter |date=25 August 2020 |author-link=Peter Bradshaw|title=''Tenet'' review – supremely ambitious race against time makes for superb cinema |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/aug/25/tenet-review-christopher-nolan-head-scratchingly-ambitious?CMP=twt_a-culture_b-gdnculture |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925095024/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/aug/25/tenet-review-christopher-nolan-head-scratchingly-ambitious?CMP=twt_a-culture_b-gdnculture |archive-date=25 September 2020 |access-date=25 August 2020 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> Leslie Felperin of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' described it as "a chilly, cerebral film—easy to admire, especially since it's so rich in audacity and originality, but almost impossible to love, lacking as it is in a certain humanity".<ref name="Felperin-2020">{{Cite news |last=Felperin |first=Leslie |date=21 August 2020 |title=''Tenet'': Film Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tenet-film-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822003115/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tenet-film-review |archive-date=22 August 2020 |access-date=8 September 2020 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> At the [[93rd Academy Awards]], the film won Best Visual Effects and was nominated for [[Academy Award for Best Production Design|Best Production Design]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hipes |first=Patrick |date=15 March 2021 |title=Oscar Nominations: The Complete List |url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/2021-oscars-nominations-full-list-of-nominees-1234714432/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210315130637/https://deadline.com/2021/03/2021-oscars-nominations-full-list-of-nominees-1234714432/ |archive-date=15 March 2021 |access-date=15 March 2021 |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> Following the release of ''Tenet'', Nolan joined the Advisory Board of the [[Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Giardina |first=Carolyn |date=10 November 2020 |title=Christopher Nolan, Rob Legato Join SMPTE Engineers Advisory Board |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/christopher-nolan-rob-legato-join-smpte-engineers-advisory-board |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111023619/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/christopher-nolan-rob-legato-join-smpte-engineers-advisory-board |archive-date=11 November 2020 |access-date=10 November 2020 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> He served as an executive producer on ''[[Zack Snyder's Justice League]]'' (2021), a [[director's cut]] of 2017's ''Justice League''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guerrasio |first=Jason |date=10 March 2021 |title=Deborah Snyder says Christopher Nolan supported her husband Zack in his quest to make the 'Snyder cut' |url=https://www.insider.com/christopher-nola-encouraged-zack-snyder-justice-league-snyder-cut-2021-3 |access-date=15 March 2021 |publisher=[[Insider Inc.]] |archive-date=29 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829223812/https://www.insider.com/christopher-nola-encouraged-zack-snyder-justice-league-snyder-cut-2021-3 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:ChrisNolanBFI150224 (10 of 12) (53532289710) (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|left|Nolan at [[BFI Southbank]] in 2024]]

Nolan's 12th film was ''[[Oppenheimer (film)|Oppenheimer]]'' (2023), a biopic based on [[J. Robert Oppenheimer]] (played by [[Cillian Murphy]]) and his role in the development of the [[atom bomb]].{{sfn|Nathan|2022|p=216}} It was Nolan's first [[Motion Picture Association film rating system|R-rated]] film since ''Insomnia'' (2002).<ref>{{cite web|author=Lupton, Drake|date=2 June 2023|url=https://collider.com/christopher-nolan-oppenheimer-release-date-cast-filming/|title=''Oppenheimer'': Release Date, Cast, Trailer, and Everything We Know About Christopher Nolan's New Movie|publisher=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|access-date=16 June 2023|archive-date=15 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230615212205/https://collider.com/christopher-nolan-oppenheimer-release-date-cast-filming/|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was financed and distributed by [[Universal Pictures]], making it Nolan's first feature film since ''Memento'' that was not made for Warner Bros. He disagreed with Warner Bros.' decision to simultaneously release their films in theatres and on [[HBO Max]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Starkey |first1=Adam |title=Here's what we know about Christopher Nolan's ''Oppenheimer'' |url=https://www.nme.com/features/film-features/oppenheimer-christopher-nolan-new-film-release-date-plot-cast-explained-3282604 |access-date=23 December 2022 |work=[[NME]] |date=19 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220805101035/https://www.nme.com/features/film-features/oppenheimer-christopher-nolan-new-film-release-date-plot-cast-explained-3282604 |archive-date=5 August 2022}}</ref> Nolan secured the deal with Universal after he was promised a production budget of around $100&nbsp;million with an equal marketing budget, total creative control, 20% of [[first-dollar gross]], a 100-day theatrical window and a blackout period from the studio wherein the company would not release another film three weeks before or after ''Oppenheimer''{{'s}} release.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kit|first=Borys|date=15 September 2021 |title=Inside the Studios' (and Apple's) Frenzy to Get Christopher Nolan's Next Film |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/christopher-nolan-pitch-to-studios-including-apple-seeking-his-next-film-1235014132/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915154038/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/christopher-nolan-pitch-to-studios-including-apple-seeking-his-next-film-1235014132/ |archive-date=15 September 2021 |access-date=16 September 2021 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> The film received critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite web |title=''Oppenheimer'' |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/oppenheimer_2023 |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=20 July 2023 |archive-date=19 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719190500/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/oppenheimer_2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> Matthew Jackson of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' wrote, "''Oppenheimer'' deserves the title of masterpiece. It's Christopher Nolan's best film so far, a step up to a new level for one of our finest filmmakers, and a movie that burns itself into your brain."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jackson |first1=Matthew |title=''Oppenheimer'' review: Christopher Nolan delivers his masterpiece |url=https://www.avclub.com/a-review-of-christopher-nolans-oppenheimer-1850654105 |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=19 July 2023 |access-date=20 July 2023 |archive-date=20 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720064141/https://www.avclub.com/a-review-of-christopher-nolans-oppenheimer-1850654105 |url-status=live }}</ref> Terming it "boldly imaginative and [Nolan's] most mature work yet", [[BBC Culture]]'s [[Caryn James]] added that it combined the "explosive, commercially-enticing action of ''The Dark Knight'' trilogy" with the "cerebral underpinnings" of ''Memento'', ''Inception'' and ''Tenet''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=James |first=Caryn |author-link=Caryn James|date=19 July 2023 |title=Oppenheimer review: A "magnificent" story of a tragic American genius |publisher=[[BBC Culture]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20230719-a-magnificent-story-of-a-tragic-american-genius |url-status=live |access-date=21 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719222320/https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20230719-a-magnificent-story-of-a-tragic-american-genius |archive-date=19 July 2023}}</ref> ''Oppenheimer'' grossed over $975{{nbsp}}million worldwide, making it the [[2023 in film#Highest-grossing films|third-highest-grossing film of 2023]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Top 2023 Movies at the Worldwide Box Office |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-records/worldwide/all-movies/cumulative/released-in-2023 |newspaper=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]] |access-date=26 August 2023 |archive-date=5 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105203535/https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-records/worldwide/all-movies/cumulative/released-in-2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> Among the film's [[List of accolades received by Oppenheimer (film)|numerous accolades]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gonzalez |first=Shivani |date=7 January 2024 |title=Golden Globes Winners 2024: The Complete List |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/07/movies/golden-globes-winners-list.html |access-date=8 January 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=8 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108000129/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/07/movies/golden-globes-winners-list.html/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Yossman |first1=K. J. |last2=Shafer |first2=Ellise |title=BAFTA Film Awards 2024 Winners List (Updating Live) |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/awards/bafta-film-awards-2024-winners-list-1235913491/ |access-date=18 February 2024 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=18 February 2024 |archive-date=18 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218173615/https://variety.com/2024/film/awards/bafta-film-awards-2024-winners-list-1235913491/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Nolan won the Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barnes |first=Brooks |date=10 March 2024 |title=Oscars 2024 Highlights: 'Oppenheimer' Wins Best Picture, and Emma Stone Wins Best Actress for 'Poor Things' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/10/movies/oscars-academy-awards |access-date=10 March 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=10 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310213033/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/10/movies/oscars-academy-awards |url-status=live }}</ref>

