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All Christopher Nolan Films Ranked (Worst to Best)

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Recording Setup & Quick Intro

Mark Cobber and Jack Howard record in London’s Sun Pub, immediately joking about their outfits and the absurd heat:

  • Mark is stuck in a full black suit, describing himself like an “undertaker.”
  • Jack arrives in a more beachy, “Alan Partridge sports casual” look—sweating through the interview.

What They’re Going To See

They explain they’re both heading to the premiere of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, but at different cinemas:

  • Mark: BFI IMAX (70mm)
  • Jack: ODEON Leicester Square

A running comic thread follows: the IMAX experience is “the way it’s meant to be seen.” Jack initially mentions being a “guest” holder, but ends up trading spots so his girlfriend can attend.

The conversation includes mock-serious, romantic logic and teasing—such as:

  • “With you sitting next to me it’ll be like I’m at the IMAX.”
  • Playful jokes about not “playing her that clip,” followed by laughter.

Nolan Film Rankings

After the prelude, they rank Nolan’s films. The debate is lively and opinionated rather than nitpicky.

Mark’s Top 10 (Best to Worst Within His Top List)

  1. The Prestige
  2. Inception
  3. Momento (Memento)
  4. Batman Begins
  5. Interstellar
  6. The Dark Knight
  7. Dunkirk
  8. “It” (likely Insomnia)
  9. Insomnia (subtitle mix makes this unclear)
  10. Oppenheimer

Mark notes his list is clearest when restricted to his top 10, and says arguing about the bottom of his full slate isn’t worth it.

Jack’s Ranking

  • 12) Following
  • 11) Insomnia
  • 10) The Dark Knight Rises

Then his top five:

  1. Oppenheimer
  2. Inception
  3. Tenet
  4. Dunkirk
  5. The Dark Knight

A Big Flashpoint: Oppenheimer vs The Prestige

One major highlight is their flip:

  • Mark: Oppenheimer at #10
  • Jack: Oppenheimer at #1

Their debate stays upbeat. They also share some criticisms and overlaps:

  • They both bash The Dark Knight Rises for aging poorly (“clunky”), while still admitting it has memorable moments (like Tom Hardy’s Bane).
  • They largely agree that Following/Insomnia sit at the bottom,** but they disagree on how the “prestige”/“interstellar”/“dark knight” tier should be arranged.

Why Nolan Movies Hit on Rewatch

They bond over Nolan films being made for repeat viewing, especially how rewatching reshapes opinions. They mention:

  • Inception
  • Interstellar
  • The impact of the IMAX experience on appreciation

There are also joke-heavy asides, including:

  • A discussion of Oppenheimer being “shot on IMAX close-ups,” with Killian Murphy’s face described like it’s doing “Mount Rushmore” work.
  • Their laughter over the subtitles during quantum/“disco lights” critique.

Key Emotional & Cinematic Moments

They slow down to talk about the moments that emotionally land:

  • Jack praises Inception’s emotional punch and highlights the physical realism of the sets (the corridor “isn’t CGI trickery”).
  • Mark remembers Inception’s ending and the crowd holding its breath.
  • Jack picks The Prestige for its “internal gasp” realization—every trick reveals stakes like death, again and again.

The Dark Knight Focus

They emphasize the philosophical weight of the Joker-vs-Batman dynamic:

“Fight for the soul of Gotham.”

They contrast it with more straightforward superhero braggadocio—who “punches harder.”

Closing Back on Oppenheimer

They circle back to Oppenheimer, with contrasting views:

  • Jack argues it’s structurally propulsive and strangely comforting—courtroom drama with action-movie pacing—supported by performances and score.
  • Mark loves many performances (including Matt Damon) but felt the film was emotionally underwhelming and criticized the narrative skew: it shifts from “what have I done?” to “they’re out to get him.”

They also briefly tackle:

  • The concern about why there’s no atom bomb explosion
  • How guilt carries into the final third
  • Bold staging choices like nudity and perspective shifts involving Florence Pugh and courtroom dynamics

Anticipation for The Odyssey

  • Mark expects The Odyssey will break into his top five.
  • Jack has no idea and treats that uncertainty as good suspense—summarizing it with: “maybe both things can be true.”

Personalities Appearing

  • Mark Cobber
  • Jack Howard

Referenced / Mentioned in Discussion (name checks & jokes)

  • Hannah Montana (joke)
  • Lee Evans
  • Paul Schrader
  • Simon Mayo (podcast promotion reference)
  • Killian Murphy
  • Matt Damon
  • Florence Pugh
  • Emily Blunt
  • Elliot Page
  • Tom Hardy
  • Johnny Greenwood (name-check humor)

Original video