NYT Names 100 Best 21st Century Films—Nolan Has 5
The New York Times has released its list of the 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century, and no director had a stronger showing than Christopher Nolan, who landed five films on the list — more than any other filmmaker.
The list, compiled from the ballots of over 500 filmmakers, critics, and actors, spans the most influential cinema from the year 2000 to now. Nolan's featured titles include:
- Interstellar (2014) – #84
- Oppenheimer (2023) – #65
- Memento (2000) – #65 (tied)
- Inception (2010) – #55
- The Dark Knight (2008) – #28
No other director hit five. The closest was Paul Thomas Anderson, who had four films on the list: Punch-Drunk Love, The Master, Phantom Thread (#25), and There Will Be Blood (#3).
Here's the full Top 10 from the list:
- Parasite (2019) – Bong Joon Ho
- Mulholland Drive (2001) – David Lynch
- There Will Be Blood (2007) – Paul Thomas Anderson
- In the Mood for Love (2000) – Wong Kar-wai
- Moonlight (2016) – Barry Jenkins
- No Country for Old Men (2007) – Joel & Ethan Coen
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) – Michel Gondry
- Get Out (2017) – Jordan Peele
- Spirited Away (2001) – Hayao Miyazaki
- The Social Network (2010) – David Fincher
While Anderson's highest-ranked entry came in at #3, Nolan stands out for sheer volume — and for balancing populist appeal with artistic ambition. He's the rare modern director who can turn unconventional, often nonlinear films into global box office hits and Oscar contenders. Inception, Interstellar, and Oppenheimer were all massive blockbusters, with Oppenheimer going on to win Best Picture and finally earning Nolan his long-awaited Best Director Oscar.
Nolan's reputation has become so formidable that studios are adjusting their tentpoles around him.
His next film, an adaptation of The Odyssey, is scheduled for 2026 and is already so anticipated that Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios moved the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day to avoid a direct box office clash.
And if you're wondering: no, Dunkirk, The Prestige, and Batman Begins didn't make the cut — but they were mentioned in discussions, and their omission only underlines how stacked Nolan's 21st-century output has been.
Five entries out of 100 is only 5%, but when the pool includes thousands of films from the past 25 years, it's hard to argue: Christopher Nolan is the most defining director of the 21st century so far.