As of February 2025, Nolan will once again work with Universal Studios on ''[[The Odyssey (2026 film)|The Odyssey]]'', an adaptation of the [[Ancient Greek]] [[epic poem]] the ''[[Odyssey]]'' by [[Homer]]. It is scheduled to be released in July 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=23 December 2024 |title=Christopher Nolan's Next Film Is An Adaptation Of Homer's 'The Odyssey', Universal Reveals |url=https://deadline.com/2024/12/christopher-nolan-the-odyssey-confirmed-directors-new-film-universal-1236241340/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241223222535/https://deadline.com/2024/12/christopher-nolan-the-odyssey-confirmed-directors-new-film-universal-1236241340/ |archive-date=23 December 2024 |access-date=23 December 2024 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> It follows [[Odysseus]] (portrayed by [[Matt Damon]]), the legendary [[Greeks|Greek]] king of [[Homer's Ithaca|Ithaca]], on his perilous journey to return home following the [[Trojan War]], his encounters with the cyclops [[Polyphemus]], [[the Sirens]], and the witch goddess [[Circe]], and his reunion with his wife, [[Penelope]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chitwood |first=Adam |date=17 February 2025 |title=Matt Damon Is Odysseus in First Look at Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' |url=https://www.thewrap.com/matt-damon-odysseus-christopher-nolan-the-odyssey-image/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250217162736/https://www.thewrap.com/matt-damon-odysseus-christopher-nolan-the-odyssey-image/ |archive-date=17 February 2025 |access-date=17 February 2025 |website=[[TheWrap]]}}</ref> With an estimated production budget of $250&nbsp;million, it is poised to be the most expensive film of Nolan's career.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Belloni |first=Matthew |author-link=Matthew Belloni |date=10 January 2025 |title=25 Surefire, 100 Percent Probable Hollywood Predictions for 2025 (Part 2) |url=https://puck.news/25-surefire-100-percent-probable-2025-hollywood-predictions-part-2/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250110175419/https://puck.news/25-surefire-100-percent-probable-2025-hollywood-predictions-part-2/ |archive-date=10 January 2025 |access-date=15 January 2025 |website=[[Puck News]]}} – via {{Cite web |last=Booth |first=Kaitlyn |date=11 January 2025 |title=Christopher Nolan's ''The Odyssey'' Has A Reported $250M Budget |url=https://bleedingcool.com/movies/christopher-nolans-the-odyssey-has-a-reported-250m-budget/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250112041119/https://bleedingcool.com/movies/christopher-nolans-the-odyssey-has-a-reported-250m-budget/ |archive-date=12 January 2025 |access-date=20 January 2025 |website=[[Bleeding Cool]]}}</ref> The film will be the first mainstream blockbuster to be shot entirely on IMAX film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roxborough |first=Scott |date=15 May 2025 |title=Christopher Nolan's 'Odyssey' Will Be the First Blockbuster Shot Entirely on Imax Film Cameras |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/nolan-odyssey-first-blockbuster-to-only-use-imax-cameras-1236217925/ |access-date=15 May 2025 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Personal life and public image ==
[[File:Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas.jpg|thumb|Nolan and his wife [[Emma Thomas]] in January 2011. Thomas has worked as a producer on all of Nolan's films since 1997.|alt=Christopher Nolan, on the right, is looking directly towards the camera as Emma Thomas is looking to her right.]]
Nolan is married to [[Emma Thomas]], whom he met at [[University College London]] when he was 19.<ref name="telegraph" /><ref name="British Cinematographer pt2" /> She has worked as a producer on all of his films since 1997.<ref name="syncopy">{{Cite magazine |title=The Z to A of Christopher Nolan |url=https://www.empireonline.com/features/a-z/christopher-nolan/7.asp |url-status=dead |magazine=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924051944/http://www.empireonline.com/features/a-z/christopher-nolan/7.asp |archive-date=24 September 2015 |access-date=18 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Meet the women behind Hollywood's iconic filmmakers |url=https://abc11.com/star-wars-wars-the-force-awakens-psycho-mad-max/1237089/ |publisher=[[WTVD]] |access-date=17 December 2022 |date=10 March 2016 |archive-date=17 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221217093340/https://abc11.com/star-wars-wars-the-force-awakens-psycho-mad-max/1237089/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The couple have four children and reside in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jolin |first1=Dan |title=''Empire'' 30: My Experiences on Christopher Nolan's Movie Sets |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/empire-30-christopher-nolan-set-visits/ |access-date=13 December 2022 |work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |date=18 August 2020 |archive-date=22 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922080328/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/empire-30-christopher-nolan-set-visits/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Nolan and Thomas were included in the ''[[Sunday Times Rich List]]'' of [[Sunday Times Rich List 2025|2025]] with an estimated [[net worth]] of £360 million.<ref>{{cite news |date=16 May 2025 |editor1=Watts, Robert |title=The ''Sunday Times'' Rich List 2025 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/fwFCU |archive-date=18 May 2025 |access-date=16 May 2025 |work=[[The Sunday Times]]}}</ref>

Nolan prefers to maintain a certain level of mystery about his work.{{sfn|Joy|2015|p=3}} Refusing to discuss his personal life,<ref name="Lewis-Kraus">{{Cite news |last=Lewis-Kraus |first=Gideon |date=30 October 2014 |title=The Exacting, Expansive Mind of Christopher Nolan |work=[[The New York Times]]|url-access=limited |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/02/magazine/the-exacting-expansive-mind-of-christopher-nolan.html |url-status=live |access-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516070132/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/02/magazine/the-exacting-expansive-mind-of-christopher-nolan.html |archive-date=16 May 2016}}</ref> he feels that too much biographical information about a filmmaker detracts from the experience of his audiences. He stated, "I actually don't want people to have me in mind at all when they're watching the films."{{sfn|Joy|2015|p=3}} He does not own a smartphone or have an email address, preferring to hand-deliver his scripts to actors instead and have his wife handle outreach with producers and distributors.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Speakman |first1=Kimberlee |title=Christopher Nolan Explains Why He Doesn't Have a Smartphone: 'It's About the Level of Distraction' |url=https://people.com/christopher-nolan-explains-why-he-doesn-t-have-a-smartphone-7561275#:~:text=Christopher%20Nolan%20won't%20let,opposed%20to%20using%20new%20technology. |access-date=22 October 2024 |work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=15 July 2023}}</ref>

