Denis Villeneuve Names the Christopher Nolan Films He Loves Most
If there is any other modern director who has successfully combined epic, large-scale cinema with complex, intellectual storytelling, it is undoubtedly Denis Villeneuve. After earning widespread acclaim with gripping, intimate thrillers like Prisoners and Enemy in the early 2010s, Villeneuve significantly widened his creative scope.
He moved into the realm of high-concept science fiction with the emotional Arrival, followed by the visually staggering Blade Runner 2049 and his massive adaptation of Dune. With striking cinematography often contributed by masters like Roger Deakins or Greig Fraser, Villeneuve’s films sometimes possess a slightly less commercial pull than Christopher Nolan’s work.
His projects tend to appeal more directly to dedicated cinephiles than to casual weekend moviegoers. Still, the two directors clearly share a deep interest in telling big-budget, epic stories in highly artistic and uncompromising ways.
The admiration between these two titans of modern film is certainly not one-sided, as Nolan has previously spoken about his genuine respect for the Dune saga. However, Villeneuve, in particular, seems to jump at every opportunity to share his profound love for Nolan’s cinematic contributions.
During an interview with IndieWire, he dubbed Nolan a very impressive filmmaker for his unique ability to keep his identity and create his own universe in that large scope. Villeneuve further noted that bringing complex intellectual concepts to the screen on such a massive scale is very rare in today’s landscape.
He expressed that with every movie Nolan releases, he finds he has more admiration for his work. This mounting respect is evident in how Villeneuve’s personal rankings of Nolan’s films have evolved alongside the British director’s career.
The mind-bending 2010 hit Inception was originally the Canadian director’s top choice among Nolan’s filmography. That changed in 2017 with the arrival of the non-linear war thriller Dunkirk, which Villeneuve praised for its visceral intensity.
More recently, he has also proclaimed his love for Tenet, describing the time-twisting blockbuster as an incredible cinematic achievement and a total masterpiece. Speaking on the Reelblend podcast, Villeneuve admitted he was blown away by the film’s technical complexity.
He shared that he had so much fun watching it several times, noting that the level of mastery of Christopher Nolan is unmatched. He stressed that Nolan’s features are designed for the largest screens possible, explaining that watching them at home makes absolutely no sense because you must receive the full impact in a theater.
As of February, both directors are deep into production on their next massive “event” films, which are set to dominate the box office later this year. Villeneuve is currently in post-production on Dune: Part Three, which wrapped filming in late 2025 and is scheduled for a December 18 release.
The finale of his trilogy will see Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya return, reportedly joined by Robert Pattinson in a pivotal new role. Meanwhile, Christopher Nolan is busy filming his latest secret project, an epic adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey, which is slated for a July 17 debut.
The film features a powerhouse ensemble including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, and Anne Hathaway, and is being shot globally using groundbreaking new IMAX technology. For Villeneuve, watching Nolan continue to push the envelope technically and narratively remains deeply inspiring.
Have something to add? Share your thoughts in the comments.