Christopher Nolan
Directing
BIRTHDAY
Jul 30th, 1970
PLACE OF BIRTH
Westminster, London, England, UK
BIOGRAPHY
Sir Christopher Edward Nolan (born 30 July 1970) is a British and American filmmaker. As a significant auteur of his generation, he has established himself as a major figure of 21st-century Hollywood. His films have earned over $6 billion worldwide, making him the seventh highest-grossing film director of all time. Nolan's accolades include two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award and two British Academy Film Awards. He was appointed as a CBE in 2019 and was knighted in 2024 for his contributions to film.
Nolan developed an interest in filmmaking from a young age. After studying English literature at University College London, he made several short films including Tarantella (1989), Larceny (1996) and Doodlebug (1997) before his feature film debut with Following (1998). Nolan gained international recognition with his second film, Memento (2000), and transitioned into studio filmmaking with Insomnia (2002). He became a high-profile director with The Dark Knight trilogy (2005–2012). He found further success with The Prestige (2006), Inception (2010), Interstellar (2014) and Dunkirk (2017). After the release of Tenet (2020), Nolan parted ways with longtime distributor Warner Bros. Pictures. He signed with Universal Pictures for Oppenheimer (2023), which won him Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture.
Three of Nolan's films have been inducted into the National Film Registry. Infused with a metaphysical outlook, his works thematise epistemology, existentialism, ethics, the construction of time and the malleable nature of memory and personal identity. They feature mathematically inspired images and concepts, unconventional narrative structures, practical special effects, experimental soundscapes, large-format film photography and materialistic perspectives. His enthusiasm for the use and preservation of traditional film stock has also garnered significant attention. He has co-written several of his films with his brother, Jonathan. He runs the production company Syncopy Inc. with his wife, Emma Thomas.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Christopher Nolan, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
BIOGRAPHY
Sir Christopher Edward Nolan (born 30 July 1970) is a British and American filmmaker. As a significant auteur of his generation, he has established himself as a major figure of 21st-century Hollywood. His films have earned over $6 billion worldwide, making him the seventh highest-grossing film director of all time. Nolan's accolades include two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award and two British Academy Film Awards. He was appointed as a CBE in 2019 and was knighted in 2024 for his contributions to film.
Nolan developed an interest in filmmaking from a young age. After studying English literature at University College London, he made several short films including Tarantella (1989), Larceny (1996) and Doodlebug (1997) before his feature film debut with Following (1998). Nolan gained international recognition with his second film, Memento (2000), and transitioned into studio filmmaking with Insomnia (2002). He became a high-profile director with The Dark Knight trilogy (2005–2012). He found further success with The Prestige (2006), Inception (2010), Interstellar (2014) and Dunkirk (2017). After the release of Tenet (2020), Nolan parted ways with longtime distributor Warner Bros. Pictures. He signed with Universal Pictures for Oppenheimer (2023), which won him Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture.
Three of Nolan's films have been inducted into the National Film Registry. Infused with a metaphysical outlook, his works thematise epistemology, existentialism, ethics, the construction of time and the malleable nature of memory and personal identity. They feature mathematically inspired images and concepts, unconventional narrative structures, practical special effects, experimental soundscapes, large-format film photography and materialistic perspectives. His enthusiasm for the use and preservation of traditional film stock has also garnered significant attention. He has co-written several of his films with his brother, Jonathan. He runs the production company Syncopy Inc. with his wife, Emma Thomas.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Christopher Nolan, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Movie Credits
View All
Batman Unmasked: The Psychology of The Dark Knight
Self
Heath Ledger: A Tribute
Self
These Amazing Shadows
Self
The Batmobile
Self
Side by Side
Self
To End All War: Oppenheimer & the Atomic Bomb
Self - Writer / Director, "Oppenheimer"
Dreams: Cinema of the Subconscious
Self
Inside Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer
Self - Director / Writer / Producer
Gotham Uncovered: Creation of a Scene
Self
Batman Tech
Self
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Batman Unmasked: The Psychology of The Dark Knight
as Self
Delve into the world of Batman and the vigilante justice that he brought to the city of Gotham. Batman is a man who, after experiencing great tragedy, devotes his life to an ideal--but what happens when one man takes on the evil underworld alone? Examine why Batman is who he is--and explore how a boy scarred by tragedy becomes a symbol of hope to everyone else.