==Filmmaking style==
{{Main|Cinematic style of Christopher Nolan}}
Nolan's films are largely centred in [[metaphysical]] themes, exploring the concepts of [[time]], [[memory]] and [[personal identity]].{{sfn|Goh|2022|pp=4, 76}}{{sfn|Blouin|2013|pp=145–146, 149}} His work is characterised by [[Mathematics and art|mathematically inspired]] ideas and images, unconventional [[nonlinear narrative|narrative structures]], [[Materialism|materialistic]] perspectives, and evocative use of music and sound.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Angelo |first=Mike |title=The rational wonders of Christopher Nolan |url=http://thedissolve.com/features/exposition/820-the-rational-wonders-of-christopher-nolan/ |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304083547/http://thedissolve.com/features/exposition/820-the-rational-wonders-of-christopher-nolan/|date=14 November 2014 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=11 September 2016 |website=[[The Dissolve]]}}</ref><ref name="Shone2014">{{Cite news |last=Shone |first=Tom |author-link=Tom Shone|date=4 November 2014 |title=Christopher Nolan: the man who rebooted the blockbuster |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/nov/04/-sp-christopher-nolan-interstellar-rebooted-blockbuster |url-status=live |work=[[The Guardian]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122014558/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/nov/04/-sp-christopher-nolan-interstellar-rebooted-blockbuster |archive-date=22 January 2015 |access-date=24 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Purcell|first=Andrew|title=Christopher Nolan's final frontier |url=http://www.andrewpurcell.net/?p=2000 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518084035/http://www.andrewpurcell.net/?p=2000 |archive-date=18 May 2015 |access-date=7 May 2015 |via=AndrewPurcell.net |work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=8 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Child |first=Ben |title=''Interstellar''{{'s}} sound 'right for an experimental film', says Nolan |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/nov/17/interstellar-sound-christopher-nolan |date=17 November 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117151023/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/nov/17/interstellar-sound-christopher-nolan |archive-date=17 November 2014 |access-date=29 July 2013 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>}} Filmmaker [[Guillermo del Toro]] called Nolan "an emotional mathematician".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Aravind |first1=Ajay |title=10 Directors and Their Best Film, According to IMDb |url=https://www.cbr.com/director-best-films-imdb/ |access-date=14 December 2022 |work=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=30 May 2022 |archive-date=14 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214210717/https://www.cbr.com/director-best-films-imdb/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[BBC]]'s arts editor [[Will Gompertz]] described him as "an art house auteur making intellectually ambitious blockbuster movies that can leave your pulse racing and your head spinning".<ref name="Gompertz-20">{{Cite web |last=Gompertz |first=Will |date=21 August 2020 |title=Tenet: Will Gompertz reviews Christopher Nolan's epic |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-53862695 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827212521/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-53862695 |archive-date=27 August 2020 |access-date=1 September 2020 |publisher=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> Joseph Bevan wrote, "His films allow arthouse regulars to enjoy superhero flicks and multiplex crowds to engage with labyrinthine plot conceits."<ref name="bevan"/> Nolan views himself as "an indie filmmaker working inside the studio system".{{sfn|Molloy|2013|p=40}}

{{Quote box
| width = 25%
| align = right
| quote = "Christopher Nolan doesn't make sense. And that is exactly how he likes it. In twenty-three years and through twelve films, he has defied the laws of Hollywood by creating startling, original genre pieces that have revelled in their own complexity, confounding every maxim by which the studios hope to appeal to the widest audience. And yet he does that too. Cinemas fill on the possibility of the next Nolan film. Whatever form it might take."
| author = —Film author Ian Nathan on Nolan as a filmmaker (2022){{sfn|Nathan|2022|p=5}}
}}
In the sixteen-essay book ''The Philosophy of Christopher Nolan'', professional philosophers and writers analysed Nolan's work; they identified themes of self-destruction, the nature and value of the truth, and the political mindset of the hero and villain, among others.{{sfn|LB|2017|loc=Description}} Robbie B. H. Goh, a professor of English literature, described Nolan as a "philosophical filmmaker" who includes philosophical ideas—[[existentialism]], [[morality]], [[epistemology]] and the distinction between appearance and reality—in films that frequently portray suspense, action and violence. Goh appreciated his ability to incorporate such themes in films that possess "elements of the Hollywood blockbuster"—which help keep the audiences engaged—but simultaneously remain "more thoughtful and self-reflexive than the typical consumerist action film".{{sfn|Goh|2022|pp=1–4}} He further wrote that Nolan's body of work reflect "a heterogeneity of conditions of products" extending from low-budget films to lucrative blockbusters, "a wide range of genres and settings" and "a diversity of styles that trumpet his versatility".{{sfn|Goh|2022|pp=12–13}}

[[David Bordwell]], a [[film theorist]], wrote that Nolan has been able to blend his "experimental impulses" with the demands of mainstream entertainment, describing his oeuvre as "experiments with cinematic time by means of techniques of subjective viewpoint and crosscutting".<ref name="Bordwell2019">{{Cite web |last=Bordwell |first=David |author-link=David Bordwell|date=28 January 2019 |title=Nolan book 2.0: Cerebral blockbusters meet blunt-force cinephilia |url=http://www.davidbordwell.net/blog/2019/01/28/nolan-book-2-0-cerebral-blockbusters-meet-blunt-force-cinephilia/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909104313/http://www.davidbordwell.net/blog/2019/01/28/nolan-book-2-0-cerebral-blockbusters-meet-blunt-force-cinephilia/ |archive-date=9 September 2019 |access-date=11 September 2019 |work=DavidBordwell.net}}</ref> Nolan's use of practical, in-camera effects, miniatures and models, as well as shooting on celluloid film, has been highly influential in early [[Hollywood cinema in 21st century|21st century cinema]].{{sfn|Joy|2015|p=7}}<ref name="IndieW-19">{{Cite web |last=O'Falt|first=Chris|title=Influencers: Christopher Nolan's Team Is the Big-Budget, Practical-Filmmaking Alternative |url=https://www.indiewire.com/influencers/dunkirk-production-team-nolan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203181719/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/12/influencers-team-christopher-nolan-1202192592/ |archive-date=3 December 2019 |access-date=12 March 2019 |publisher=[[IndieWire]]}}</ref> IndieWire wrote in 2019 that Nolan "kept a viable alternate model of big-budget filmmaking alive", in an era where blockbuster filmmaking has become "a largely computer-generated art form".<ref name="IndieW-19" /> Because of Nolan's deep involvement in the technical facet of his films, Stuart Joy described him as a "complete filmmaker", who "oversees all aspects of production while also managing cultural and industrial factors outside of the text".{{sfn|Joy|2015|p=6}}

