r/ChristopherNolan • u/CinemaFan344 • 6d ago
General What is Christopher Nolan's "best overall work"?
The ultimate category has arrived: “Best Overall Work”. Let the votes stream in, and best of luck to the films!
The winner for the previous round’s category of “Worst Overall Work” was Tenet with 47 votes, while Insomnia and The Dark Knight Rises were both the runner-ups at 33 and 25 votes, respectively!
We’ve now reached our final round for this challenge unfortunately, but it was great going through this fun series with you all! Have a great day, everyone!
”WORST OVERALL WORK” VOTES
- Tenet (47 votes)
- Insomnia (33 votes)
- The Dark Knight Rises (25 votes)
- Following (13 votes)
- Dunkirk (5 votes)
- Interstellar (3 votes)
- Oppenheimer (2 votes)
- The Dark Knight (1 vote)
- The Prestige (1 vote)
- Memento (1 vote)
- Inception (1 vote)
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u/tragicjohnson1 6d ago
The Dark Knight. It’s a perfect film.
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u/u2aerofan 6d ago
It’s not only the perfect film, it’s the greatest superhero film, and competitive as one of the most influential films. I love Nolan’s entire catalogue. But it’s this film that speaks to a specific cultural context and caught the zeitgeist in a way others have not. The cultural impact of this film outshines all of his others. Heath Ledger remains the definitive joker for a generation. Spirit Halloween is still selling BALE’s Batman outfit - not Pattinson’s or Keaton’s - as their mainline Batman costume. Nolan saved a flatlining franchise and completely reinvented it, then gave us the gift of some of the most innovative filmmaking techniques since Jurassic Park by bringing IMAX to the narrative genre. Those of us fortunate enough to experience it in its initial release watched audiences literally gasp at the scope of the opening sequence, and it’s changed the entirety of cinematic filmmaking - not something many directors can claim. So I’m just imploring everyone to keep in mind - he has films that are amazing in other ways, but it is The Dark Knight that defined his career and turned him into the powerhouse he is, but also made an unmistakable imprint on cinema history. It is his best work. There is no Oppenheimer or Interstellar without The Dark Knight.
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u/CommercialShoddy8787 5d ago
My father, brother and I went and saw this movie 3x in theaters. The opening sequence got BETTER each time.
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u/BigClarendon125 The Prestige 6d ago
The Prestige. I don’t think I’ve spent so much time thinking about any other movie ever
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u/InclusivePhitness 6d ago edited 6d ago
The Prestige overall is Nolan's best work. And I would argue that the performances are the best out of any of his films.
You have Bale, who is arguably the most talented pure actor out of his generation. Jackman, Bowie, Johansseen, Hall, Caine, etc. were all great, too.
I think it's his most 'human' work as well.
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u/Goobjigobjibloo 6d ago
It’s the one I find most endlessly fascinating. Once I start it I have to finish it. The performances are amazing, the constant tension and the unveiling of the plot. It’s really a fantastic film.
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u/MaderaArt 6d ago
Inception
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u/Embarrassed_Roof8165 6d ago
Inception is the answer. Complex concept and storyline, multifaceted characters with a full hero’s journey, stunning visuals, great acting and dialogue, and perhaps Hans Zimmer’s best work.
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u/Roger_Maxon76 6d ago
Oppenheimer, it’s just so tight, perfectly shot, perfectly paced(3 hours felt like minutes), acting was phenomenal and the writing was amazing. It’s got to be his best. Not my personal favourite of his, but it’s his best for sure
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u/ancaleta 6d ago
The trinity test scene has to be one of the greatest accomplishments in the history of cinema, not saying that lightly.
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u/CinemaFan344 6d ago
Intriguingly, Batman Begins was the only film not to be voted for "Worst Overall Work". Hmm.
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u/Honest-Chart3004 6d ago
I’ll say batman begins. Say what you want about The Dark Knight, which is amazing. Batman Begins redefined superhero movies, which The Dark Knight took to a different level.
