4 Christopher Nolan Films Featured in Major 21st Century Movie Ranking by Over 200,000 People
Christopher Nolan is once again in the spotlight, and it’s not because of a new movie. This time, it’s thanks to a ranking by The New York Times, which recently shared its list of the 100 best movies of the 21st century.
That’s a pretty bold move, considering the century’s not even halfway over, but the list got a lot of attention, and Nolan’s name showed up more than anyone else’s.
According to The New York Times, five of Nolan’s movies made the cut. That’s more than any other director on the list. It’s a reminder of just how much of an impact he’s had over the past 25 years. From his breakout moment with Memento to massive hits like Inception and The Dark Knight, Nolan has been behind some of the biggest and most talked-about films of this generation.
On the Times list, The Dark Knight came in at number 28. Next was Inception at 58, followed by Memento at 62, Oppenheimer at 65, and Interstellar landing at 89. Directors like Paul Thomas Anderson, Quentin Tarantino, and David Fincher also had multiple films featured, but Nolan came out on top with five total.
That was already impressive, but things got even more interesting when a fan vote came into the picture. A new ranking based on over 200,000 votes from everyday movie fans pushed Nolan’s films even higher up the list. This time, four of his movies made it into the top 35.
- Parasite
- Mulholland Drive
- No Country for Old Men
- There Will Be Blood
- Interstellar
- The Dark Knight
- Mad Max: Fury Road
- Spirited Away
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
- The Social Network
- Inglourious Basterds
- In the Mood for Love
- Everything Everywhere All at Once
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
- La La Land
- Get Out
- Moonlight
- Whiplash
- Arrival
- Children of Men
- The Grand Budapest Hotel
- Oppenheimer
- Inception
- The Departed
- Portrait of a Lady on Fire
- Dune: Part Two
- The Royal Tenenbaums
- Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
- Brokeback Mountain
- Before Sunset
- Lost in Translation
- Gladiator
- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
- Aftersun
In that fan-chosen lineup, Interstellar was ranked all the way up at number five. Right behind it was The Dark Knight at number six. Oppenheimer and Inception also landed in the top 25. It’s clear that Nolan’s movies don’t just impress critics, they stick with audiences too.
The fan list wasn’t only about Nolan though. Other top picks included Parasite, No Country for Old Men, and There Will Be Blood. Parasite took the top spot. The full list had a good mix of genres and styles, from animated hits like Spirited Away to indie favorites like Aftersun and Portrait of a Lady on Fire. It showed that people love all kinds of movies, but Nolan’s work definitely stood out.
It’s rare for a director to connect with both critics and general audiences in such a strong way, but Nolan seems to keep pulling it off. Whether it’s time-bending thrillers or emotional space dramas, his movies continue to spark conversation and earn repeat viewings.
One comment left under the fan poll summed it up well: “The best movies stay with you. And Nolan’s films always come back to me, no matter how long it’s been.”
Looks like a lot of people feel the same.
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