History of Christopher Nolan in Timeline

Christopher Nolan is a highly successful British-American filmmaker renowned for his complex, blockbuster films produced by Hollywood studios. Considered a leading filmmaker of the 21st century, Nolan's movies have grossed over $6.6 billion globally, positioning him as the seventh-highest-grossing film director. His achievements include multiple prestigious awards, such as two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe, and two British Academy Film Awards. Recognizing his significant contributions to film, Nolan was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2019 and knighted in 2024.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1940: World War II and the Evacuation of Allied Soldiers from Dunkirk

In 1940, the evacuation of Allied soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk, France took place during World War II, which became the basis for Nolan's film, Dunkirk.

1968: Release of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey

In 1968, Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey was released, and Nolan supervised a new 70 mm print of it in 2018.

1968: Influence of 2001: A Space Odyssey

In 1968, the release of "2001: A Space Odyssey" influenced Nolan's early interest in filmmaking.

July 1970: Christopher Nolan Born in London

In July 1970, Christopher Edward Nolan was born in Westminster, London to Brendan James Nolan and Christina Jensen.

July 1970: Christopher Nolan's Birth

In July 1970, Christopher Edward Nolan was born, marking the beginning of his life.

1977: Influence of Star Wars

In 1977, the release of "Star Wars" greatly influenced Nolan, leading him to watch it repeatedly and research its making.

1981: Enrolls at Barrow Hills School

Between 1981 and 1983, Nolan enrolled at Barrow Hills, a Catholic prep school in Witley, Surrey.

1983: Enrolls at Barrow Hills School

Between 1981 and 1983, Nolan enrolled at Barrow Hills, a Catholic prep school in Witley, Surrey.

1989: Co-directs Tarantella

In 1989, Nolan and Roko Belic co-directed the surreal 8 mm film "Tarantella", which was shown on Image Union.

1993: Graduation from University College London

In 1993, Nolan earned his bachelor's degree in English literature, marking the completion of his formal education.

1996: Filming Larceny

In 1996, Nolan directed, wrote, and edited the short film "Larceny", filmed over a weekend.

1997: Filming Doodlebug

In 1997, Nolan filmed "Doodlebug", a short film about a man chasing a miniature version of himself.

1997: Release of the Original Insomnia

In 1997, the original Norwegian thriller "Insomnia" was released, which Christopher Nolan later remade.

1997: Emma Thomas starts working as producer in Nolan's Films

Since 1997, Emma Thomas has worked as a producer on all of Nolan's films.

1998: Feature Film Debut with Following

In 1998, Christopher Nolan made his feature film debut with "Following", marking a significant step in his career.

1998: Conceiving and Filming Following

In 1998, Nolan conceived, wrote, directed, photographed, and edited his first feature film, "Following", on a low budget.

September 2000: Memento Premieres at Venice Film Festival

In September 2000, "Memento" premiered at the Venice Film Festival to critical acclaim, marking a significant milestone in Nolan's career.

2000: International Recognition with Memento

In 2000, Nolan gained international recognition with his second film, "Memento", establishing him as a notable filmmaker.

2001: Collaboration Begins on The Prestige Screenplay

In 2001, Christopher Nolan and his brother Jonathan began their collaboration on the screenplay for "The Prestige", initiating a five-year intermittent process.

2001: Foundation of Syncopy Inc.

In 2001, Nolan and Emma Thomas founded the production company Syncopy Inc., solidifying their partnership in filmmaking.

2001: Influence of 2001: A Space Odyssey

In 2001, the release of "2001: A Space Odyssey" influenced Nolan's early interest in filmmaking.

2002: Release of Insomnia Remake

In 2002, Nolan directed the remake of "Insomnia", a psychological thriller starring Al Pacino, Robin Williams, and Hilary Swank.

2002: Transition into Studio Filmmaking with Insomnia

In 2002, Nolan transitioned into studio filmmaking with "Insomnia", a remake of the 1997 Norwegian thriller.

