All 10 Christopher Nolan Movie Protagonists, Ranked

Christopher Nolan has introduced audiences to some of the most compelling movie characters of the 21st century, though they vary in quality. Starting with the independent film Following in 1998, Christopher Nolan has since become one of his generation’s most popular and celebrated filmmakers, delivering consistently grand, entertaining, and thought-provoking work. Nolan has directed some of the best movies of all time, from superhero action to war epic to sci-fi masterpiece, and modern audiences can rejoice in knowing he’s not letting up any time soon.

While his movies are often praised for their visual spectacle and mind-blowing practical effects, his character writing is an essential foundation for many of his films. The Dark Knight is usually praised for standing out above other superhero films for Heath Ledger’s villain performance, but it can’t be understated how well-constructed Christian Bale’s Batman is. More recently, Cillian Murphy is a serious contender to win Best Actor for his role as the titular protagonist in Oppenheimer. Many of Nolan’s protagonists are unforgettable, though some are more prevalent in their films than others.

10 The Young Man – Following

Jeremy Theobald

Following may be Christopher Nolan’s worst movie, but it’s difficult to compare it to the likes of Inception or Oppenheimer, where Nolan had seemingly infinite resources at his disposal. For its budget, Following is a thoughtful and well-made movie. The Young Man is a fascinating central character, though it’s hard to compare actor Jeremy Theobald to the extraordinarily talented stars Nolan has been able to work with since. The Following protagonist gets due credit for being well-written, but the performance isn’t on par with other Nolan characters.

9 Will Dormer – Insomnia

Al Pacino

Al Pacino is one of the most accomplished actors Christopher Nolan has had the opportunity to work with, and he delivers an expectedly solid performance in Insomnia. However, while the 2002 thriller is an exciting experience, it suffers from being his only feature film that he didn’t write. Insomnia’s Will Dormer is far from Al Pacino’s most interesting character, and Robin Williams primarily overshadows him as the film’s villain. For one of Nolan’s most psychologically focused movies, it’s surprising Dormer wasn’t a more fascinating role.

8 Angier – The Prestige

Hugh Jackman

It’s hard to pin down either of the leads in The Prestige as the film’s protagonist. Both Hugh Jackman’s Angier and Christian Bale’s Borden manage to be likable and detestable at varying points in the movie. Though Hugh Jackman’s performance is exceptional, the dichotomy takes precedence over any one character in the film. The Prestige is arguably Hugh Jackman’s best movie, as he’s given tense, exceptional dialogue to work with, allowing him to show a dramatic range that’s few and far between in his filmography. Angier’s charisma helps him along, but he’s still far from the most captivating Nolan protagonist.

7 Tommy – Dunkirk

Fionn Whitehead

Dunkirk isn’t really a character-driven film, and a viewer could go the entire time without even realizing the name of the central protagonist. However, Fionn Whitehead is fantastic as Tommy, giving audiences a clearly sympathetic character to root for in a tense, extreme situation. Tommy’s dialogue is scarce, but Whitehead’s performance deserves credit for body language and physical portrayal of emotion, inviting viewers into the visceral experience of war. Being a relatively unknown star, Fionn Whitehead also contributes to the character’s authenticity.

6 Leonard – Memento

Guy Pearce

Guy Pearce’s Leonard in Memento makes for one of the most unique and fascinating film protagonists ever. Memento is a complex movie that awards the viewer for paying attention, with layers of Leonard’s character delivered with different narrative techniques. The non-linear storytelling allows him to be one of the most sympathetic Nolan protagonists, while the narration creates questions about his reliability. More than any other Christopher Nolan movie, Memento is centered around one compelling character, and Guy Pearce doesn’t get enough credit for making Leonard so effective.

5 Cobb – Inception

Leonardo DiCaprio

Christopher Nolan and Leonardo DiCaprio teaming up for a massively expensive sci-fi epic with mind-bending visuals is a guaranteed success formula, and Inception doesn’t disappoint. However, while DiCaprio’s Cobb is a fantastic character, it’s fair to say that the film’s main attraction is its concept rather than its characters. Cobb’s tragic romantic backstory makes for an excellent emotional core to the film, but it’s far from DiCaprio’s most impressive performance, and many of the Inception characters are bogged down by expository dialogue.

4 The Protagonist – Tenet

John David Washington

Though Tenet wasn’t Nolan’s most well-received film upon its release, it’s certainly worth revisiting with an open mind. John David Washington’s performance as The Protagonist is absolutely crucial to making the complex time travel concept effective, offering the film a sense of human stability. Tenet is one of John David Washington’s best movies, and while he’s one of the least-accomplished stars Nolan has worked with so far, the 2020 film proves he’s as capable an actor as any, offering a strong, believable presence.

3 Cooper – Interstellar

Matthew McConaughey

Interstellar may have some of Christopher Nolan’s most mixed reviews, but it undoubtedly has a phenomenal performance from Matthew McConaughey as its lead. Beyond just being Nolan’s most emotionally relatable character, Cooper is charismatic, exciting to follow, and very funny. McConaughey’s natural charm allows Interstellar, a space adventure with grand, existential stakes, to remain grounded in humanity. His portrayal of Cooper is powerfully evocative and one of the most likely Christopher Nolan characters to consistently bring audiences to tears, which represents Nolan’s core beliefs about cinema being a visceral experience.

2 Batman – The Dark Knight Trilogy

Christian Bale

For many film fans, Christian Bale’s Batman is the definitive live-action interpretation of the character. He’s the only Batman with a complete arc on film, from origin story to retirement/death, depending on how the audience interprets the ending. Bale’s Batman is physically imposing, terrifying when he needs to be, but also notably compassionate and human. The Bruce Wayne portrayal is also exceptional, adding iconic humor scenes and an emotionally resonant overarching narrative, earning Bale extra credit for playing a multi-faceted persona.

While Heath Ledger’s Joker is often cited as the highlight of the series, it’s undeniable that Christian Bale is fantastic. Out of all of Christopher Nolan’s protagonists, Christian Bale’s Batman is the one audiences have spent the most time with, creating a natural affinity with the character. Even The Dark Knight Rises, arguably one of the lesser Batman movies, has a beautiful, emotional payoff due to the experience of a complete trilogy and masterful superhero character arc.

1 Robert Oppenheimer – Oppenheimer

Cillian Murphy

Christopher Nolan has had a career filled with tremendous success, and Oppenheimer may be his most astounding accomplishment yet. The combined critical and commercial acclaim is unprecedented for a biographical film, but that’s partially because the titular character’s psychological study allows Oppenheimer to surpass the biopic genre. Cillian Murphy is a fantastic actor and one of Christopher Nolan’s most frequent collaborators, but his performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer solidifies him as a legendary talent.

Oppenheimer is Christopher Nolan’s most fascinating protagonist, with Cillian Murphy’s performance allowing one of the most important historical figures ever to feel grounded and empathetic. He’s given some of Nolan’s most thought-provoking dialogue to work with, but Murphy’s physical acting has transcended the screen and become a cultural phenomenon. It’s arguably the most powerful performance in a Christopher Nolan movie and will likely win the first Best Actor Oscar for one of his movies.