Every Christopher Nolan Movie, Ranked By Budget

Christopher Nolan has astounded audiences with mind-bending genre movies like The Dark Knight, Inception and Memento — how much did they cost, though?

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How is it possible that Christopher Nolan went from making $6,000 dollar films to $150 million dollar films in less than a decade? From the beginning of his career, the British director knew he wanted to make blockbusters. Thanks to the innovative, experimental narrative style he employs in his breakout film Memento, Nolan made a name for himself that allowed him to climb the ranks quickly.

From The Dark Knight trilogy to Inception to Tenet, Nolan makes smart sci-fi and action films for mainstream audiences. Visually stunning, well-acted, and immersive, Nolan’s features are designed for movie theatre viewing. They are also among some of the most expensive movies ever made outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

11 Following (1999): $6,000

Nolan’s debut was an economical venture from the start. Every aspect of the filmmaking process was implemented with budgetary restrictions in mind, and Nolan pulled Following together for just $6,000.

The non-linear, neo-noir film centers around a Londoner who likes to stalk strangers around town for fun. Nolan shot it using black-and-white 16mm film, Following’s greatest expense.

10 Memento (2001): $9 Million

Memento is a refreshingly original mystery thriller that stars Guy Pearce as Leonard Shelby, a man hunting down whoever murdered his wife. The problem: Shelby suffers from short-term memory loss and can’t keep his facts and timeline straight.

Just like Following, Memento also utilizes a non-linear timeline to develop its plot. With a budget of $9 million and a wider distribution deal, Memento made waves during its theatrical run – a major feat for an indie film by an unknown director.

9 The Prestige (2006): $40 Million

Nolan and his brother Jonathan, a frequent collaborator, developed The Prestige based on the Christopher Priest novel of the same name. The Prestige stars Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman as two dueling magicians in 1890s London.

With the backing of production companies like Warner Bros., Nolan secured $40 million for the film, which employs numerous visual effects in order to bring the world of illusionists to life. The Prestige also employs a non-linear plot.

8 Insomnia (2002): $46 Million

For his third film, Nolan was able to secure two of Hollywood’s most iconic actors: Al Pacino and Robin Williams. Insomnia, a remake of the 1997 Norwegian thriller, follows a police detective as he travels to Alaska in order to solve the murder of a 17-year-old girl.

Pacino plays the detective, who is plagued by the death of his partner and the perpetual daylight, while Williams gets creepy as the killer. Nolan’s first feature with Warner Bros., Insomnia cost $46 million to produce.

7 Dunkirk (2017): $100 Million

Nolan’s expansive war depicts the intense evacuation of Allied soldiers along the northern French border in 1940 during WWII. Shot in IMAX, 70mm, and 35mm, Dunkirk relies on gritty realism to bring its narrative to life.

Dunkirk unfolds from the perspective of a young British private named Tommy, who is played by Fionn Whitehead. In order to bring this big project to life, Nolan secured $100 million from Warner Bros.; Dunkirk went on to earn over $500 million in theatres.

6 Batman Begins (2005): $150 Million

The first installment in The Dark Knight trilogy is an edgy, darker reimagining of the Caped Crusader that foreshadowed the oncoming superhero craze when it was released. Christian Bale plays Bruce Wayne, whose evolution from playboy to Batman is fictionalized in the film.

For $150 million, Nolan was able to invest in more live-action stunts and practical effects. Batman Begins’s minimal use of CGI makes it stand out against other blockbusters.

5 Inception (2010): $160 Million

Nolan’s first deep dive into heady sci-fi stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a corporate thief who steals the secrets of executives by infiltrating their dreams. Nolan’s original screenplay takes audiences into abstract, puzzling worlds that move toward a logical conclusion – making Inception more palatable for mainstream audiences.

Inception relies more heavily upon CGI effects, but Nolan employed practical effects whenever possible. The film’s $160 million budget helped Nolan land a supporting cast that includes Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Elliot Page, and Tom Hardy.

4 Interstellar (2014): $165 Million

Part dystopian family drama, part space exploration thriller, Interstellar is a sci-fi epic about a team of NASA scientists who travel through a wormhole in order to find a new home for humankind. The film stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, and Michael Caine – among others.

To bring the film’s various timelines, intergalactic settings, and space travel to life, Nolan spent $165 million. The investment paid off in theatres.

3 The Dark Knight (2008): $185 Million

The incredibly successful, enduring The Dark Knight features one of the most iconic Joker performances from Heath Ledger. Instead of a standard villain, Ledger’s Joker is a trickster who lacks no motivation – making him a formidable opponent for Batman.

With his $185 million budget, Nolan orchestrated some of the most extreme action sequences in modern blockbusters. From elaborate car chases to massive explosions, The Dark Knight is replete with genre eye candy.

2 Tenet (2020): $200 Million

Nolan’s latest film, like every other cinematic production, has been mired in controversy because of postponements and delays brought on by Covid-19. There’s no doubt Tenet would be a major blockbuster success had it been released under normal times, but Warner Bros.’s decision to release it during the pandemic means it only earned $362 million against its $200 million budget.

A next-level spy movie, Tenet stars John David Washington as an operative on a mission to prevent World War III. The monumental film employs thousands of extra, hundreds of vessels, and some of the most insanely engineered blasts in movie history.

1 The Dark Knight Rises (2012): $250 Million

Nolan’s most profitable film is also his most expensive. The final installment in his The Dark Knight trilogy sees Batman going head-to-head with Tom Hardy’s Bane – a villain who almost defeats Bruce Wayne once and for all.

The Dark Knight Rises sees Nolan going above and beyond in order to bring audiences a new round of cutting-edge action sequences shot on actual film stock instead of using digital cameras. With $250 million, Nolan’s 165-minute film includes scenes filmed in places as diverse as India, Wales, and Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

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