== Recognition ==
Nolan has made some of the most influential and popular films of his time.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references<ref>{{Cite news |last=Itzkoff |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Itzkoff|date=30 June 2010 |title=A Man and His Dream: Christopher Nolan and ''Inception'' |work=[[The New York Times]]|url-access=limited |url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/30/a-man-and-his-dream-christopher-nolan-and-inception/? |url-status=live |access-date=20 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105012419/http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/30/a-man-and-his-dream-christopher-nolan-and-inception/ |archive-date=5 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tharpe|first=Frazier|title=The Creatives That Defined the 2010s: Christopher Nolan |url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/tv-movie-creatives-that-defined-the-2010s/christopher-nolan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211091822/https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/tv-movie-creatives-that-defined-the-2010s/christopher-nolan |date=22 November 2019|archive-date=11 December 2020 |access-date=23 November 2019 |publisher=[[Complex Networks]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Carey |first1=Graeme |title=The best movies from the 2000s |url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/entertainment/movies/the-best-movies-from-the-2000s/ss-AAV0O2z?li=BBoPJKU |date=13 March 2022 |publisher=[[MSN]] |access-date=14 December 2022 |archive-date=30 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230212749/https://www.msn.com/en-gb/entertainment/movies/the-best-movies-from-the-2000s/ss-AAV0O2z?li=BBoPJKU |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Nissim|first=Mayer|date=6 November 2013 |title=Quentin Tarantino is most-studied director in the UK |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/news/a529084/quentin-tarantino-is-most-studied-director-in-the-uk.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131108105528/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/news/a529084/quentin-tarantino-is-most-studied-director-in-the-uk.html |archive-date=8 November 2013 |access-date=6 November 2013 |work=[[Digital Spy]]}}</ref>}} Many of his films have been regarded by critics as among the best of their respective decades,<ref name="Metadecade"/><ref>{{Cite web|last=Dietz|first=Jason |date=18 December 2019 |title=Best Movies of the Decade (2010–19) |url=https://www.metacritic.com/feature/best-movies-of-the-decade-2010s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101162640/https://www.metacritic.com/feature/best-movies-of-the-decade-2010s |archive-date=1 January 2020 |access-date=18 December 2019 |publisher=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Phipps |first1=Keith |last2=Robinson |first2=Tasha |last3=Rabin |first3=Nathan |last4=Tobias |first4=Scott |last5=Murray |first5=Noel |date=3 December 2009 |title=The best films of the '00s |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-best-films-of-the-00s-1798222348 |url-status=live |access-date=27 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191129185236/https://film.avclub.com/the-best-films-of-the-00s-1798222348 |archive-date=29 November 2019}}</ref> and according to ''The Wall Street Journal'', his "ability to combine box-office success with artistic ambition has given him an extraordinary amount of clout in the industry".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fritz |first=Ben |title=Why Hollywood Loves ''Interstellar'' Director Christopher Nolan |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-hollywood-loves-interstellar-director-christopher-nolan-1414677657 |url-status=live |access-date=30 October 2014|date=30 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102063958/http://online.wsj.com/articles/why-hollywood-loves-interstellar-director-christopher-nolan-1414677657 |archive-date=2 November 2014|url-access=subscription}} {{subscription required}}</ref> His films have earned more than $6{{nbsp}}billion.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fernandes |first1=Marriska |title=Christopher Nolan on ''Oppenheimer'', Filmmaker Fears, and Telling a Great Story |url=https://sharpmagazine.com/2023/11/15/christopher-nolan-oppenheimer-interview/ |access-date=17 November 2023 |work=[[Sharp (magazine)|Sharp]] |date=15 November 2023 |archive-date=17 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117140225/https://sharpmagazine.com/2023/11/15/christopher-nolan-oppenheimer-interview/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Nolan's films ''Memento'' and ''The Dark Knight'' have been selected by the US Library of Congress to be preserved in the [[National Film Registry]] for being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant.<ref name="NFR1">{{Cite news |first= Cynthia|last= Littleton|date=13 December 2017 |title=''Titanic'', ''The Goonies'', ''Field of Dreams'', ''Memento'' Added to National Film Registry |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/the-goonies-titanic-field-of-dreams-die-hard-national-film-registry-1202638298/ |url-status=live |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213101146/http://variety.com/2017/film/news/the-goonies-titanic-field-of-dreams-die-hard-national-film-registry-1202638298/ |archive-date=13 December 2017 |access-date=13 December 2017}}</ref><ref name="NFR2">{{Cite news |last=Mcnary |first=Dave |date=14 December 2020 |title=''Dark Knight'', ''Shrek'', ''Grease'', ''Blues Brothers'' Added to National Film Registry |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/dark-knight-shrek-grease-blues-brothers-national-film-registry-1234852610/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214153224/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/dark-knight-shrek-grease-blues-brothers-national-film-registry-1234852610/amp/ |archive-date=14 December 2020 |access-date=14 December 2020 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> These films and ''Inception'' appeared in [[BBC's 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century]] and ''The Hollywood Reporter''{{'s}} poll of best films ever made.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 August 2016 |title=The 21st Century's 100 greatest films |url=http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160819-the-21st-centurys-100-greatest-films |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131124228/http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160819-the-21st-centurys-100-greatest-films |archive-date=31 January 2017 |access-date=21 January 2017 |publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=Hollywood's 100 Favorite Films |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/100-best-films-ever-hollywood-favorites-818512/ | date=25 June 2014 | work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705214119/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/100-best-films-ever-hollywood-favorites-818512/item/ghostbusters-hollywoods-100-favorite-films-818454 |archive-date=5 July 2019 |url-status=live| access-date=8 December 2022}}</ref> In 2017, ''The Dark Knight'', ''Inception'' and ''Interstellar'' featured in ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' magazine's poll of "The 100 Greatest Movies".<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 June 2017 |title=The 100 Greatest Movies |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-movies/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20171129203213/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-movies/ |archive-date=29 November 2017 |access-date=29 August 2017 |work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]}}</ref> In 2018, ''The Hollywood Reporter'' listed Nolan as one of the 100 most powerful people in entertainment and described him as a "franchise unto himself".<ref>{{Cite news |editor-last=Brower|editor-first=Alison|date=20 September 2018 |title=''The Hollywood Reporter'' 100: The Most Powerful People in Entertainment 2018 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/thr-100-hollywood-reporters-powerful-people-entertainment-1142979/item/thr-100-2018-randy-freer-1143892 |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925095058/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/thr-100-hollywood-reporters-powerful-people-entertainment-1142979/item/thr-100-2018-randy-freer-1143892 |archive-date=25 September 2020}}</ref> ''[[Parade (magazine)|Parade]]'' ranked Nolan number eight in its 2022 list of 75 Best Movie Directors of All Time.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reinstein |first1=Mara |title=The 75 Best Movie Directors of All Time |url=https://parade.com/1048720/maramovies/best-directors/ |access-date=1 December 2022 |work=[[Parade (magazine)|Parade]] |date=2 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127043804/https://parade.com/1048720/maramovies/best-directors/ |archive-date=27 November 2022}}</ref>

[[File:National Film Registry logo vector.svg|thumb|Two of Nolan's films (''[[Memento (film)|Memento]]'' and ''[[The Dark Knight]]'') have been selected by the [[Library of Congress]] for preservation in the [[National Film Registry]].<ref name="NFR1"/><ref name="NFR2"/>|alt=Four-color National Film Registry logo on black background]]