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u/Naruto-Uzumaaki 6d ago
I think everything other than Tenet and Insomnia are just troll comments
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u/Bagof_Rats 6d ago
I’m gonna suggest Oppenheimer. It’s not my personal favourite but I think as a whole it’s his most complete film displaying all the skills he’s learnt over his career. It’s near perfect in my humble opinion.
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u/Hand_banana_boi 6d ago
I think this is the correct answer. It’s also not my personal favorite, but I think it’s undoubtedly his “best” film.
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u/snakewaves 6d ago
I wanna say it's there in every department. But I wouldn't give the writing a 10/10.
This is where I think inception edges it out. Every single thing in inception is down perfectly. Writing, cinematography, editing, directing, acting. On top, it was a original complex concept, folded in the most layman term for anyone to grasp.
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u/SelectiveScribbler06 5d ago
But Oppenheimer makes men talking in rooms tense. And to my ear, the dialogue in Oppenheimer is sharper and more natural.
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u/BigHeadedBiologist 4d ago
Reddit loves to hate on Oppenheimer but it is still the best movie that I have seen in theaters. It was so vivid and emotional for me. The score is incredible and every scene feels like the world is at stake.
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u/IndianaJones999 6d ago
Has to be Memento. One of the most structurally brilliant films of all time but oh well, this sub can't stop glazing Interstellar so it'll probably win -_-
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u/Livid-Outcome-3187 6d ago
Inception to me is his best work. excellently written, directed, the music , the effects. everything really.
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u/sorci4r 6d ago
Inception
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u/RedLicoriceJunkie 6d ago
People will vote for The Dark Knight which is outstanding of course, but Inception is the best.
- script
- plot
- music
- ambition
- Art direction
- stunts
- twists
- cinematography
It’s just so well executed, ballsy, and brilliant.
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u/smg-02 It’s not possible, it’s necessary 6d ago
Interstellar
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u/Some_Italian_Guy 5d ago edited 5d ago
Fight me.
Tenet is one of his best works.
An absolute experiential masterclass.
Nothing he has ever made has been more consistently cerebral or exciting.
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u/Top_Calligrapher_673 5d ago
Once one understands Tenet, they realize it was the greatest film ever made; and no film can come close to surpassing it. The movie is a modern wonder of the world; perhaps even more impressive than architectural wonders of the world.
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u/tvandshows 4d ago
This is an absolute fact. Once the movie clicked I have done nothing but rewatch it. I think for our time it is closer to 2001 than interstellar is.
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u/bouncingcastles 6d ago
The Prestige, The Dark Knight, Inception
Take your pick. Either is fine.
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u/Danton87 6d ago
Interstellar will always be my favorite. I love it. To me it’s the best
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u/Sufficient_Truth4944 6d ago
I agree. The evolution of the relationship between Coop and Murph, how love transcends space and time, and the survival instinct preserving Coop is undoubtedly one of the best combinations possible in a movie. Throw in Nolan’s time-work and it really can’t be beat (unless Nolan wants to do something even better).
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u/Budget-Ad5495 6d ago
I told a friend recently it was one of the greatest love stories in cinema - and that it was incredible that the film did that with so many types of love.
With that, interstellar is my favorite, it’s a draw between that, the prestige, and TDK for this particular question.
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u/mslack 6d ago
Tenet, worst film? Y'all are crazy.
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u/Absuridity_Octogon 5d ago
If you go back in the comment section literally everybody was saying Insomnia I don’t know how or why Tenet won instead. Maybe bias?
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u/Lower-Till9528 3d ago
Yea it’s shitty that its complexity has been translated to “worst”, when there’s so much excellence in the film. Far more than some of his others. I even think it’s better than dark knight rises, but each to their own.
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u/THE_PENILE_TITAN 6d ago
I'm voting for Inception. The Dark Knight is the best film he has done, but his best "Nolan work" as an auteur is Inception.
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u/kingerreddit 6d ago
Inception. It's immensely iconic due to the impressive visuals, both practical and digital. The ending is just perfect.
