Every Christopher Nolan Movie Ranked from Worst to Best, According to Rotten Tomatoes (Including ‘The Odyssey’)

Christopher Nolan has spent almost three decades turning original, brain bending concepts into box office gold, and critics have mostly been along for the ride the entire time. From his black and white debut to his blockbuster war epics and his Oscar winning biopic, nearly every entry in his filmography has landed in “fresh” territory on Rotten Tomatoes.

With ‘The Odyssey’ now hitting theaters, it feels like the right moment to look back at how critics have scored Nolan’s body of work so far. Using the Tomatometer rankings compiled by Rotten Tomatoes, here is every Christopher Nolan movie sorted from its lowest critic score to its highest.

‘Tenet’ (2020)

Sitting at the bottom of Nolan’s filmography with a 70 percent score is ‘Tenet’, the time bending spy thriller starring John David Washington and Robert Pattinson. The critics consensus notes that the film serves up all the cerebral spectacle audiences expect from a Nolan production, even if it plays as a puzzle for film lovers to unlock. Released in the middle of the pandemic, its rocky theatrical rollout famously strained Nolan’s relationship with Warner Bros.

‘Interstellar’ (2014)

Just above ‘Tenet’ sits ‘Interstellar’ at 73 percent, the sprawling space epic led by Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, and Jessica Chastain. Critics called it thrilling, thought provoking, and visually resplendent, though the consensus also notes that its intellectual reach somewhat exceeds its grasp. It remains one of Nolan’s most emotionally divisive films among audiences and critics alike.

‘The Prestige’ (2006)

‘The Prestige’ lands at 77 percent, with Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman playing rival 19th century magicians locked in an escalating, obsessive feud. The critics consensus praises it as a dazzling period piece full of twists and turns that never stops challenging its audience. Michael Caine and Scarlett Johansson round out a cast that helped cement Nolan’s reputation for elaborate structural storytelling.

‘Following’ (1998)

Nolan’s ultra low budget debut, ‘Following’, holds a solid 82 percent score. Shot in black and white for under half a million dollars, the noir thriller follows a struggling writer who starts tailing strangers around London. The consensus calls it super brief but efficient, showcasing the director’s burgeoning talent for tight, hard edged filmmaking right out of the gate.

‘Batman Begins’ (2005)

‘Batman Begins’ sits at 85 percent, marking the film that resurrected the Caped Crusader after the franchise had been badly damaged by ‘Batman and Robin’. Christian Bale stars alongside Michael Caine and Liam Neeson in what critics describe as brooding and dark, yet exciting and smart. It set the template for the grounded superhero trilogy that would follow.

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (2012)

Closing out the Dark Knight trilogy, ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ earned an 87 percent score. Christian Bale returns alongside Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, and Marion Cotillard for a finale that critics called ambitious, thoughtful, and potent. The consensus praises how it concludes Nolan’s franchise in spectacular fashion.

‘Inception’ (2010)

Tied with ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ at 87 percent is ‘Inception’, the dream heist thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Tom Hardy. Critics called it smart, innovative, and thrilling, noting it is that rare summer blockbuster that succeeds both viscerally and intellectually. The film has since become one of the most recognizable entries in Nolan’s catalog.

‘Insomnia’ (2002)

‘Insomnia’ comes in at 92 percent, with Al Pacino and Robin Williams anchoring a psychological drama about a veteran detective sent to investigate a murder in a small Alaskan town. The critics consensus points to the two leads’ performances as the driving force behind a smart and riveting film. It was this feature that convinced seasoned stars to trust Nolan with a big studio production early in his career.

‘Dunkirk’ (2017)

Also scoring 92 percent is ‘Dunkirk’, Nolan’s WWII epic about the evacuation of Allied troops from the beaches of France. Featuring Fionn Whitehead, Tom Glynn-Carney, and Harry Styles, the film earned praise for its emotionally satisfying spectacle delivered by a filmmaker in full command of his craft. Critics highlighted the gifted ensemble cast that honors the real life, fact based story.

‘Oppenheimer’ (2023)

‘Oppenheimer’ holds a 93 percent score, chronicling J. Robert Oppenheimer and the Manhattan Project with Cillian Murphy leading a cast that includes Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., and Matt Damon. The consensus calls it another engrossing achievement for Nolan, driven by Murphy’s tour de force performance and stunning visuals. The film went on to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

‘Memento’ (2000)

Also at 93 percent is ‘Memento’, the backwards told thriller starring Guy Pearce as a man tracking his wife’s killer while battling short term memory loss. Critics praised how Nolan skillfully guides the audience through the fractured narrative, steeping the film in existential dread. It remains the breakout indie that opened the door to Nolan’s studio career.

‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)

Topping the entire ranking with a 94 percent score is ‘The Dark Knight’, starring Christian Bale, the late Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, and Michael Caine. The critics consensus calls it dark, complex, and unforgettable, succeeding not just as a comic book film but as a richly thrilling crime saga. Ledger’s performance as the Joker is widely credited with reshaping how seriously the industry treats superhero cinema.

‘The Odyssey’ (2026)

Rounding things out is ‘The Odyssey’, Nolan’s newest film starring Matt Damon as the legendary Greek king Odysseus alongside Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, and Zendaya. Shot entirely with IMAX cameras across locations in Italy, Iceland, Greece, Morocco, and Scotland, the film chronicles Odysseus’s perilous journey home following the Trojan War. It has not yet received an official Tomatometer score since it only just opened in theaters, but early reactions circulating from premiere screenings suggest it could challenge for a spot near the very top of this list.

With ‘The Dark Knight’ still reigning as Nolan’s most critically beloved film and ‘The Odyssey’ waiting in the wings to shake things up, where do you think this new mythological epic will ultimately land on the Tomatometer once the reviews roll in?