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Heath Ledger: A Tribute
as Self
On January 22, 2008, the entertainment world was rocked by news that one of its brightest young stars had unexpectedly died. This film is a commemorative special dedicated to the life and works of this complex and unique talent who died before his time.
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These Amazing Shadows
as Self
Tells the history and importance of The National Film Registry, a roll call of American cinema treasures that reflects the diversity of film, and indeed the American experience itself.
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The Batmobile
as Self
Witness all five Batmobiles together for the first time in history. Dive deep into every aspect of the most awe-inspiring weapon in Batman’s arsenal as you journey through the birth and evolution of this technological marvel and cultural icon
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Side by Side
as Self
Since the invention of cinema, the standard format for recording moving images has been film. Over the past two decades, a new form of digital filmmaking has emerged, creating a groundbreaking evolution in the medium. Keanu Reeves explores the development of cinema and the impact of digital filmmaking via in-depth interviews with Hollywood masters, such as James Cameron, David Fincher, David Lynch, Christopher Nolan, Martin Scorsese, George Lucas, Steven Soderbergh, and many more.
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To End All War: Oppenheimer & the Atomic Bomb
as Self - Writer / Director, "Oppenheimer"
Explore how one man's relentless drive and invention of the atomic bomb changed the nature of war forever, led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and unleashed mass hysteria.
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Dreams: Cinema of the Subconscious
as Self
Can the dream world be a fully functional parallel reality? Joseph Gordon-Levitt and leading scientists take you to the cutting edge of dream research in this documentary produced for Christopher Nolan's "Inception."
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Inside Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer
as Self - Director / Writer / Producer
A look behind the scenes of Christopher Nolan's film "Oppenheimer" about an American scientist and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.
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Gotham Uncovered: Creation of a Scene
as Self
Director Christopher Nolan and creative collaborators unmask the incredible detail and planning behind The Dark Knight, including stunt staging, filming in IMAX, the new Bat-Suit and Bat-Pod and other exclusive features.
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Batman Tech
as Self
He's caped, cowled and the coolest superhero of them all, because underneath that Batsuit, Batman only has his human strength and intellect to rely on. That and the greatest arsenal of crime fighting weaponry ever devised. But just where does comic book science fiction end and scientific fact begin? What technologies are behind the gadgets in Batman's utility belt? And just how plausible is the Batmobile? Get ready for a real life trip to the Batcave as we reveal the secrets behind Batman Tech.
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The Science of Interstellar
as Self
Matthew McConaughey narrates a fascinating look at Christopher Nolan's sci-fi film, 'Interstellar', including scientific foundations, the work of consulting Scientist Kip Thorne, basic film themes, the science behind the search for planets capable of hosting life, space-time and the theory of relativity, the science of wormholes and black holes, crafting the film's visuals based on real scientific observation, the birth of the universe, the Dust Bowl and the evolution of dust as a toxin, the likelihood of future dust storms, the prospects of escaping a dying or doomed planet and the possibilities of colonizing Mars.
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The Director's Notebook: The Cinematic Sleight of Hand of Christopher Nolan
as Self
Behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of "The Prestige" (2006).
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Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot
as Self
Actors, crew and executives who worked at Warner Bros. Pictures recall their days at the studio.
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The Fire Rises: The Creation and Impact of The Dark Knight Trilogy
as Self
This feature-length documentary delves into the trilogy, opening with the inspiration and vision for the new Batman films and inching its way toward the Rises finale and the culmination of nearly a decade of creative blood, sweat and tears. Candid, thoughtful and extensive, and comprised of revealing behind-the-scenes footage, countless interviews, audition tapes (with Christian Bale and Cillian Murphy doning the cape and cowl), and a narrative grip and momentum all its own, it leaves no stone unturned.
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Tarantella
as Man in Black
"Tarantella" was an early Super 8 short film directed by Christopher Nolan with his childhood friend Roko Belic. It was made in 1989 while Nolan was studying at University College London. The film aired on "Image Union," a PBS programme in Chicago. It is about the suffering of a young man while he has nightmare about spiders and demons.
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Interstellar: Nolan's Odyssey
as Self
A look behind the lens of Christopher Nolan's space epic.
