Christopher Nolan’s career as a filmmaker is beloved by fans, but two movies in his filmography demand multiple viewings. Ever sincehis debut movie with the low-budget thrillerThe Following, Nolan has been gradually establishing himself as one of the most popular directors working in cinema today. He further cemented his status among fans withhisDark Knighttrilogy, but has proven that he can tell huge movies beyond the superhero genre, leading to his Best Picture and Best Director Oscar wins forOppenheimer.
Nolan’s upcomingThe Odysseyis certainly one of the most anticipated movies on the horizon and looks to continue his trend of big and bold blockbusters. However, even as the scale of his movies grows, the smaller movies still contain the kind of excitement his storytelling has become known for. As fun as it can be to look back on some of his bigger movies, two smaller titles are so complex and brilliantly told that I return to them again and again, getting something new with each viewing.
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There Are Two Christopher Nolan Movies I Can Watch On Repeat Without Getting Bored
Memento And The Prestige Reward Multiple Viewings
Even withinChristopher Nolan’s hugely acclaimed filmography,MementoandThe Prestigestill stand out as two movies I can watch multiple times without problem. While Nolan is an intricate storyteller with many of his movies feeling like puzzles that gradually come together, that is never more true than with these two titles.Mementowas the movie that made Nolan a filmmaker to watch in Hollywood, whileThe Prestigewas his first movie following the big-budget success ofBatman Begins.
They are engrossing and entertaining movies on the first viewing, but there is so much revealed in returning to them.
They are both very different movies for Nolan, yet both embrace his love of a mystery better than any of his other titles.Mementotells its story in reverse, following Leonard (Guy Pearce), a man with short-term memory loss who is searching for his wife’s killer.The Prestigeis a period mystery starring Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman as two magicians who begin a bitter rivalry that spans years and gradually turns deadly. They are engrossing and entertaining movies on the first viewing, but there is so much revealed in returning to them.
MementoandThe Prestigeare both viewed as having the best twist endings of Nolan’s career, and how the movies put the pieces together leading up to their respective conclusions is what makes them so rewatchable. WithMemento’s timeline revealing itself in reverse, once you get to the end, you almost want to immediately rewatch it again to see how it all worked backwards. Likewise, theending ofThe Prestigeis a dark mix of sci-fi and thriller that reveals the magic trick Nolan pulled off.
MementoandThe Prestigeare not defined by their twist endings, and the stories are so rich that it is fun to go back to them even though you know the secret. However, knowing the twist also makes for the fun of understanding so much more the next time you watch it, and getting more and more from the small hints littered throughout the two movies.
Some Christopher Nolan Movies Demand To Be Rewatched Once Or Twice
The Dark Knight, Inception, And Interstellar Are Worth Returning To
WhileMementoandThe Prestigeare the most rewatchable movies in Christopher Nolan’s career, he has an ability to tell grand stories that you do want to return to, even if only once more.The Dark Knighttrilogy works exceptionally well as individual movies, but fans should at least binge-watch all three movies together at one point to see the full sagathat Nolan created. Seeing theevolution of Christian Bale’s Batmanand his mission to save Gotham is likely the only franchise Nolan is going to make and experiencing it as one epic story is a thrill.
You might simply sit back and enjoy the ride the first time and then watch it again to get a better sense of what is happening.
Then there are his more complex movies that almost need a second viewing to understand them fully.Inceptioncertainly falls into that category as it delivers a heist movie thriller with some big concepts.Inception’s multiple dream levelsand the rules of this world are complicated to the point that you might simply sit back and enjoy the ride the first time and then watch it again to get a better sense of what’s happening.
This is similar toTenet’s time-travel rules and the exploration of physics inInterstellar. Both movies are able to be entertaining and engrossing, even if the big ideas might be hard to grasp on a first viewing.LikeMementoandThe Prestige, they also come together in a satisfying way in the end, which makes you want to watch it again, now knowing the fun secret behind the storytelling.
Some Great Christopher Nolan Movies Only Need One Watch
Nolan’s Historical Movies Tell Complete Stories Fans Don’t Necessarily Need To See Again
There are many fans who would agree that Christopher Nolan has not made a bad movie in his career, but not every entry in his filmography needs to be constantly revisited. While this does not mean the movies are bad, it simply means that they are complete stories that deliver their messages and their grand stories in an effective way that there is not a lot left to explore. Not surprisingly, it is Nolan’s two historical movies that avoid the twists and turns of his usual writing and simply deliver epic retellings of real events.
Even Nolan’s Best Picture winner,Oppenheimer, is not a movie that demands to be revisited.
Dunkirkis Nolan’s brilliant World War II movie that features incredible sequences and a gripping look at a harrowing moment in history. While the structure of the story might take a moment to wrap your head around,Dunkirksimply works as a thrilling, tense, and ultimately uplifting look at how loss can be seen as a victory in the end.
Even Nolan’s Best Picture winner,Oppenheimer, is not a movie that demands to be revisited. It is filled with brilliant performances, especially Cillian Murphy in the lead role, and the bomb testing scene is a show-stopping cinematic moment. However, the story and the ultimate haunting message of the movie are so impactful that they can stay with the audience even after only seeing it once.WhileMementoandThe Prestigereward multiple viewings with their intricate mysteries, some of Nolan’s movies simply exist as examples of the filmmaker’s brilliance.
Memento
Cast
Christopher Nolan’s Memento is a psychological thriller that tells the story of Leonard, a former insurance investigator who suffers from a disease that prevents his brain from storing short-term memories. The one thing he can remember is murder of his wife, for which he wishes to exact revenge. Starring Guy Pearce and Carrie-Anne Moss, the movie was released in 2000 to widespread acclaim, launching the director’s successful Hollywood career.
Inception
Inception, directed by Christopher Nolan, features a skilled thief who uses dream-sharing technology to steal corporate secrets. He is tasked with planting an idea into a CEO’s mind, while confronting his troubled past, which threatens the mission and his team.
