Top 10 Christopher Nolan Characters
films, movies, christopher nolan, characters in christopher nolan movies, inception, memento, interstellar, the dark knight, insomnia, the prestige, the joker, the dark knight, top 10, watchmojo,
Script written by Matthew Thomas
He’s a master filmmaker that can craft some very entertaining characters. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 Christopher Nolan characters.
For this list, we’re taking a look at the most interesting, original and memorable characters, as well as existing character interpretations, from all of Christopher Nolan’s films. We will be talking about these characters at length, so this is your SPOILER ALERT.
#10: Alfred Pennyworth
Michael Caine has become a regular in Nolan’s work, but it’s his role as Alfred Pennyworth that truly takes the cake. Every Batman film is essentially about the conflict between our masked hero and a villain who threatens Gotham City. The Caped Crusader’s story would be far from complete, however, without his so-called butler. Serving as his servant, advisor, and parental figure, Mr. Pennyworth holds together both Bruce Wayne’s house and his mental state.
#9: Olivia Wenscombe
Olivia pours even more intrigue into an amazing rivalry and stands at the center of two magic acts. After the death of his wife, Hugh Jackman’s Robert Angier hires the beautiful Olivia, as she is slim enough to fit into the compartments he’s already built. Used by Angier in a power play that ultimately backfires, she’s the one who gives Angier his enemy’s diary – a move that would ultimately be his undoing. Like another supporting character in the film, Nikola Tesla, she does not get the same amount of attention as the two leads, but they both steal our attention.
#8: Mal Cobb
After you watch the trailer for “Inception,” it’s the astounding effects and incredible action that may get you into the theater, but it’s thecharacters and performances that keep you watching – and coming back for more. As the wife of the film’s lead, who went too deep and could no longer accept the true world and thus had to face deadly consequences, Mal served as a warning of what could go wrong. She even becomes the heart of the sci-fi thriller despite the fact that she’s no longer living, so it’s truly devastating to find out how she died… and you feel the weight of it through every subsequent scene.
#7: Eames
Played by the extraordinarily talented Tom Hardy, Eames is the expert forger of the group. In the dreams where a lot of the movie takes place, he perfectly impersonates others. He and his cohort, Arthur, are the glue that holds together all of the plans and schemes the dream team attempts to pull off. Effortlessly charismatic, Eames steals every scene he’s in. Our only complaint about his role is that there just isn’t enough of him.
#6: Walter Finch
It’s impressive just how good Robin Williams was at being bad in this psychological thriller, considering it was one of the few times the esteemed and hilarious actor played a villain during his career. A crime writer who became every bit as dark as his characters, Finch beats a woman he was interested in to death, and then cleans her body of any trace of him. His career as a crime writer provides him with enough experience to allow him to stay one step ahead of the police. Talk about a truly fearsome foe.
#5: Bruce Wayne / Batman
The story of Bruce Wayne is known far and wide. A child whose parents are killed in front of him, he becomes a man bent on protecting the world from similar criminals. But, just because we know the story doesn’t mean we won’t be captivated by it time and again if put in the hands of a great actor/director combo. As proof, we present Christian Bale’s portrayal of Bruce Wayne. Turning his body into a lean, mean crime-fighting machine and peeling back Batman’s many layers, Bale delivered arguably the most complete – and darkest – depiction of the Dark Knight ever put on screen.
#4: Joseph ‘Coop’ Cooper
A widowed father who accepts a mission to space in an attempt to save humanity, Coop serves as the hero of “Interstellar.” Although we can tell that he’s excited to go on the adventure he’s always felt he was destined for, it’s the moments of regret that he experiences that earned him a place on our list. When he watches several years of missed video communications from his children and discovers the toll his decision has taken on them, his silent tears overshadow all of the movie’s awesome action - and cement his place as one of Nolan’s most unforgettable characters.
