Christopher Nolan’s Top Pick? A Will Ferrell Comedy That Stuck With Him

Christopher Nolan, the director behind films like Inception and Oppenheimer, once revealed a surprising favorite movie: the Will Ferrell comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.

In an interview with Variety, Nolan said he keeps coming back to it. ‘Talladega Nights,’ I’m never gonna be able to switch that up, he explained.

It might be unexpected that a filmmaker known for complex, serious films enjoys a silly, feel-good comedy about a NASCAR driver.

Nolan even referenced Ferrell’s famous line: “If you ain’t first, you’re last.”

Talladega Nights, released in 2006, stars Will Ferrell as Ricky Bobby, an overconfident and immature NASCAR driver learning life lessons on and off the track. The movie also features John C. Reilly, Sacha Baron Cohen, Amy Adams, and others. Several real NASCAR drivers make cameos, along with broadcasting teams from NASCAR on Fox and NBC.

The film was directed by Adam McKay, who co-wrote it with Ferrell. Talladega Nights was a commercial success, earning $163.4 million worldwide on a $72 million budget. Critics also responded positively, giving it a 72% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 66 on Metacritic. CinemaScore audiences gave the film a grade of B.

Reviewers praised the racing sequences and the ensemble performances. Robert Koehler of Variety said the film manages to “simultaneously tease and love a subject,” while Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly highlighted the “scorchingly shot” racing scenes. Sheri Linden of The Hollywood Reporter called it a “sendup of sports-triumph movies” that keeps the right comedic tone.

Total Film gave it a perfect five-star rating, saying Ferrell is “back in freewheeling form” and calling the movie one of the best of the year. Automotive journalist Leo Parente even said it’s “the most accurate racing film ever, trust me.”

For Nolan, Talladega Nights is more than just a funny movie. He describes it simply as “great” and one he enjoys returning to, showing that even a director known for serious, epic films can have a soft spot for comedy.

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