Christopher Nolan’s Most Underrated Movies That Deserve More Attention

Nolan's Forgotten Masterpieces of Movie Direction

Christopher Nolan's stories and directed movies have always appealed to the audience in a charming, yet mysterious way. Almost every time audience hears the name Nolan on the directorial seat, they start expecting the plot to twist and turn in ways that are unimaginable. Nolan's movie have garnered a reputation of creating suspense in audience about the plot changing and switching in ways that are unheard of.

5. Tenet (2020)

Released to a confused, pandemic-era audience, Tenet was widely criticized for being "baffling," "emotionless," and having inaudible dialogue. It's his most divisive blockbuster by a mile. However, for those willing to go along for the ride, it's a wildly ambitious and audacious practical-effects marvel—a James Bond-style spy thriller.

4. Dunkirk (2017)

It's strange to call a Best Picture nominee "underrated," but Dunkirk is often dismissed by audiences as "cold" or "plotless" because it lacks traditional character arcs. This misses the point. It's a 106-minute anxiety attack, a survival-horror film where time itself is the enemy, and it's one of the most unique war films ever made.

3. The Prestige (2006)

Sandwiched between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, The Prestige is often forgotten in Nolan's "blockbuster" era. It's arguably his most tightly constructed and re-watchable film—a dark, intricate, and perfectly crafted puzzle box where every line and every scene is a clue. It’s a flawless film about the lies, sacrifice, and obsession required to create a perfect illusion.

2. Insomnia (2002)

This is the only film Nolan directed but didn't write, so it's often seen as the "non-Nolan" Nolan film. But it's a masterful, atmospheric, and deeply unsettling psychological thriller. It features one of Robin Williams's most chilling, non-comedic performances. It proves Nolan's expertise in building suffocating, character-driven tension.

1. Following (1998)

Give Nolan $6000 and he will give this masterpiece of a debut movie. Most people simply haven't seen it, but it's essential viewing. This is the blueprint for his entire career. Shot in gritty black-and-white, the film is a brilliant, 70-minute neo-noir that already features his signature obsessions: non-linear timelines, obsessive protagonists, shifting identities, and a third-act twist that forces you to re-evaluate everything you just watched. It's pure, uncut Nolan.