#3: Leonard
A man that has lost the ability to make new memories following a physical altercation, Leonard Shelby spends his days waking up in unknown situations again and again. Unlike the majority of us - who would probably spend our remaining days trying to find a situation that makes us comfortable and diminishes each new shock - Leonard becomes a sort-of detective. Driven to find his wife’s murderer, he tattoos his body, leaves himself copious notes, and always remembers the story of Sammy Jankis in an effort to get his man. “Memento” is a film that’s told in a manner that allows us to feel his confusion, enabling Leonard to haunt you for days.
#2: Dom Cobb
Dominick Cobb comes off as slick and stylish at first glance, but all that belies his inner sorrow. He’s haunted by the death of his wife and his inability to be involved in the lives of his children. Although “Inception” has many compelling characters, it would fall apart without somebody to provide a strong emotional core. Luckily for the film and its many fans, Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the greatest actors of this or any generation. He holds the narrative together with a multi-layered performance that feels entirely human.
Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
- The Young Man
“Following” (1998)
- Detective Will Dormer
“Insomnia” (2002)
- Lt. James Gordon
“The Dark Knight” trilogy (2005-12)
- Natalie
“Memento” (2000)
- Alfred Borden / The Professor
“The Prestige” (2006)
- TARS
“Interstellar” (2014)
#1: The Joker
It’s hard to believe there was a time when fans were up in arms about the casting of Heath Ledger as The Joker. Taking one of popular culture’s greatest villains to a whole new level, Nolan and Ledger’s interpretation of the Joker perfectly rides the blade of insanity. Although the trilogy’s other villains like Ra’s al Ghul, Two-Face, and the intimidating Bane are great, there’s no question about who reigns supreme in Batman’s Rogues Gallery. Incredibly menacing, the Joker is the clown prince of crime and thanks to the chaos he causes, we love every single second he’s on screen.
Do you agree with our list? Who’s your favorite character from a Christopher Nolan film? For more entertaining Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
Top 10 Christopher Nolan Characters
He’s a master filmmaker that can craft some very entertaining characters. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 Christopher Nolan characters.
For this list, we’re taking a look at the most interesting, original and memorable characters, as well as existing character interpretations, from all of Christopher Nolan’s films. We will be talking about these characters at length, so this is your SPOILER ALERT.
#10: Alfred Pennyworth
“The Dark Knight” trilogy (2005-12)
Michael Caine has become a regular in Nolan’s work, but it’s his role as Alfred Pennyworth that truly takes the cake. Every Batman film is essentially about the conflict between our masked hero and a villain who threatens Gotham City. The Caped Crusader’s story would be far from complete, however, without his so-called butler. Serving as his servant, advisor, and parental figure, Mr. Pennyworth holds together both Bruce Wayne’s house and his mental state. #9: Olivia Wenscombe
“The Prestige” (2006)
Olivia pours even more intrigue into an amazing rivalry and stands at the center of two magic acts. After the death of his wife, Hugh Jackman’s Robert Angier hires the beautiful Olivia, as she is slim enough to fit into the compartments he’s already built. Used by Angier in a power play that ultimately backfires, she’s the one who gives Angier his enemy’s diary – a move that would ultimately be his undoing. Like another supporting character in the film, Nikola Tesla, she does not get the same amount of attention as the two leads, but they both steal our attention. #8: Mal Cobb
“Inception” (2010)
After you watch the trailer for “Inception,” it’s the astounding effects and incredible action that may get you into the theater, but it’s thecharacters and performances that keep you watching – and coming back for more. As the wife of the film’s lead, who went too deep and could no longer accept the true world and thus had to face deadly consequences, Mal served as a warning of what could go wrong. She even becomes the heart of the sci-fi thriller despite the fact that she’s no longer living, so it’s truly devastating to find out how she died… and you feel the weight of it through every subsequent scene. #7: Eames
“Inception” (2010)
