Christopher Nolan stands as one of the most influential filmmakers in the modern era, with his name alone guaranteeing a cinematic event. In a time dominated by franchises and intellectual properties, Nolan distinguishes himself by crafting films infused with complexity and depth, drawing in audiences worldwide. This article explores Nolan’s top 10 surprising film influences, revealing unexpected works that shaped his creative vision and continue to inspire his groundbreaking storytelling.
The Enduring Impact of ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ on Nolan’s Vision
Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 sci-fi masterpiece, 2001: A Space Odyssey, profoundly affected Nolan from his youth in Great Britain, shaping much of his cinematic approach. Nolan recalls his first viewing as
“this extraordinary experience of being taken to another world,”
emphasizing the film’s immersive quality that
“you didn’t doubt this world for an instant. It had a larger-than-life quality.”
In 2018, Nolan championed the preservation and theatrical re-release of this film’s original celluloid to honor its 50th anniversary. His own film Interstellar reflects Kubrick’s influence, blending epic scale with meticulous detail, using a precise balance of fantasy and stark realism that feels like a direct homage to Kubrick’s work.
‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’: Inspiring Emotional Depth in Sci-Fi
Nolan’s admiration for science fiction extends to Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), which he credits as a foundation for the emotional core of Interstellar. Nolan appreciates how Spielberg crafted the narrative
“from a family perspective and a very relatable human perspective,”
illustrating humanity’s encounter with the unknown with warmth and accessibility.
He spoke about wanting
“to give today’s audiences some sense of that form of storyline,”
which helps make complex ideas approachable. Both films emphasize humanity’s yearning to understand its place in the universe, marrying scientific wonder with intimate, human stories.
Unlikely Humor: ‘Talladega Nights’ and Nolan’s Subtle Levity
In a surprising choice, Nolan lists Adam McKay’s NASCAR comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006) among his favorite films. On The Rich Eisen Show in 2023, Nolan described it as a “remote drop” film—one he can watch repeatedly without changing the channel.
This preference reveals a lesser-known side of Nolan’s personality: his appreciation for humor and absurdity. Many of Nolan’s iconic characters, such as Batman, Dom Cobb from Inception, Cooper from Interstellar, and J. Robert Oppenheimer, exhibit drive and ambition that echo Ricky Bobby’s mantra,
“if you’re not first, then you’re last,”
signifying the relentless pursuit of excellence common to Nolan’s protagonists.
Appreciation for Noir: ‘The Hitcher’ and Nolan’s Early Style
Before achieving blockbuster fame, Nolan was known for taut, psychological thrillers like Memento and Insomnia. His affinity for gritty ’70s and ’80s B-movies shines through in his respect for Robert Harmon’s cult classic The Hitcher (1986). Nolan describes the film as “mind-bendingly arbitrary, plot-wise,” yet notes that as a teenager, he “never questioned the logic.”
This acceptance of narrative ambiguity is reflected in Nolan’s own complex films, which often challenge viewers to embrace the feeling and atmosphere over clear-cut storytelling. Notably, Rutger Hauer, the film’s lead and a performer Nolan calls “criminally underappreciated,” appeared in Batman Begins as Earle, cementing a subtle link between Nolan’s influences and his work.
A Unique Bond: How ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ Influenced Nolan
Nolan has long expressed interest in directing a James Bond movie, a dream partially realized through his work on the spy thriller Tenet. Among the Bond series, his favorite is the often-overlooked On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), starring George Lazenby in his sole appearance as 007.
Describing it as “by far the most emotional” Bond film, Nolan praised its lasting appeal and blend of action, scale, romance, and tragedy. He identified sequences from this film as direct inspiration for action scenes in Inception. Nolan’s blockbusters, though precise and intense, reveal a willingness to embrace sentimentality, much like this unique Bond entry.
Championing Contemporary Storytelling: Nolan’s Admiration for ‘Past Lives’
Unlike the grand scale typical of Nolan’s films, the intimate drama Past Lives (2023), directed by Celine Song, holds a special place in his recent favorites. Nominated for Best Picture the same year Nolan’s Oppenheimer gained acclaim, Song’s debut explores complex human relationships with subtlety.
In a 2024 Time interview, Nolan lauded the film as
“subtle in a beautiful sort of way,”
reflecting on his own history creating low-budget independent films. Though Nolan’s current focus remains on epic cinema, he acknowledges a “responsibility” to use his resources advantageously, explaining,
“I’m drawn to working at a large scale because I know how fragile the opportunity to marshal those resources is.”
Reviving Classic Hollywood Spirit with ‘La La Land’
Despite generally disliking musicals, Nolan expressed admiration for Damien Chazelle’s La La Land (2016), praising it as an “extraordinary film” in Tom Shone’s book The Nolan Variations. He revealed that he watched the movie multiple times, appreciating Chazelle’s ability to infuse the old Hollywood musical format with modern sensibilities rooted in romance and heartbreak.
As Nolan’s own films are influenced by masters such as Stanley Kubrick and Michael Mann, La La Land prominently channels the spirit of MGM musicals starring icons like Gene Kelly and Judy Garland, updating nostalgic styles for contemporary audiences seeking both grandeur and emotional sincerity.
Influence of Nicolas Roeg: Appreciation of Narrative Innovation in ‘Bad Timing’
Nolan has been a vocal admirer of Nicolas Roeg, renowned for his visual inventiveness and psychological dramas. Roeg’s film Bad Timing (1980) made it onto Nolan’s Top 10 list for Criterion, embodying the complex narrative structures Nolan often employs.
Nolan highlighted Bad Timing for its “structural innovation” and photographic excellence. The film’s nonlinear storytelling, centered on traumatic events leading to suicide, reflects Nolan’s interest in manipulating time and memory for emotional and psychological effects, a technique notably evident in films like Memento, Inception, and Dunkirk.
Finding Poetic Humanity in War Through ‘The Thin Red Line’
Terrence Malick’s The Thin Red Line (1998) stands as another key influence on Nolan, who admires Malick’s poetic and contemplative portrayal of war. Nolan included this film in his Criterion list and praised it as an “extraordinary vision of war.”
While Nolan’s own films tend to feature a more structured narrative approach, his cinematography and focus on individual human experiences place him in dialogue with Malick. Nolan’s Dunkirk mirrors this approach, emphasizing personal stories and quiet moments amid the chaos of battle, while also exploring the broader implications of military power and the human cost of conflict.
‘Godzilla Minus One’: A Contemporary Symbol of Historical Reflection
Among notable films of 2023, alongside titles like Barbie and Killers of the Flower Moon, Nolan singled out the Japanese blockbuster Godzilla Minus One, directed by Takashi Yamazaki, as a particularly impactful work. Nolan praised the 37th film in the franchise for blending thrilling spectacle with
“wonderful depths of the characters, and a wonderful sense of history.”
This film’s focus on post-World War II Japan and the lingering trauma from the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki resonates with themes Nolan explored in Oppenheimer. In a 2024 interview, Nolan described Godzilla Minus One as “tremendous” and “exciting,” noting its allegorical reflection on mass hysteria and historical pain, paralleling the emotional weight present in his own portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s haunted legacy.
Featuring actors Ryunosuke Kamiki as Koichi Shikishima and Minami Hamabe as Noriko Oishi, Godzilla Minus One reinvigorated the Kaiju genre with a blend of character-driven storytelling and historical consciousness, earning Nolan’s heartfelt recommendation.