Nolan's work has been as "intensely embraced, analysed and debated by ordinary film fans as by critics and film academics".<ref name="Lewis-Kraus" /><ref name="Descriptions">{{Cite web |date=27 November 2012 |title=An Evening With Christopher Nolan |url=http://www.ifccenter.com/films/an-evening-with-christopher-nolan |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724221708/http://www.ifccenter.com/films/an-evening-with-christopher-nolan/ |archive-date=24 July 2013 |access-date=6 July 2013 |publisher=[[IFC Center]]}}</ref> Calling him "a persuasively inventive storyteller", [[Geoff Andrew]] of the British Film Institute named Nolan one of the few contemporary filmmakers producing highly personal films within the Hollywood mainstream. Andrew wrote that Nolan's films are "not so much [notable] for their considerable technical virtuosity and visual flair as for their brilliant narrative ingenuity and their unusually adult interest in complex philosophical questions".<ref>{{Cite news |year=2012 |title=Christopher Nolan |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] |url=https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=92EC9074-583B-4953-AAFA-52B5F705731C |url-status=live |access-date=17 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620180635/https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=92EC9074-583B-4953-AAFA-52B5F705731C |archive-date=20 June 2018}}</ref> David Bordwell observed that Nolan is "considered one of the most accomplished living filmmakers", citing his ability to turn genre movies into both art and event films, as well as his box office numbers, critical acclaim and popularity among cinemagoers.<ref name="Bordwell2019" /><ref name="BordwellDunkirk">{{Cite web |author=Bordwell, David|title=''Dunkirk'' Part 2: The art film as event movie |url=http://www.davidbordwell.net/blog/2017/08/09/dunkirk-part-2-the-art-film-as-event-movie/ |date=9 August 2017|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810170522/http://www.davidbordwell.net/blog/2017/08/09/dunkirk-part-2-the-art-film-as-event-movie/ |archive-date=10 August 2017 |access-date=10 August 2017 |work=DavidBordwell.net|author-link=David Bordwell}}</ref> In 2008, [[Philip French]] deemed Nolan "the first major talent to emerge this century".<ref name="French-50">{{Cite news |last=French|first=Philip|author-link=Philip French|title=The top 50|date= 13 April 2008 |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/apr/13/features.culture2 |url-status=live |access-date=21 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227024901/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/apr/13/features.culture2 |archive-date=27 February 2015}}</ref> [[Mark Kermode]] complimented Nolan for bringing "the discipline and ethics of art-house independent moviemaking and apply[ing] them to Hollywood blockbusters. He's living proof that you don't have to appeal to the lowest common denominator to be profitable".<ref>{{Cite news|last=East|first=Ben |date=14 June 2013 |title=Newsmaker: Christopher Nolan is a different kind of storyteller |work=[[The National (Abu Dhabi)|The National]] |url=http://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/newsmaker-christopher-nolan-is-a-different-kind-of-storyteller#page2 |url-status=live |access-date=21 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223144206/http://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/newsmaker-christopher-nolan-is-a-different-kind-of-storyteller#page2 |archive-date=23 February 2014}}</ref> ''[[The Observer]]''{{'s}} Ryan Gilbey described Nolan as a "skillful, stylish storyteller, capable of combining the spectacle of Spielberg with the intellectual intricacy of [[Nicolas Roeg]] or [[Alain Resnais]]".<ref name="Observer17">{{Cite web |last=Gilbey |first=Ryan |date=23 July 2017 |title=Christopher Nolan: from superheroes to ''Dunkirk''{{'s}} small tales of heroism |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jul/22/christopher-nolan-dunkirk-batman-observer-profile-profile |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630131849/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jul/22/christopher-nolan-dunkirk-batman-observer-profile-profile |archive-date=30 June 2019 |access-date=30 June 2019 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> [[Mark Cousins (film critic)|Mark Cousins]] applauded Nolan for embracing big ideas, "Hollywood filmmakers generally shy away from ideas—but not Christopher Nolan".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cousins|first=Mark|date=25 August 2010|title=Widescreen: Hollywood's big ideas |url=https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/widescreen-hollywoods-big-ideas |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720171750/https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/widescreen-hollywoods-big-ideas |archive-date=20 July 2018 |access-date=5 September 2018 |work=[[Prospect (magazine)|Prospect]]}}</ref> Scott Foundas of ''Variety'' declared Nolan "the premier big-canvas storyteller of his generation",<ref>{{Cite magazine |first=Scott |last=Foundas|title=Film Review: ''Interstellar'' |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-interstellar-1201338475/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029234605/http://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-interstellar-1201338475/ |archive-date=29 October 2014 |access-date=30 October 2014|date=27 October 2014}}</ref> and [[Justin Chang]] of the ''Los Angeles Times'' called him "the great [[proceduralist]] of 21st century blockbuster filmmaking, a lover of nuts-and-bolts minutiae".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Chang|first=Justin |author-link=Justin Chang|date=22 August 2018|title=Ten years after it changed Hollywood, ''The Dark Knight'' is back in theaters. Accept no substitutes |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-ca-mn-dark-knight-10th-anniversary-20180822-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=23 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822230952/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-ca-mn-dark-knight-10th-anniversary-20180822-story.html |archive-date=22 August 2018}}</ref>

Nolan has been praised by many of his contemporaries, and his work has influenced them.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Erbland |first=Kate |date=2 June 2017 |title=Duncan Jones on How He Models His Career After Christopher Nolan – Q&A |publisher=[[IndieWire]] |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2016/06/duncan-jones-warcraft-christopher-nolan-moon-mute-interview-1201682897/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411124616/https://www.indiewire.com/2016/06/duncan-jones-warcraft-christopher-nolan-moon-mute-interview-1201682897/ |archive-date=11 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Davis |first1=Edward |title=Exclusive: Sam Mendes Says He Was 'Not at All' Interested In Bond At First, Took Direct Inspiration From Nolan's ''Dark Knight'' Films |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2012/10/exclusive-sam-mendes-says-he-was-not-at-all-interested-in-bond-at-first-took-direct-inspiration-from-nolans-dark-knight-films-250672/ |publisher=[[IndieWire]] |access-date=14 December 2022 |date=18 October 2012 |archive-date=14 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214210716/https://www.indiewire.com/2012/10/exclusive-sam-mendes-says-he-was-not-at-all-interested-in-bond-at-first-took-direct-inspiration-from-nolans-dark-knight-films-250672/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=13 July 2012 |title=''The Dark Knight'' Effect – How Hollywood fell for – and learned from – the greatest superhero sequel ever made |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/dark-knight-effect/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113083236/http://www.empireonline.com/features/the-dark-knight-effect |archive-date=13 November 2012 |access-date=26 January 2013}}</ref> [[Kenneth Branagh]] called Nolan's approach to large-scale filmmaking "unique in modern cinema", adding, "regardless of how popular his movies become, he remains an artist and an auteur. I think for that reason he has become a heroic figure for both the audience and the people working behind the camera."<ref>{{cite news |title=Kenneth Branagh must evacuate soldiers trapped in ''Dunkirk'' |url=https://pop.inquirer.net/37978/kenneth-branagh-must-evacuate-soldiers-trapped-dunkirk |access-date=14 December 2022 |newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]] |date=17 July 2017 |archive-date=14 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214210718/https://pop.inquirer.net/37978/kenneth-branagh-must-evacuate-soldiers-trapped-dunkirk |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Michael Mann]] complimented Nolan for his "singular vision" and credited with "invent[ing] the post-heroic superhero".{{sfn|Shone|2020|p=19–20}} Nicolas Roeg said of Nolan, "People talk about 'commercial art' and the term is usually self-negating; Nolan works in the commercial arena and yet there's something very poetic about his work."{{sfn|Shone|2020|p=20}} [[Martin Scorsese]] identified Nolan as a filmmaker creating "beautifully made films on a big scale".<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 October 2015 |title=Martin Scorsese: There's always the budget, but I am more concerned about the creative freedom |work=Film Talk |url=http://filmtalk.org/2015/10/26/martin-scorsese-theres-always-the-budget-but-i-am-more-concerned-about-the-creative-freedom/ |url-status=live |access-date=13 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025044907/https://filmtalk.org/2015/10/26/martin-scorsese-theres-always-the-budget-but-i-am-more-concerned-about-the-creative-freedom/ |archive-date=25 October 2016}}</ref>

