Christopher Nolan

Made films the shows talk about.

Wikidata Q25191: matched by corpus:resolve, told apart by Wikidata joins them to Oppenheimer, which The ‘Babylon’ Watch-Along credits them on.

Counted as director, the making department they hold the most credits in. The films the hosts said they directed, which the two lists below run through too: Batman (1989); Batman Returns (1992); Memento (2000); Insomnia (2002); Batman Begins (2005); The Dark Knight (2008); Inception (2010); The Dark Knight Rises (2012); Interstellar (2014); Dunkirk (2017); Tenet (2020); Oppenheimer (2023); The Odyssey (2026); The Odyssey (2026); Christopher Nolan's Batman films; Following.

Draws on

What the speakers say they, or a film of theirs, drew on. Each is a speaker's account: “the maker said so” when they report the maker's own words, “the host's read” when the read is theirs.

The Batman (2022): 3 lines

  1. lineage (lineage) · through The Dark Knight Rises (2012), which they directed: The Batman ⇒ The Dark Knight Rises (the host's read). The ocean bomb-disposal sequence is thought to be directly referenced in the final act of Dark Knight Rises.
    “this sequence, a lot of people think, is directly referenced by the final act of Dark Knight Rises.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Batman (1966) · 0:18:49 · David Sims (0.50 sure it was them)
  2. lineage (lineage) · through The Dark Knight Rises (2012), which they directed: The Batman ⇒ The Dark Knight Rises (the host's read). The giant bomb, the film's most iconic image, is what Dark Knight Rises lifts.
    “This is the thing that Dark Knight Rises kind of lifts.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Batman (1966) · 1:14:38 · David Sims (0.50 sure it was them)
  3. theme (theme) · through Batman Returns (1992), which they directed: The Batman ⇒ Batman Returns (the host's read). Villains scheming together in Batman Returns and Schumacher films echoes the 1966 team-up, but those feel forced.
    “The team up does always feel a little forced”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Batman (1966) · 0:42:12 · David Sims (0.45 sure it was them)

James Bond series: 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through The Dark Knight (2008), which they directed: James Bond series ⇒ The Dark Knight (the host's read). Nolan's Batman films are read as a commentary on Bond.
    “I think Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight movies are also a commentary on James Bond, if you look at them from one direction”
    The Rewatchables · ‘Skyfall’ With Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, and Amanda Dobbins · 0:46:41 · Chris Ryan (0.60 sure it was them)

Steven Spielberg: 1 line

  1. unmapped (development history) · through Interstellar (2014), which they directed: Steven Spielberg ⇒ Interstellar (the host's read). Interstellar was developed by Spielberg and Jonathan Nolan and is closer to Spielberg in its first script.
    “Jonathan Nolan's script for Interstellar is interesting, but it's more Spielberg.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Empire of the Sun with Bilge Ebiri · 2:00:35 · David Sims (0.40 sure it was them)

The Killing (1956): 1 line

  1. lineage (homage) · through The Dark Knight (2008), which they directed: The Killing ⇒ The Dark Knight (the host's read). The clown mask is said to look basically like the Joker mask Nolan pays homage to in The Dark Knight.
    “Nolan obviously pays homage to in the Dark Knight”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Killing with Patton Oswalt (Ad-Free) · 1:28:00 · David Sims (0.35 sure it was them)

The Thomas Crown Affair (1999): 1 line

  1. people (people) · them, directly: The Thomas Crown Affair ⇒ Christopher Nolan (the host's read). Speaker says Christopher Nolan loves the 1999 Thomas Crown Affair because of Tenet.
    “you know who loves the Thomas Crown affair in 1999, Christopher Nolan, because I've seen Tenet”
    The Big Picture · 300th Episode Ask-Us-Anything Mailbag Spectacular · 1:09:21 · Sean Fennessey (0.50 sure it was them)

Tim Drake: 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through The Dark Knight Rises (2012), which they directed: Tim Drake ⇒ The Dark Knight Rises (the host's read). Nolan's Robin take is basically Tim Drake, and a speaker wishes it had been 10 percent more obvious.
    “And I wish Nolan had just gone 10%, you know, more obvious with it.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Batman (1966) · 0:28:17 · Griffin Newman (0.35 sure it was them)

Drawn on by

What the speakers say drew on them or a film of theirs, marked the same way.