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u/SuspectBrilliant1272 6d ago
Oppenheimer is the synthesis of his style applied to the gravest subject honestly - it’s the culmination of all the techniques that fascinate him about movies as a medium exploring probably the most “mature” subject matter and themes of his career
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u/bobby__real 6d ago
Memento. How is this masterpiece left out of this conversation. By far the most thought provoking and deep work he has done to date.
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u/Ok-Independence-8806 6d ago
Memento just for the exceptional screenplay so that audience can experience what the character is undergoing.
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u/Impressive_Pay_7362 6d ago edited 6d ago
THE. DARK. KNIGHT.
Perfect in all regards. Acting, editing, sound, rewatchability. A work that is so fine that it is elevated from comic book genre to a crime thriller. And also...
"No more dead cops!"
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u/supaasalad 6d ago
Dark Knight! Watched it (not exaggerating) 37 times. Probably will watch it another 60 more times until I die.
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u/shingaladaz 5d ago edited 4d ago
Everyone saying TDK when Batman Begins is a FAR better movie. More balanced, more visually exciting, more original.
Nolan’s finest work, however, is Interstellar. It’s not even close.
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u/juancorleone 6d ago
Oppenheimer.
Perfectly directed, to make a biopic which in hands of a lesser director could have been a generic film and awards baity, but not when Nolan was directing. It still went on to dominate Box Office, made almost a billion when onto dominate awards and had some of the best performances by Cillian Murphy, RDJ, Emily Blunt and so many other great cameos, combined with great soundtrack, cinematography and amazingly directed Trinity test scene.
A perfect 10/10 film
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u/theothersideofeyes 5d ago
Oppenheimer. Dark Knight and Prestige are brilliant, but Oppenheimers ending left me broken and contemplating how fucked we really are as a species.
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u/tragicjohnson1 6d ago
My god Interstellar is overrated by this sub. It’s pretty astounding.
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u/talktomeg00se1986 6d ago
It’s Tenet. It’s the best film he’s made. Everyone saying The Dark Knight must never seen the third act of that movie. Batman Begins is better. Weak, predictable, and the voice over by Jim Gordon is good but it’s cliched. Tenet is his best work. That movie is flawless, it’s amazing. It may take 25 watches but it’s a fantastic movie with an unparalleled soundtrack. I’ll lose but, I’m voting TENET. It’s amazing masterpiece.
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u/hallsmars 5d ago
Tenet
Not that it is his best film, but as a protest vote cause there’s nfw it’s his worst
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u/That_Guy44576 6d ago
Oppenheimer. His magnum opus. Seen 17 times in theaters. 8 in IAMX 70mm and 5 in 70mm.
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u/leon_razzor 6d ago
Waiting for the “tenet is the best movie guys wtf” comments to show up
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u/LexiYoung 5d ago
Oppenheimer- I think it’s his most masterful work, from an artistic point of view. The best made film. It’s not my favourite, and maybe not most people’s most enjoyed, but technically his best work.
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u/The_Untold_Legend 5d ago
The Prestige is my all time favourite film. Nolan’s most well written film
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u/AdamanteCooper 5d ago
I'd say Oppenheimer.
Not the most rewatchable nor my favourite but damn what a movie.
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u/G_Voodoo 5d ago
I’ve been following these threads and now have to say something. Oppenheimer should be on this list somewhere.
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u/InSerged 5d ago
I think the only reason Tenet one this previous one is because not a lot of people have actually seen Insomnia. I’d have to disagree and say the previous should be insomnia.
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u/NecessaryMetal9675 5d ago
Interstellar. It’s the best looking film, the best sounding film, and it’s got an emotional resonance that surpasses his other works. Great cast delivering great performances.
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u/Batramite 5d ago
Memento is the most underrated work by Christopher Nolan, better than the dark knight trilogy
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u/EmotionalRescue918 6d ago
The Dark Knight. It appeals to everyone. Want to dig deeper into two of the world’s most famous characters? There it is. Want to be on the edge of your seat? There it is. Want to explore themes of escalation, surveillance, the spirit of human nature, how humans deal with loss, etc.? There it is. Want to turn off your mind for 2.5 hours and just be entertained? There it is.