[[Damien Chazelle]] lauded Nolan for his ability "to make the most seemingly impersonal projects—superhero epics, deep-space mind-benders—feel deeply personal".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Bryant|first=Jacob|title=Damien Chazelle on ''Dunkirk'' |url=https://variety.com/gallery/directors-on-directors-get-out-lady-bird/#!2/dunkirk-13 |url-status=live |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206041800/http://variety.com/gallery/directors-on-directors-get-out-lady-bird/#!2/dunkirk-13 |archive-date=6 December 2017 |access-date=6 December 2017|date=5 December 2017}}</ref> Discussing the difference between [[art film]]s and big studio blockbusters, Steven Spielberg referred to Nolan's ''Dark Knight'' series as an example of both;<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=In conversation with Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider on The Front Row |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r69N56plrDE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205223650/http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=r69N56plrDE |archive-date=5 December 2013 |access-date=11 December 2022 |publisher=[[Star World (Indian TV channel)|Star World]]|time=4:45|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> he has described ''Memento'' and ''Inception'' as "masterworks".<ref name="TIE">{{cite news |title=Christopher Nolan turns 49: Here is what Steven Spielberg, James Cameron and other directors say about him |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/hollywood/happy-birthday-christopher-nolan-steven-spielberg-james-cameron-5860421/ |access-date=11 December 2022 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=30 July 2019|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223072100/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/hollywood/happy-birthday-christopher-nolan-steven-spielberg-james-cameron-5860421/ |archive-date=23 December 2021}}</ref> [[Denis Villeneuve]] was impressed by Nolan's ability "to keep his identity and create his own universe in that large scope{{nbsp}}... To bring intellectual concepts and to bring them in that scope to the screen right now—it's very rare. Every movie that he comes out with, I have more admiration for his work."<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Falt|first=Chris|date=22 December 2017 |title=Denis Villenueve Aspires to Be Like Christopher Nolan, and Why He Wants to Make ''Dune'' |publisher=[[IndieWire]] |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/12/denis-villenueve-influences-christopher-nolan-steven-spielberg-ingmar-bergman-1201904623/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223192347/https://www.indiewire.com/2017/12/denis-villenueve-influences-christopher-nolan-steven-spielberg-ingmar-bergman-1201904623/ |archive-date=23 December 2017}}</ref> [[James Cameron]] expressed disappointment that Nolan was not nominated for an Academy Award as Best Director for ''Inception'', calling it "the most astounding piece of film creation and direction of the year, hands down".<ref name="TIE"/>

== Filmography ==
{{Main|Christopher Nolan filmography}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*''[[Following]]'' (1998)
*''[[Memento (film)|Memento]]'' (2000)
*''[[Insomnia (2002 film)|Insomnia]]'' (2002)
*''[[Batman Begins]]'' (2005)
*''[[The Prestige (film)|The Prestige]]'' (2006)
*''[[The Dark Knight]]'' (2008)
*''[[Inception]]'' (2010)
*''[[The Dark Knight Rises]]'' (2012)
*''[[Interstellar (film)|Interstellar]]'' (2014)
*''[[Dunkirk (2017 film)|Dunkirk]]'' (2017)
*''[[Tenet (film)|Tenet]]'' (2020)
*''[[Oppenheimer (film)|Oppenheimer]]'' (2023)
*''[[The Odyssey (2026 film)|The Odyssey]]'' (2026); filming
{{div col end}}

== Awards and honours ==
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Christopher Nolan}}

[[File:Christopher Nolan TCL.jpg|thumb|right|Nolan's hand and shoeprints in front of the [[Grauman's Chinese Theatre]] in Hollywood|alt=A hand and footprint reading "Christopher Nolan" at the top and "7/7/2012" at the bottom.]]

Nolan has been nominated for eight [[Academy Award]]s (winning two), eight [[British Academy Film Awards]] (winning two) and six [[Golden Globe Award]]s (winning one).<ref name="nytimesawards" />{{sfn|Nathan|2022|p=197}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Christopher Nolan |url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/christopher-nolan-p240025/awards |publisher=[[AllMovie]] |access-date=8 December 2022 |archive-date=8 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208180637/https://www.allmovie.com/artist/christopher-nolan-p240025/awards |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Winners & Nominees |work=Golden Globes |url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/2018 |publisher=[[Hollywood Foreign Press Association]] |access-date=8 December 2022 |archive-date=10 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410155641/https://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> From 2011 to 2014, he appeared in [[Forbes Celebrity 100|''Forbes'' Celebrity 100]] list based on his income and popularity.<ref>{{cite news |title=Christopher Nolan |url=https://www.forbes.com/pictures/eidm45ek/christopher-nolan/?sh=1a1bb5a821bf |access-date=15 December 2022 |work=[[Forbes]] |date=16 May 2011 |archive-date=15 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215183913/https://www.forbes.com/pictures/eidm45ek/christopher-nolan/?sh=1a1bb5a821bf |url-status=live }}<br>{{cite news |title=Christopher Nolan |url=https://www.forbes.com/pictures/mfl45jjii/christopher-nolan/?sh=37e68cede3df |access-date=15 December 2022 |work=[[Forbes]] |date=16 May 2012 |archive-date=15 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215183911/https://www.forbes.com/pictures/mfl45jjii/christopher-nolan/?sh=37e68cede3df |url-status=live }}<br>{{cite news |title=Christopher Nolan |url=https://www.forbes.com/pictures/fimi45egge/christopher-nolan/?sh=61ce769249fc |access-date=15 December 2022 |work=[[Forbes]] |date=28 June 2013 |archive-date=15 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215183911/https://www.forbes.com/pictures/fimi45egge/christopher-nolan/?sh=61ce769249fc |url-status=live }}<br>{{cite news |title=Christopher Nolan |url=https://www.forbes.com/pictures/mfl45ejldm/christopher-nolan-3/?sh=269e8ede7558 |access-date=15 December 2022 |work=[[Forbes]] |date=27 June 2014 |archive-date=15 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215183914/https://www.forbes.com/pictures/mfl45ejldm/christopher-nolan-3/?sh=269e8ede7558 |url-status=live }}</ref> Nolan appeared in ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''{{'s}} [[Time 100|100 most influential people in the world]] in 2015.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Caine|first=Michael|author-link=Michael Caine|url=http://time.com/3822892/christopher-nolan-2015-time-100|title=Christopher Nolan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417010758/http://time.com/3822892/christopher-nolan-2015-time-100/ |archive-date=17 April 2015|date=17 April 2015|access-date=8 December 2022| magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref>