Skyfall (2012): 2 lines

  1. industry (industry) · them, directly: Christopher Nolan ⇒ Skyfall (the host's read). Bond producers wanted their own critically acclaimed thriller since Nolan was having all the fun with Bond-esque movies.
    “Let's do it ourselves.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘Skyfall’ With Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, and Amanda Dobbins · 0:02:35 · Chris Ryan (0.80 sure it was them)
  2. lineage (lineage) · through The Dark Knight (2008), which they directed: The Dark Knight ⇒ Skyfall (the host's read). Mendes openly lifted the Dark Knight aesthetic and the orphan-avenging-sins idea.
    “Mendy's just very openly lifted a lot of the Dark Knight aesthetic for these movies.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘Skyfall’ With Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, and Amanda Dobbins · 0:46:30 · Chris Ryan (0.60 sure it was them)

RoboCop (1987): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Batman Begins (2005), which they directed: Batman Begins ⇒ RoboCop (the host's read). The remake is part of the grounded-and-serious wave that followed Nolan; the speakers say this film marks the end of it.
    “The Batman begins effect.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · RoboCop (2014) · 0:47:48 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)

Silva: 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through The Dark Knight (2008), which they directed: The Dark Knight ⇒ Silva (the host's read). Silva's plan to be captured and gain M's attention is the Joker plot.
    “essentially the Joker plot from Dark Knight.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘Skyfall’ With Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, and Amanda Dobbins · 1:26:07 · Chris Ryan (0.50 sure it was them)

The Lego Batman Movie (2017): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through The Dark Knight (2008), which they directed: The Dark Knight ⇒ The Lego Batman Movie (the host's read). The Joker's need for Batman to see him as an enemy is read against the post-Dark Knight Joker.
    “It's this thing of like, right, especially post Dark Knight, right?”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Lego Batman Movie · 0:15:06 · Griffin Newman (0.60 sure it was them)

What the speakers said they did

Directing (52) everyone in directing

Other (4) everyone in other

What was said about them, by kind

career (3)

  1. career (comeback attempt): Eric Roberts → Christopher Nolan. Nolan's Dark Knight casting was meant as an Eric Roberts reclamation project that did not go anywhere.
    “you had like Christopher Nolan giving him a good little supporting part in Dark Knight and being like, Eric Roberts reclamation project.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Star 80 with Julie Klausner · 0:10:42 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)
  2. career (career stepping stone): Christopher Nolan → Insomnia. Insomnia proved Nolan was a professional who could handle personalities, earning Warner's trust to make Batman.
    “Not because insomnia is like Batman, but because I think within Warner Brothers, they were like, this seems like a pretty solid bet”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind with Lulu Wang · 0:09:49 · David Sims (0.55 sure it was them)
  3. career (career comparison): Jordan Peele → Christopher Nolan. Sean says Peele and maybe Nolan are the only ones who get a huge check and use it to blow your mind.
    “Like maybe Christopher Nolan is the only person you could say who's like, okay, you have a $100000000 check, blow my mind.”
    The Big Picture · The Top Five Movies of 2022 · 1:34:13 · Sean Fennessey (0.50 sure it was them)

contrast (3)

  1. contrast (contrast): Alex Garland → Christopher Nolan. Sean would trade a Nolan-size budget on Garland for another Garland film over another Nolan film.
    “I want another Alex Garland movie”
    The Big Picture · 300th Episode Ask-Us-Anything Mailbag Spectacular · 0:41:20 · Sean Fennessey (0.80 sure it was them)
  2. contrast (contrast): Christopher Nolan → Alex Garland. Amanda says it is not a budget trade and wants to see Nolan prove his range.
    “let's see whether Christopher Nolan has the range”
    The Big Picture · 300th Episode Ask-Us-Anything Mailbag Spectacular · 0:41:57 · Amanda Dobbins (0.75 sure it was them)
  3. contrast (contrast): Denis Villeneuve → Christopher Nolan. Villeneuve is often compared to Nolan whereas Spike Lee is seen as unique.
    “Villeneuve, I think, is someone who gets compared a lot to Nolan.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · 2025 March Madness Update 1 · 0:32:32 · unknown (0.50 sure it was them)

industry (2)

  1. industry (industry): Skyfall → Christopher Nolan. Bond producers wanted their own critically acclaimed thriller since Nolan was having all the fun with Bond-esque movies.
    “Let's do it ourselves.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘Skyfall’ With Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, and Amanda Dobbins · 0:02:35 · Chris Ryan (0.80 sure it was them)
  2. industry (re-release): Christopher Nolan → 2001: A Space Odyssey. Nolan supervised an IMAX re-release off the 4K restoration, demastered to look like his childhood memory.
    “Nolan supervised this IMAX re-release, large format re-release”
    Blank Check — Patreon · 2001: A Space Odyssey with Jordan Hoffman (Ad-Free) · 0:16:44 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

people (2)

