Every Christopher Nolan Movie, Ranked

Time bended and twists galore. Obsessive, tortured men. Charismatic villains sent to wreak havoc in their enemy's lives. Pulverising sound, gorgeous set design, timeless practical effects. 12 films, each as unique and of their creator's mind as the last.

The work of Christopher Nolan often covers the same ground - in theme, at least, and as feats of filmmaking. Most deal with heroes caught in a twisted tale they can't seem to untangle; many see love and hope as weapons against evil - shields from disaster. All find the director pouring oodles of awe-inspiring magic into every scene he crafts, from the minute to the grand. 

All, though, are radically different in form and often in genre, too. Nolan has brought us dark thrillers, a trilogy of game-changing superhero flicks, sci-fi epics and war dramas, and with each one he's given us unrivalled craftsmanship, bold visions of light in the darkness, and complex webs of storytelling.

One of a remarkable few filmmakers working today who are almost guaranteed to deliver on the hype their reputation demands, Nolan has shown no signs of slowing down, his films of late going bigger than ever with epic, grand-stand results.

So with that in mind, then, from The Dark Knight to Oppenheimer, from Insomnia to Inception, here are all of Christopher Nolan's movies ranked from worst to best.

Nolan's directorial debut, Following, has all the hallmarks of a first-time filmmaker struggling to find their voice and balance the ideas they wish to explore. It's also quintessential Nolan, a twisty tale of deceit packed with the trademarks that would become his calling cards - non-linear storytelling, surreal twists, and complicated men on a deeply personal mission. 

Following - which concerns a young writer (Jeremy Theobald) drawn into the compelling orbit of a serial burglar (Alex Haw) who steals from the rich to make them appreciate their lives - is a dark, brooding character study, one that Nolan injects with genuine dread and an inevitable sense of doom that still rips the ground from under you once it all comes crashing down.

A moral tale of obsession and betrayal, Following is ambitious and quite thrilling, though it's also awkward, lumbering in its pace and unsure of itself. It cost next-to-nothing to produce, and, while timid in comparison with the films left to come, is still a must-see for anyone hoping to understand what makes Christopher Nolan tick.