Nolan was named an Honorary Fellow of UCL in 2006,<ref>{{Cite web |year=2006 |title=Honorary Fellows of UCL |url=http://www.ucl.ac.uk/about-ucl/who-we-are/honorary-fellows |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923115521/http://www.ucl.ac.uk/about-ucl/who-we-are/honorary-fellows |archive-date=23 September 2016 |access-date=11 March 2013 |publisher=[[University College London]]}}</ref> and conferred an [[honorary doctorate]] in literature in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 September 2017 |title=Back to where it all began: Christopher Nolan awarded honorary doctorate at UCL |url=http://www.ucl.ac.uk/campaign/campaign-news/christopher_nolan_honorary_doctorate |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916074807/http://www.ucl.ac.uk/campaign/campaign-news/christopher_nolan_honorary_doctorate |archive-date=16 September 2017 |access-date=15 September 2017 |publisher=[[University College London]]}}</ref> In 2012, he became the youngest director to receive a hand-and-footprint ceremony at [[Grauman's Chinese Theatre]] in Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite magazine|first=Emily |last=Rome |title=''The Dark Knight Rises'': Christopher Nolan's hand and footprint ceremony |url=https://ew.com/article/2012/07/07/christopher-nolan-hand-and-footprint-ceremony/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808193929/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/07/07/christopher-nolan-hand-and-footprint-ceremony/ |archive-date=8 August 2012 |access-date=14 December 2022|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=7 July 2012}}</ref>  He was appointed Commander of the [[Order of the British Empire]] in the [[2019 New Year Honours]] for services to film.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=62507 |date=29 December 2018 |page=N24 |supp=y}}</ref> In 2023, he was awarded the [[Federation of American Scientists]]' Public Service Award for his depiction of scientists in his film ''Oppenheimer''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=10 October 2023 |title=Christopher Nolan To Be Lauded For 'Oppenheimer' By The Federation of American Scientists |url=https://deadline.com/2023/10/christopher-nolan-oppenheimer-federation-of-american-scientists-awards-1235569081/ |access-date=19 October 2023 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=16 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016185435/https://deadline.com/2023/10/christopher-nolan-oppenheimer-federation-of-american-scientists-awards-1235569081/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2024, Nolan received the [[British Film Institute Fellowship]] in recognition of his "extraordinary achievements and enormous contribution to cinema,"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roxborough |first=Scott |date=4 December 2023 |title=Christopher Nolan to Get BFI Fellowship |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/christopher-nolan-to-receive-bfi-fellowship-1235709538/ |access-date=4 December 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=4 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204150301/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/christopher-nolan-to-receive-bfi-fellowship-1235709538/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[Honorary César]] award from the [[Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma]] for "continually push[ing] the boundaries of storytelling."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goodfellow |first=Melanie |date=19 January 2024 |title=Christopher Nolan To Be Feted In France With Honorary César |url=https://deadline.com/2024/01/christopher-nolan-france-honorary-cesar-1235797659/ |access-date=19 January 2024 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=19 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119154836/https://deadline.com/2024/01/christopher-nolan-france-honorary-cesar-1235797659/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2024, Nolan was made a [[knight bachelor]] for his contributions to film, while his wife Emma Thomas was honoured with a damehood.<ref>{{London Gazette |date=22 April 2024 |issue=64374 |page=7898}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=28 March 2024 |title=Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas to receive a knighthood and damehood |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-68683313 |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=28 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328184256/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-68683313 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of Academy Award winners and nominees from Great Britain]]
== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

