The Odyssey opens in theaters on Friday. As part of the celebration, I’ve spent the past two weeks looking at Christopher Nolan’s previous films. This week, it’s his Top 6 films. The films appear in ascending order!

No. 6: The Prestige (2006)
About: This is a Nolan film that I think is sometimes overlooked. It’s about rival magicians, coming out in a year where there were two films about magicians. This is the superior version, and one of my favorite Nolan films. Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman are great here, and the twists are a lot of fun.

No. 5: Dunkirk (2017)
About: A stellar World War II film. It tells the story in a few different modes, each with a different timing structure. It’s a story from the war that will probably be newer for many Americans, which helps with how it works. When all the pieces come together in the end, it feels masterful. No one plays with time better than Nolan.

No. 4: Oppenheimer (2023)
About: This is the one that got him an Academy Award for directing and Best Picture. It’s well deserved. This was an incredible feat that featured a great story, some great performances, and some unforgettable visual moments. The fact it’s only No. 4 for me speaks to how I feel about his films.

No. 3: The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
About: The capstone to his Batman trilogy, this is a film that I appreciate more each time I watch it. I know that it doesn’t resonate for some, but there are some beautiful ideas here. There are some sweeping visuals and some incredible sequences. And that ending moves me quite a bit every time. Maybe it’s my love of A Tale of Two Cities.

No. 2: Inception (2010)
About: This movie remains unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Some of what he does visually is crazy. But it’s the emotions, particularly in that ending sequence, that make it a banger. This is a great cast all in service of a really incredible piece of filmmaking. It’s one of the few five-star reviews I’ve ever given, and Nolan has two of them!

No. 1: The Dark Knight (2008)
About: And this is the other five-star film from Nolan for me. Batman has always been my favorite superhero, and this is by far my favorite of the Batman films. It’s got such Heat feels, too. Heath Ledger is incredible as The Joker, but all of it is a masterwork. I will never not be moved by the closing sequence. This is peak Nolan!

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.