Played by the extraordinarily talented Tom Hardy, Eames is the expert forger of the group. In the dreams where a lot of the movie takes place, he perfectly impersonates others. He and his cohort, Arthur, are the glue that holds together all of the plans and schemes the dream team attempts to pull off. Effortlessly charismatic, Eames steals every scene he’s in. Our only complaint about his role is that there just isn’t enough of him. #6: Walter Finch
“Insomnia” (2002)
It’s impressive just how good Robin Williams was at being bad in this psychological thriller, considering it was one of the few times the esteemed and hilarious actor played a villain during his career. A crime writer who became every bit as dark as his characters, Finch beats a woman he was interested in to death, and then cleans her body of any trace of him. His career as a crime writer provides him with enough experience to allow him to stay one step ahead of the police. Talk about a truly fearsome foe. #5: Bruce Wayne / Batman
“The Dark Knight” trilogy (2005-12)
The story of Bruce Wayne is known far and wide. A child whose parents are killed in front of him, he becomes a man bent on protecting the world from similar criminals. But, just because we know the story doesn’t mean we won’t be captivated by it time and again if put in the hands of a great actor/director combo. As proof, we present Christian Bale’s portrayal of Bruce Wayne. Turning his body into a lean, mean crime-fighting machine and peeling back Batman’s many layers, Bale delivered arguably the most complete – and darkest – depiction of the Dark Knight ever put on screen. #4: Joseph ‘Coop’ Cooper
“Interstellar” (2014)
A widowed father who accepts a mission to space in an attempt to save humanity, Coop serves as the hero of “Interstellar.” Although we can tell that he’s excited to go on the adventure he’s always felt he was destined for, it’s the moments of regret that he experiences that earned him a place on our list. When he watches several years of missed video communications from his children and discovers the toll his decision has taken on them, his silent tears overshadow all of the movie’s awesome action - and cement his place as one of Nolan’s most unforgettable characters. #3: Leonard
“Memento” (2000)
A man that has lost the ability to make new memories following a physical altercation, Leonard Shelby spends his days waking up in unknown situations again and again. Unlike the majority of us - who would probably spend our remaining days trying to find a situation that makes us comfortable and diminishes each new shock - Leonard becomes a sort-of detective. Driven to find his wife’s murderer, he tattoos his body, leaves himself copious notes, and always remembers the story of Sammy Jankis in an effort to get his man. “Memento” is a film that’s told in a manner that allows us to feel his confusion, enabling Leonard to haunt you for days. #2: Dom Cobb
“Inception” (2010)
Dominick Cobb comes off as slick and stylish at first glance, but all that belies his inner sorrow. He’s haunted by the death of his wife and his inability to be involved in the lives of his children. Although “Inception” has many compelling characters, it would fall apart without somebody to provide a strong emotional core. Luckily for the film and its many fans, Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the greatest actors of this or any generation. He holds the narrative together with a multi-layered performance that feels entirely human.Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
- The Young Man
“Following” (1998)
- Detective Will Dormer
“Insomnia” (2002)
- Lt. James Gordon
“The Dark Knight” trilogy (2005-12)
- Natalie
“Memento” (2000)
- Alfred Borden / The Professor
“The Prestige” (2006)
- TARS
“Interstellar” (2014)
#1: The Joker
“The Dark Knight” (2008)
It’s hard to believe there was a time when fans were up in arms about the casting of Heath Ledger as The Joker. Taking one of popular culture’s greatest villains to a whole new level, Nolan and Ledger’s interpretation of the Joker perfectly rides the blade of insanity. Although the trilogy’s other villains like Ra’s al Ghul, Two-Face, and the intimidating Bane are great, there’s no question about who reigns supreme in Batman’s Rogues Gallery. Incredibly menacing, the Joker is the clown prince of crime and thanks to the chaos he causes, we love every single second he’s on screen.Do you agree with our list? Who’s your favorite character from a Christopher Nolan film? For more entertaining Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
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