April 2003: Altercation with David O. Russell

In April 2003, David O. Russell put Nolan in a headlock at a Hollywood party after learning Jude Law would work with Nolan, resulting in a tense moment over "artistic solidarity".

2003: Postponement of The Prestige

In 2003, Nolan initially intended to make "The Prestige" but postponed the project after agreeing to make "Batman Begins".

2003: Altercation with David O. Russell

In April 2003, David O. Russell put Nolan in a headlock at a Hollywood party due to a casting conflict over Jude Law, leading to a tense situation.

2003: Pitching Batman Begins to Warner Bros.

In early 2003, Nolan approached Warner Bros. with the idea of making a new Batman film based on the character's origin story, aiming for a more realistic approach.

2004: Tabling Howard Hughes Biopic

In 2004, Nolan reluctantly tabled his screenplay for a Howard Hughes biopic after learning that Martin Scorsese was already making one.

2005: Release of Batman Begins

In 2005, "Batman Begins" was released to critical acclaim and commercial success, reviving the Batman franchise and establishing Nolan's reputation.

2005: The Dark Knight Trilogy Begins

In 2005, Christopher Nolan began "The Dark Knight" trilogy, a project that would significantly elevate his profile as a director.

2006: Nolan Named an Honorary Fellow of UCL

In 2006, Christopher Nolan was named an Honorary Fellow of UCL.

2006: Release of The Prestige

In 2006, Nolan directed, co-wrote, and produced "The Prestige", which received critical acclaim and Academy Award nominations.

2006: Release of Zack Snyder's 300

In 2006, Zack Snyder released 300.

2008: Release of The Dark Knight

In 2008, "The Dark Knight" was released, becoming a critical and commercial success and solidifying Nolan's status as a leading filmmaker.

2008: Philip French Deemed Nolan the First Major Talent to Emerge This Century

In 2008, Philip French deemed Christopher Nolan "the first major talent to emerge this century".

2009: Release of Zack Snyder's Watchmen

In 2009, Zack Snyder released Watchmen.

2010: Academy Increases Best Picture Nominees

Beginning in 2010, the Academy increased their Best Picture nominees from five to ten, a change known as "The Dark Knight Rule", following criticism of the film's failure to garner a nomination.

2010: Release of Inception

In 2010, Inception, a film Christopher Nolan had conceived about nine years prior, was released. It starred Leonardo DiCaprio and became a critical and commercial success, grossing over $836 million worldwide. Mark Kermode hailed it as the best film of 2010. It was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning four, including Best Cinematography.

2011: Nolan Appeared in Forbes Celebrity 100 List

In 2011, Christopher Nolan appeared in Forbes Celebrity 100 list based on his income and popularity.

2012: Nolan Received Hand-and-Footprint Ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theatre

In 2012, Christopher Nolan became the youngest director to receive a hand-and-footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles.

2012: The Dark Knight Trilogy Ends

In 2012, Christopher Nolan concluded "The Dark Knight" trilogy.

2012: Release of The Dark Knight Rises

In 2012, The Dark Knight Rises, Nolan's final Batman film, was released to positive reviews and became a box office success, grossing $1 billion. However, a tragic shooting occurred during a midnight showing in Aurora, Colorado, resulting in 12 deaths and 58 injuries. Nolan expressed his condolences for the victims.

2013: Goyer pitched the idea about Man of Steel to Nolan

In 2013, during story discussions for The Dark Knight Rises, Goyer told Nolan of his idea about Man of Steel which Nolan would produce.

2014: Nolan Appeared in Forbes Celebrity 100 List

In 2014, Christopher Nolan appeared in Forbes Celebrity 100 list based on his income and popularity.

2014: Release of Interstellar

In 2014, Interstellar, directed, written, and produced by Nolan, was released to positive reviews and grossed $773 million worldwide. The film explores a group of astronauts traveling through a wormhole. It won Best Visual Effects at the 87th Academy Awards.

