Christopher Nolan has directed 13 movies to date, beginning with his debut film Following around 1998 or 1999 and most recently releasing The Odyssey in 2026 [1, 2, 3]. Following is a black-and-white noir thriller about a writer who follows strangers, marking Nolan's first feature film, though sources differ on its release year—with some citing 1999 and others 1998 [1, 2, 3]. Ethan Gach noted that "Following is the only movie on this list I wouldn’t recommend people go back and watch," indicating its niche appeal [2].
In 2002, Nolan directed Insomnia, a psychological thriller often seen as less reflective of his unique auteur style [3]. Nolan rebooted the Batman franchise with Batman Begins in 2005, focusing on Bruce Wayne's origins [2, 3]. This film launched his highly acclaimed Batman trilogy.
The trilogy concluded with The Dark Knight Rises in 2012, which featured Tom Hardy as the villain Bane and Anne Hathaway as Catwoman. Kenneth Shepard commented that the film’s "biggest crime is that it starts to cave under its own weight at the end, though it’s not without its own iconic moments" [1, 2, 3].
Nolan explored time manipulation in the sci-fi spy thriller Tenet, released in 2020, starring John David Washington [1, 3]. Tenet further demonstrated Nolan’s penchant for complex narratives.
His latest film, The Odyssey, released in 2026, adapts Homer's epic poem with Matt Damon starring as Odysseus [1, 2]. The film represents Nolan’s continued interest in epic storytelling.
Over nearly three decades, Nolan has built a diverse filmography ranging from intimate thrillers to large-scale blockbusters, with 13 films directed so far [1, 2].
