The best Christopher Nolan movies, ranked (including Oppenheimer)

4. Memento

Widely regarded as one of the most influential movies of the last few decades, Memento marked Nolan’s second feature film when it came out in 2000. Known for its nonlinear storytelling and complex narrative structure, the movie follows a man suffering from short-term memory loss named Leonard Shelby.

Unlike the rest of the movies on this list, Memento doesn’t rely on the director’s signature cinematography or visual effects but rather focuses on its narrative puzzle which follows two different sequences of scenes shown in reverse order. Desperate to find the men who killed his wife, Leonard uses clues, including Polaroid photos, notes, and tattoos, as his memories.

The nonlinear storytelling aims to get the audience in a similar mindset as Leonard, who discovers clues and events out of order. But because of this, he becomes an unreliable narrator and we must try to untangle the truth from what we’re seeing. Memento asks a lot from its viewer, but it’s definitely a worthwhile experience. Whether you’re a fan of Nolan or not, it’s an essential watch for any movie buff.

It’s easy to resonate with the themes explored in Memento, and though some might find the whole thing frustrating, the philosophical questions it asks and the movie’s deeper meaning make this one of Nolan’s best movies to date.