=== Cited sources ===
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite book |last1=Blouin |first1=Michael J. |title=Japan and the Cosmopolitan Gothic: Specters of Modernity |date=2013 |publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]] |isbn=978-1-137-30522-0 |pages=143–160 |chapter=Difference and Doubt in Christopher Nolan's ''Inception''}}
* {{cite book |last1=deWaard |first1=Andrew |title=The Cinema of Steven Soderbergh: Indie Sex, Corporate Lies, and Digital Videotape |last2=Tait |first2=R. Colin |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]] |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-231-16551-8}}
* {{cite book |editor-last1=Eberl |editor-first1=Jason T. |title=The Philosophy of Christopher Nolan |editor-last2=Dunn |editor-first2=George A. |publisher=[[Lexington Books]] |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-498-51352-4|ref = {{harvid|LB|2017}}}}
* {{cite book |last1=Elsaesser |first1=Thomas |editor1-last=Szaniawski |editor1-first=Jeremi |title=After Kubrick: A Filmmaker's Legacy |date=2020 |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing]] |isbn=978-1-501-34765-8 |pages=29–51 |chapter=Stanley Kubrick's Prototypes: The Author as World-Maker}}
* {{cite book |editor1-last=Furby |editor1-first=Jacqueline |title=The Cinema of Christopher Nolan: Imagining the Impossible |editor2-last=Joy |editor2-first=Stuart |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]] |year=2015 |isbn=978-0-231-85076-6}}
** {{harvc  |last=Joy |first=Stuart |chapter=Dreaming a Little Bigger, Darling |pages=1–16 |in1=Furby |in2=Joy |year=2015 }}
** {{harvc  |last=Hill-Parks |first=Erin |chapter=Developing an Auteur Through Reviews: The Critical Surround of Christopher Nolan |pages=17–30 |in1=Furby |in2=Joy |year=2015 }}
** {{harvc  |last=Ní Fhlainn |first=Sorcha |chapter='You keep telling yourself what you know, but what do you believe?': Cultural Spin, Puzzle Films and Mind Games in the Cinema of Christopher Nolan |pages=147–163 |in1=Furby |in2=Joy |year=2015 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Goh |first1=Robbie B. H. |title=Christopher Nolan: Filmmaker and Philosopher |year=2022 |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing]] |isbn=978-1-3501-3996-1 <!--|chapter=Christopher Nolan as filmmaker and philosopher: Themes, methods and influences|pages=1–20-->}}
* {{cite journal |last1=James |first1=Oliver |last2=von Tunzelmann |first2=Eugénie |last3=Franklin |first3=Paul |last4=Thorne |first4=Kip S. |author3-link=Paul Franklin (visual effects supervisor) |author4-link=Kip Thorne |year=2015a |title=Gravitational lensing by spinning black holes in astrophysics, and in the movie Interstellar |journal=[[Classical and Quantum Gravity]] |publisher=[[IOP Publishing]] |volume=32 |issue=6 |pages=065001 |doi=10.1088/0264-9381/32/6/065001 |arxiv=1502.03808 |bibcode=2015CQGra..32f5001J |s2cid=3415942 |ref={{harvid|James et al.|2015a}} |url=https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0264-9381/32/6/065001/pdf |format=PDF |access-date=30 December 2022 |archive-date=30 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230195500/https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0264-9381/32/6/065001/pdf |url-status=live | issn = 0264-9381 }}
* {{cite journal |last1=James |first1=Oliver |last2=von Tunzelmann |first2=Eugénie |last3=Franklin |first3=Paul |last4=Thorne |first4=Kip S. |author3-link=Paul Franklin (visual effects supervisor) |author4-link=Kip Thorne |year=2015b |title=Visualizing Interstellar's Wormhole |journal=[[American Journal of Physics]] |publisher=[[American Association of Physics Teachers]] |format=PDF |volume=83 |issue=6 |pages=486–499 |doi=10.1119/1.4916949 |arxiv=1502.03809 |bibcode=2015AmJPh..83..486J |s2cid=37645924 |ref={{harvid|James et al.|2015b}} |url=https://aapt.scitation.org/doi/pdf/10.1119/1.4916949 |access-date=8 December 2022 |archive-date=8 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208182118/https://aapt.scitation.org/doi/pdf/10.1119/1.4916949 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book |last1=Johnson |first1=David Kyle |chapter=Inception as Philosophy: Choose Your Dreams or Seek Reality |title=The Palgrave Handbook of Popular Culture as Philosophy |publisher=[[Springer Nature]] |date=2020 |pages=1–20 |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-97134-6_5-1|author-link=David Kyle Johnson|isbn=978-3-319-97134-6|s2cid=213244862 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Koole |first1=Sander L. |last2=Fockenberg |first2=Daniel |last3=Tops |first3=Mattie |last4=Schneider |first4=Iris K. |editor1-last=Sullivan |editor1-first=Daniel |editor2-last=Greenberg |editor2-first=Jeff |title=Death in Classic and Contemporary Film |year=2013 |publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]] |isbn=978-1-137-27688-9 |pages=135–150 |chapter=The Birth and Death of the Superhero Film|ref={{harvid|Koole et al.|2013}}}}
* {{cite book |last=McGowan |first=Todd |title=The Fictional Christopher Nolan |publisher=[[University of Texas Press]] |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-292-73782-2|chapter=A Plea for the Abandonment of Reality in ''Inception''|pages=147–170}}
* {{cite journal |first1=Claire |last1=Molloy |title=Christopher Nolan and Indie Sensibilities |journal=Revue Française d'études Américaines |year=2013 |volume=136 |issue=136 |pages=40–51|jstor=43830999|publisher=[[:fr:Belin éditeur|Belin éditeur]]}}
* {{cite book |last=Mooney |first=Darren |title=Christopher Nolan: A Critical Study of the Films |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |year=2018 |isbn=978-14-766-7480-3}}
* {{cite book |last=Mottram |first=James |url=https://archive.org/details/makingofmemento00mott |title=The Making of Memento |publisher=[[Faber and Faber]] |year=2002 |isbn=0-571-21488-6 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Nathan |first1=Ian |title=Christopher Nolan: the Iconic Filmmaker and His Work |year=2022 |publisher=[[Quarto Publishing]] |isbn=978-0-7112-7713-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Shone |first=Tom |title=The Nolan Variations: The Movies, Mysteries, and Marvels of Christopher Nolan |publisher=[[Faber & Faber]] |year=2020 |isbn=978-0-5713-4800-8|author-link=Tom Shone}}
* {{cite book |last=Smith|first=Basil|editor-last=Conard |editor-first=Mark |title=The Philosophy of Neo-Noir |publisher=[[University Press of Kentucky]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-8131-7230-9|chapter=John Locke, Personal Identity and ''Memento''|pages=35–46 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Zornado |first1=Joseph L. |last2=Reilly |first2=Sara |title=The Cinematic Superhero as Social Practice |date=2021 |isbn=978-3-030-85458-4 |pages=155–189 |chapter=Superhero Fantasy in Crisis|publisher=[[Springer Nature]]}}
{{Refend}}

== Further reading ==
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{Cite book |last=Belluomini |first=Lance |chapter=Tenet as Philosophy: Fatalism Isn't an Excuse to do Nothing |date=2021 |title=The Palgrave Handbook of Popular Culture as Philosophy |publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]] |isbn=978-3-319-97134-6 |editor-last=Johnson, David Kyle |editor-link=David Kyle Johnson|pages=1–21 |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-97134-6_99-1|s2cid=230597057 }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Duncan Jesser |first1=Jody |title=The Art and Making of ''The Dark Knight'' Trilogy |last2=Pourroy |first2=Janine |publisher=[[Abrams Books]] |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-4197-0369-0 |url=https://archive.org/details/artmakingofdarkk0000jess}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Fisher |first=Mark |year=2011 |title=The Lost Unconscious: Delusions and Dreams in ''Inception'' |journal=[[Film Quarterly]] |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |volume=64 |issue=3 |pages=37–45 |doi=10.1525/FQ.2011.64.3.37}}
* {{Cite book |last=Kellner |first=Douglas M |title=Cinema Wars: Hollywood Film and Politics in the Bush-Cheney Era |publisher=[[Wiley-Blackwell]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-1405198240 |edition=1st}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Rabiger |first1=Michael |title=Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics |last2=Hurbis-Cherrier |first2=Mick |publisher=[[CRC Press]] |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-135-09921-3}}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
{{sister project links|d=Q25191|c=category:Christopher Nolan|b=no|v=no|voy=no|s=no|wikt=no|n=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no}}
* {{IMDb name|634240}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes person|christopher_nolan|Christopher Nolan}}
* [http://www.tribute.ca/people/christopher-nolan/6453/35045/ Christopher Nolan Biography] at [http://www.tribute.ca Tribute.ca]
* [http://www.indiefilmhustle.com/christopher-nolan/ Christopher Nolan – How to Direct Your First Feature Film]

{{Christopher Nolan|state=collapsed}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Christopher Nolan|Awards for Christopher Nolan]]
|list =
{{Academy Award Best Picture Producers}}
{{Academy Award for Best Director}}
{{AACTA International Award for Best Direction}}
{{AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Director}}
{{Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Director}}
{{Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{BAFTA Best Film recipients}}
{{BAFTA Award for Best Direction}}
{{BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Awards}}
{{Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Bram Stoker Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Director}}
{{Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Original Screenplay}}
{{Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Director}}
{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Director}}
{{Directors Guild of America Award Feature Film}}
{{Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Motion Picture Screenplay}}
{{Empire Award for Best Director}}
{{Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director}}
{{Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Golden Globe Award for Best Director}}
{{Honorary César}}
{{Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Director}}
{{IndependentAwardforBestDirector}}
{{Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Maltin Modern Master Award}}
{{MTV Movie Award for Best New Filmmaker}}
{{Nebula Award for Best Script/Bradbury Award 2001–2020}}
{{New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director}}
{{Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Director}}
{{Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Original Screenplay}}
{{Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Breakthrough Filmmaker}}
{{Satellite Award Best Director}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Director}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Writing 1991–2010}}
{{Seattle Film Critics Society Award for Best Director}}
{{St. Louis Film Critics Association Award for Best Director}}
{{St. Louis Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{TFCA Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director}}
{{Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Director}}
{{Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Original Screenplay}}
{{Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nolan, Christopher}}
[[Category:Christopher Nolan| ]]
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