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Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel
as Self
An in-depth look of the 40 year journey, from post-war Germany to Hollywood royalty, of Hans Zimmer, the man who’s become the dominant force in the world of movie soundtracks. His film credits include The Lion King, Rain Man, Pirates of The Caribbean, Gladiator, The Dark Knight Trilogy, 12 Year A Slave, The Thin Red Line, The Da Vinci Code and Dune.
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Cinema16: British Short Films
as Self - Commentary, Doodlebug (voice)
This critically acclaimed DVD contains 16 of the best classic and award winning British short films and delivers a snapshot of British cinema past and present. It includes films from Britain's most exciting new talent alongside early shorts from it's most successful filmmakers' amongst them Chris Nolan (Memento, Insomnia, Batman Begins), Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Alien), Mike Leigh (Secrets and Lies) and Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot, The Hours).
01 About a Girl - Brian Percival
02 Boy & Bicycle - Ridley Scott
03 Dear Phone - Peter Greenaway
04 Doodlebug - Christopher Nolan
05 Eight - Stephen Daldry
06 Gasman - Lynne Ramsay
07 Girl Chewing Gum - John Smith
08 Home - Morag McKinnon
09 Joyride - Jim Gillespie
10 Inside Out - Tom & Charles Guard
11 Je Taime John Wayne - Toby Macdonald
12 The Sheep Thief - Asif Kapadia
13 The Short & Curlies - Mike Leigh
14 Telling Lies - Simon Ellis
15 UK Images - Martin Parr
16 Whos My Favourite Girl? - Adrian J. McDowall
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Stanley Kubrick in Focus
as Self
Spielberg, Soderbergh, Stone, Friedkin, Scorsese and others tell how Kubrick's directorial style influenced them and how his unique style was developed.
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Cinema Futures
as Self
Analog celluloid strips are disappearing. Is film dying, or just changing? Are the world's film archives on the brink of a dark age? Renowned filmmakers, museum curators, historians, and engineers help dramatize the future of film and the cinema in the age of digital moving pictures.
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Exploring 'The Tree of Life'
as Self
A documentary on Terrence Malick and the making of his film "The Tree of Life."
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Inside 'Interstellar'
as Self - Director / Co-Writer
Cast and crew of Christopher Nolan's "Interstellar" discuss project origins, the film's imagery, ambitions, incorporating IMAX footage, the human element within the film, arm shooting locations outside of Calgary, the set construction and design, working with real corn, mechanical characters, including backstory, design, the blend of practical and digital effects in bringing them to life, the differences in the characters, the human performances behind the characters, the creative process behind the film's music, Icelandic locations, vehicle interiors, the processes of simulating the absence of gravity, the crucial end-film visuals and influence and inspiration for future generations
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Film Noir: Bringing Darkness to Light
as Self
Film Noir burrows into the mind; it's disorienting, intriguing and enthralling. Noir brings us into a gritty underworld of lush morbidity, providing intimate peeks at its tough, scheming dames, mischievous misfits and flawed men - all caught in the wicked web of a twisted fate.
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Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound
as Self
The history of cinematic sound, told by legendary sound designers and visionary filmmakers.
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Ending the Knight
as Self
A comprehensive look into how Director Christopher Nolan and his production team made "The Dark Knight Rises" the epic conclusion to the Dark Knight legend. These cover stunts and action, production/vehicle design, various effects, photography and shooting IMAX, sets and locations, sound design and music, story/character areas, cast and performances, and some general thoughts about the series.
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Joker: Put on a Happy Face
as Self
Featuring interviews with filmmakers and industry legends, discover the origins and evolution of The Joker, and learn why The Clown Prince of Crime is universally hailed as the greatest comic-book supervillain of all time.
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Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics
as Self (archive footage)
A look at the history of the comic book publication that launched such legendary characters as Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.
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Catwoman: The Feline Femme Fatale
as Self
A documentary about the history of Catwoman from DC.
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Looking at the World in a New Way: The Making of ‘Tenet’
as Self
A look behind the scenes of Christopher Nolan’s Tenet.
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Hans Zimmer & Friends: Diamond in the Desert
as Self
An extraordinary live performance of Hans Zimmer's most beloved and renowned movie soundtracks, including music from Dune, Gladiator, Interstellar, and The Lion King. Featuring conversations with creative collaborators Billie Eilish, Christopher Nolan, Denis Villeneuve, Finneas, Jerry Bruckheimer, Pharrell Williams, Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and more.