March 2015: Reframing the Future of Film Summit

In March 2015, Nolan and visual artist Tacita Dean hosted the Reframing the Future of Film summit at the Getty Museum, inviting representatives from film archives and institutions to discuss film preservation.

April 2015: Nolan Joins The Film Foundation

In April 2015, Nolan joined the board of directors of The Film Foundation and was appointed to the National Film Preservation Board, furthering his commitment to film preservation.

2015: Nolan Appeared in Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2015, Christopher Nolan appeared in Time's 100 most influential people in the world.

2016: Executive Producer on Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

In 2016, Nolan served as an executive producer on Zack Snyder's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

2017: Nolan Conferred an Honorary Doctorate in Literature

In 2017, Christopher Nolan was conferred an honorary doctorate in literature by UCL.

2017: The Dark Knight, Inception and Interstellar Featured in Empire Magazine's Poll

In 2017, Christopher Nolan's films The Dark Knight, Inception, and Interstellar were featured in Empire magazine's poll of "The 100 Greatest Movies".

2017: Release of Dunkirk

In 2017, Nolan released "Dunkirk", continuing his streak of successful films.

2017: Release of the original Justice League

In 2017, the original Justice League was released.

2018: Supervising 70 mm print of 2001: A Space Odyssey

In 2018, Nolan supervised a new 70 mm print of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, presenting it at the Cannes Film Festival to a standing ovation.

2018: Nolan Listed as One of the Most Powerful People in Entertainment

In 2018, The Hollywood Reporter listed Christopher Nolan as one of the 100 most powerful people in entertainment, describing him as a "franchise unto himself".

2019: Nolan Appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire

In 2019, Christopher Nolan was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to film.

2019: Executive Producer on The Doll's Breath

In 2019, Nolan and Thomas received executive producer credits on The Doll's Breath, an animated short directed by the Quay brothers.

2019: Nolan's impact on big-budget filmmaking

In 2019, it was noted that Nolan kept a viable alternate model of big-budget filmmaking alive, in an era where blockbuster filmmaking has become a largely computer-generated art form.

2020: Release of Tenet and Departure from Warner Bros.

In 2020, Nolan released "Tenet" and subsequently parted ways with Warner Bros. Pictures, his longtime distributor.

2020: Release of Tenet

In 2020, Nolan's science fiction film Tenet was released after multiple delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It grossed $363 million worldwide but was considered his first box-office underperformance. Critics noted its ambition and technical aspects but found its story confusing.

2021: Executive Producer on Zack Snyder's Justice League

In 2021, Nolan served as an executive producer on Zack Snyder's Justice League, a director's cut of the 2017 film.

2021: Copyright Claim for Tarantella

In 2021, Nolan's production company filed a copyright infringement claim to have "Tarantella" removed after it was posted online.

2022: Parade Ranked Nolan Number Eight in its List of Best Movie Directors

In 2022, Parade ranked Christopher Nolan number eight in its list of 75 Best Movie Directors of All Time.

2023: Nolan Awarded the Federation of American Scientists' Public Service Award

In 2023, Christopher Nolan was awarded the Federation of American Scientists' Public Service Award for his depiction of scientists in his film Oppenheimer.

2023: Release of Oppenheimer and Academy Award Wins

In 2023, Nolan released "Oppenheimer" with Universal Pictures, winning Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture.

2023: Release of Oppenheimer

In 2023, Nolan's biopic Oppenheimer was released, marking his first R-rated film since 2002 and his first feature film since Memento not made for Warner Bros. It grossed over $975 million worldwide and received critical acclaim. Nolan won the Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture.

March 2024: Nolan Knighted for Contributions to Film

In March 2024, Christopher Nolan was made a knight bachelor for his contributions to film, while his wife Emma Thomas was honoured with a damehood.

2024: Receives Knighthood

In 2024, Christopher Nolan received a knighthood for his contributions to film.

February 2025: Nolan to work with Universal Studios on The Odyssey

As of February 2025, Nolan will once again work with Universal Studios on The Odyssey, an adaptation of the Ancient Greek epic poem the Odyssey by Homer.