🎬Christopher Nolan's Criterion top 10

he picked these for Criterion's Top 10 series back in 2013. working through them in order, no shortcuts

Never miss an update

This list changes over time. Get a short email when it does.

At most one short email a week. Unfollow in one click.

The Hit (1984)

Stephen Frears, with Tim Roth and John Hurt. Nolan's pick, not mine, but I trust him on this one

12 Angry Men (1957)

start here if you haven't seen any of these. Lumet, one room, still holds up completely

The Thin Red Line (1998)

The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933)

Fritz Lang, banned in Germany when it came out. the one I keep putting off, big ask for a tuesday night

Bad Timing (1980)

Nicolas Roeg. the studio reportedly called it a sick film, which tells you something

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983)

For All Mankind (1989)

Al Reinert's Apollo documentary, no narration, just astronaut voices. the outlier on this whole list

Koyaanisqatsi (1982)

The Complete Mr. Arkadin (1955)

Orson Welles, the version with all the competing cuts finally sorted into one box

Greed (1924)

von Stroheim's four-hour cut doesn't survive, this is the closest reconstruction there is. last on the list, last one I'll get to

Or start a list of your own. Free, it takes a minute.

Related lists