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Utan ord – i filmmusikens värld
as Selft
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MCAINE: An Anagram of Cinema
as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
Legendary British actor Michael Caine, who began his brilliant career on stage during the 1950s, talks about his private life, his work in film and the books he has written.
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The Odyssey: The Making of an Epic
as Self - Director / Writer / Producer
Go behind the scenes of Christopher Nolan's mythic action epic, The Odyssey. This special documentary explores the monumental undertaking of adapting Homer’s foundational saga for the big screen, charting a grueling 91-day principal photography schedule across six countries. From the revolutionary use of brand-new IMAX film technology to the massive coordination of over 5,300 custom-designed costumes, discover how a star-studded cast led by Matt Damon, Tom Holland, and Anne Hathaway brought the dangerous, timeless world of ancient Greek gods and monsters to life.
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TV Credits
View All
StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson
Self
Encyclopedia of Useless Facts Around The Earth
Self
100 Years of Warner Bros.
Self
MTV Movie & TV Awards
Self / Presenter
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee
The Colbert Report
Self - Guest
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self
The Oscars
Self
James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction
Self
Thirteen Talks
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StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson
as Self
Host Neil deGrasse Tyson brings together celebrities, scientists and comedians to explore a variety of cosmic topics and collide pop culture with science in a way that late-night television has never seen before. Weekly topics range from popular science fiction, space travel, extraterrestrial life, the Big Bang, to the future of Earth and the environment. Tyson is an astrophysicist with a gifted ability to connect with everyone, inspiring us all to to "keep looking up."
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Encyclopedia of Useless Facts Around The Earth
as Self
Intellectuals from various fields gather to embark on a journey and discuss insights with different perspectives!
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100 Years of Warner Bros.
as Self
Tracing a century of movie and TV history, these four documentary specials explore the unparalleled global impact of Warner Bros. on art, commerce, and culture.
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MTV Movie & TV Awards
as Self / Presenter
The annual film & TV awards show presented by MTV. The nominees are decided by producers and executives at MTV with winners decided online by the general public.
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Golden Globe Awards
as Self - Nominee
An annual awards ceremony recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign, bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
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The Colbert Report
as Self - Guest
The Colbert Report is an American satirical late night television program. It stars political humorist Stephen Colbert, a former correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. The Colbert Report is a spin-off from and counterpart to The Daily Show that comments on politics and the media in a similar way. The show focuses on a fictional anchorman character named Stephen Colbert, played by his real-life namesake. The character, described by Colbert as a "well-intentioned, poorly informed, high-status idiot", is a caricature of televised political pundits.
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The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
as Self
Stephen Colbert brings his signature satire and comedy to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the #1 show in late night, where he talks with an eclectic mix of guests about what is new and relevant in the worlds of politics, entertainment, business, music, technology, and more. Featuring bandleader Jon Batiste with his band Stay Human, the Emmy Award-nominated show is broadcast from the historic Ed Sullivan Theater.
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The Oscars
as Self
An annual American awards ceremony honoring cinematic achievements in the film industry. The various category winners are awarded a copy of a statuette, officially the Academy Award of Merit, that is better known by its nickname Oscar.
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James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction
as Self
Explore the evolution of sci-fi from its origins as a small genre with a cult following to the blockbuster pop-cultural phenomenon we know today. In each episode, James Cameron introduces one of the “Big Questions” that humankind has contemplated throughout the ages and reaches back into sci-fi’s past to better understand how our favorite films, TV shows, books, and video games were born.
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Thirteen Talks
as
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The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
as Self - Guest
Stephen Colbert brings his signature satire and comedy to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the #1 show in late night, where he talks with an eclectic mix of guests about what is new and relevant in the worlds of politics, entertainment, business, music, technology, and more. Featuring bandleader Jon Batiste with his band Stay Human, the Emmy Award-nominated show is broadcast from the historic Ed Sullivan Theater.
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The Daily Show
as Self - Guest
The World's Fakest News Team tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and pop culture.
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The View
as Self
ABC Daytime's morning chatfest, currently featuring Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, Alyssa Farah Griffin, and Ana Navarro discussing the most exciting events of the day. Hot topics in the news, the best experts in their field, celebrity interviews and general entertainment are all part of The View.
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The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
as Self - Guest
After Jay Leno's second retirement from the program, Jimmy Fallon stepped in as his permanent replacement. After 42 years in Los Angeles the program was brought back to New York.
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Photos
