Can Christopher Nolan be considered one of the greatest film directors of all time?

NPR | By Geoff Brumfiel,

Marc Rivers, Rob Schmitz, Mallory Yu

Published August 9, 2026 at 5:27 PM EDT

With the blockbuster critical and financial success of The Odyssey, has Christopher Nolan earned his spot on the list of top tier American filmmakers?

Geoff Brumfiel

Geoff Brumfiel works as a senior editor and correspondent on NPR's science desk.

See stories by Geoff Brumfiel

Marc Rivers

See stories by Marc Rivers

Rob Schmitz

Rob Schmitz is NPR's international correspondent based in Berlin.

See stories by Rob Schmitz

Mallory Yu

Mallory Yu is an associate producer for All Things Considered.

See stories by Mallory Yu

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