Remember the 12 films by Oscar-winner Christopher Nolan?

Half a century of success
Recognisable cinema
The Nolan Dozen (as director)
How many do you remember?
Following (1998)
Memento (2000)
Insomnia (2002)
Batman Begins (2005)
The Prestige (2006)
The Dark Knight (2008)
Inception (2010)
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Interstellar (2014)
Dunkirk (2017)
Tenet (2020)
Oppenheimer (2023)
Half a century of success

After more than half a century in the industry, Christopher Nolan has crowned himself as one of the leading directors of the 21st century. With 'Oppenheimer,' he's dominating the 2024 award season.

Recognisable cinema

His work has combined the best of auteur cinema and mainstream projects, often winning the praise of audiences, critics, and the box office at the same time.

The Nolan Dozen (as director)

After his latest release, 'Oppenheimer', Christopher Nolan now has a total of 12 films behind him as a director, spread over 25 years.

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How many do you remember?

And here comes the challenge: how many of those 12 films can you remember? We will give you a clue: his career in cinema began in 1998 and not in 2000, as many people think.

Following (1998)

The making of this film was thanks to an interesting letter of introduction to a younger Christopher Nolan who was showing signs of his potential, but also many of the vices of an established amateur. The film was shot in black and white and in 16 mm, which gives an idea of Nolan's conception of himself as a director, at only 27 years old.

Memento (2000)

His real Hollywood breakthrough came in the form of an instant cult film. It was a story with a complicated script and features a lead like Guy Pearce. It was an absolute hit that couldn't have worked out better for Christopher Nolan.

Insomnia (2002)

In his third film, Nolan was working with people like Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Maura Tierney and Hilary Swank. He managed to get the best out of each of them, especially Robin Williams, as excellent as he was disturbing.

Photo: Warner Home Video

Batman Begins (2005)

Nolan knew he would have two more films to develop the reboot of the Batman saga and focused on laying the groundwork for a darker, more realistic and relatable hero than had ever been seen before. Christian Bale was key to this project but not as much as the villains would end up being.

The Prestige (2006)

In the midst of the Batman maelstrom, Christopher Nolan took the time to direct one of his best films. An adaptation of Christopher Priest's novel in which nothing and no one is what it seems. He put together an absolutely overwhelming cast: Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, David Bowie, Piper Perabo, Andy Serkis...

The Dark Knight (2008)

Christopher Nolan's biggest work will always be linked to the performance of his Joker and the untimely passing of Heath Ledger. Who would expect a Batman movie to give the lead role to its antagonist? An unexpected twist and without as many pretensions as in other projects. It surpassed the barrier of 1 billion at the box office.

Photo: TM DC Comics

Inception (2010)

Nolan should have kept making Dark Knight movies, as his projects in-between were simply spectacular. The premise of 'Inception' blew millions of people's minds. Dreams within dreams, cities that fold, Hans Zimmer and, as always, a superb cast, led by a masterful Leonardo DiCaprio.

Photo: Warner Bros Pictures

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

The closing of the trilogy was not as well rounded as the second installment but, of course, it did not have the best Joker in history, played by the late Heath Ledger. In spite of everything, Nolan could move on with a successful saga in his pocket - one that was very different from the superhero blockbusters released up to that moment.

Photo: Warner Bros

Interstellar (2014)

If the viewer really 'gets' this film, they are going to enjoy it very much indeed. Yes, 'Interstellar' may err on the side of pretentiousness, but Nolan's cinema always has been. His works are pretentious, even if he hasn't always nailed the quality of the project like he did with Matthew McConaughey as an astronaut.

Photo: Paramount Pictures

Dunkirk (2017)

Christopher Nolan's unexpected and applauded leap into war. It is not the best war movie ever, as its director intended, but it is among the best. And, in addition, it has an always excellent Hans Zimmer behind its soundtrack.

Photo: Warner Bros Entertainment Inc. Ratpac Dune Entertainment LLC y Ratpac Entertainment LLC

Tenet (2020)

The premise was a strange one. Some scenes made a serious impact on the viewer, but you get the feeling it never quite 'gets there'. It was undoubtably one of the few disappointments in Nolan's career but he had set the bar extremely high previously so people now have great expectations of the director.

Photo: Warner Bros Pictures

Oppenheimer (2023)

The biopic about the scientist who devised the first atomic bomb has become cultural history. It is a rounded film that, despite its three hours, is made with masterful vision and you can now clearly see that Nolan has the Hollywood knack. Definite Oscar material.

Photo: Universal Pictures

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