Christopher Nolan started making films at the age of seven with superhero action figures, which all started when his father gifted him a Super 8 camera for his birthday.
Christopher Nolan, born in 1970, is the director behind mind-bending films like Inception, Memento, and The Dark Knight Trilogy. His latest release is the biographical war drama, Oppenheimer, based on the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer. Christopher Nolan is one of the most influential directors of the 21st century.
What was Christopher Nolan's first film?
Christopher Nolan became fascinated with movies at an early age. His father, Brendan Nolan, worked as an advertising writer and took Nolan to the cinemas regularly. At the age of seven, Nolan received a gift from his father - a Super 8 camera. Nolan’s first film was made using action figures and homemade sets.
While there is not much information available on the story of the short film, this was the inception of him being a filmmaker. Nolan in his teenage years collaborated with his friends Adiren and Roko Belic on short films. One notable short film titled Tarantella, received a screening on PBS independent film showcase, Image Union.
When did Christopher Nolan make his first feature film?
Christopher Nolan got a degree in English Literature, at the University College London. Despite not having a formal degree, his literary background influenced his approach to storytelling. Even during his university years, his filmmaking continued.
He directed short films with narrative complexity and in 1998, Nolan's feature film Following debuted. It was shot on a budget of $6,000, and the film showed the world his talent for creating suspense and complex narratives. It went on to be critically acclaimed on the festival circuit, being a turning point in Nolan’s career.
What is the latest Christopher Nolan film about?
Christopher Nolan’s latest movie Oppenheimer, which was nominated for 13 Oscars in 2024, is the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a physicist widely known as the father of the atomic bomb. The film deals with Oppenheimer’s formative years as a physicist, highlighting his contributions to theoretical physics before World War II.
It also delves into the Manhattan Project, a top-secret program during World War II that developed the first atomic bomb. The film also depicts the aftermath of the atomic bombing, Oppenheimer’s fall from grace, and the controversy surrounding his role in the project.
List of Films made by Christopher Nolan
Following (1998)
Memento (2000)
Insomnia (2002)
Batman Begins (2005)
The Prestige (2006)
The Dark Knight (2008)
Inception (2010)
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Interstellar (2014)
Dunkirk (2017)
Tenet (2020)
Oppenheimer (2023)
FAQs on Christopher Nolan's first movie
A. No, Christopher Nolan majored in English Literature at University College London.
A. Christopher Nolan's feature film directorial debut was the neo-noir thriller "Following," released in 1998.
A. Nolan has directed several critically acclaimed films, like Interstellar, and Inception, but he is perhaps best known for his Dark Knight trilogy (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises), which redefined the superhero genre.