  1. people (people): The Thomas Crown Affair → Christopher Nolan. Speaker says Christopher Nolan loves the 1999 Thomas Crown Affair because of Tenet.
    “you know who loves the Thomas Crown affair in 1999, Christopher Nolan, because I've seen Tenet”
    The Big Picture · 300th Episode Ask-Us-Anything Mailbag Spectacular · 1:09:21 · Sean Fennessey (0.50 sure it was them)
  2. people (people): Christopher Nolan → Gary Oldman. Nolan offered Oldman the Gordon part, which the speakers say reset Oldman's career.
    “Nolan offers Rashal Ghoul to Gary Oldman, of course.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · RoboCop (2014) · 0:24:23 · David Sims (0.30 sure it was them)

unmapped (5)

  1. unmapped (practical vs digital): Christopher Nolan → Twin Peaks: The Return, Part 8. A joke riff wondering whether Lynch's bomb shot is practical like Nolan's claimed in-camera Trinity test, with the speaker admitting the particle shots could be either.
    “I don't know, like, Christopher Nolan made such a big deal of like, I'm doing this all in camera, right?”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Twin Peaks: The Return (Episode 8) with Connor Ratliff · 1:14:12 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)
  2. unmapped (audience-clout comp): Zach Cregger → Christopher Nolan. Cregger has already done what Nolan did, smashing through online fan concern-trolling.
    “he's already done what Nolan did, which is apparently just like smashed through the, like, fake concern control online.”
    The Big Picture · ‘Resident Evil’ Absolutely Rips! · 1:13:04 · Chris Ryan (0.50 sure it was them)
  3. unmapped (theater reopener): Tenet → Christopher Nolan. Tenet is meant to reopen theaters on July 17 and Nolan was unhappy with the WarnerMedia comments.
    “his new movie, Tennant, is supposed to be the movie that reopens theaters on July 17th around the country.”
    The Big Picture · Emergency Mailbag: The Oscars Are Streaming and Hollywood Is Fighting Over Trolls | The Big Picture · 0:13:44 · Sean Fennessey (0.50 sure it was them)
  4. unmapped (does not disown early work): Christopher Nolan → Following. Nolan, unlike Kubrick, does not disown his rough-draft first feature.
    “Christopher Nolan doesn't disown following”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Killing with Patton Oswalt (Ad-Free) · 0:10:54 · David Sims (0.40 sure it was them)
  5. unmapped (similar trajectory): Stanley Kubrick → Christopher Nolan. Self-taught path from watching movies to directing, as Nolan did.
    “Like, I mean, Nolan sort of has a similar trajectory.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Fear & Desire / Killer's Kiss (Ad-Free) · 0:27:21 · Griffin Newman (0.40 sure it was them)

what-if (4)

  1. what-if (remake what-if): Christopher Nolan → Days of Thunder 2. Joking that Nolan should dark-knight the NASCAR comedy by directing Days of Thunder 2 with Tom Cruise.
    “Dark Knight, Talladega Knights.”
    The Rewatchables · 'Talladega Nights' With Craig Horlbeck, Danny Heifetz, and Danny Kelly · 1:33:11 · Danny Kelly (0.40 sure it was them)
  2. what-if (what-if): Public Enemies → Christopher Nolan. Nolan could shoot a Dillinger movie with style and propulsion.
    “he would be able to shoot a movie like this with an enormous amount of style and propulsion and intrigue”
    The Big Picture · 300th Episode Ask-Us-Anything Mailbag Spectacular · 0:38:31 · Sean Fennessey (0.90 sure it was them)
  3. what-if (what-if): Guy Pearce → Christopher Nolan. Odd that Nolan never put Pearce in a Batman film despite rumors (Scarecrow etc.).
    “still kind of crazy that Nolan never found a place for him in the Batman.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man 3 · 0:33:50 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)
  4. what-if (what-if): Vanilla Sky → Christopher Nolan. Christopher Nolan would have done a good job with this movie.
    “You know who would have done a good job with this movie?”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Vanilla Sky with Richard Lawson (Ad-Free) · 1:27:35 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

Fun items about them

  1. fun, about Christopher Nolan: Chris wants to talk about Nolan assembling his Avengers cast for his next film, including Pattinson and Zendaya.
    “Nolan is building his own Avengers.”
    The Big Picture · ‘Gladiator II’ Is Here. Are We Not Entertained? · 0:05:02 · Chris Ryan (0.50 sure it was them)