How Christopher Nolan Became The Biggest Director In Hollywood
Few directors of the modern era have captured the imagination of the movie-going public in quite the same way as Christopher Nolan. From humble beginnings making low-budget crime movies, through a genre-defining superhero trilogy, to an all-conquering biopic of a controversial scientist, Nolan has always done things his way and brought the masses along for the ride. This article explores his career in detail and tries to answer the question of just how this well-dressed, softly spoken Englishman became the biggest director in Hollywood.
Oppenheimer sweeps the Oscars
On March 10, 2024, Nolan reached the top of the mountain in his industry. His thrilling biopic Oppenheimer — telling the thought-provoking story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, creator of the atomic bomb — took home Best Picture at the Academy Awards, and Nolan also scooped the Best Director Oscar for the first time.
The picture had been nominated for no fewer than 13 awards at the ceremony — the most of any film — and it won seven, with Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. scoring Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively.
A meaningful part of movie history
In his engaging acceptance speech, Nolan paid tribute not only to his cast, crew, and studio, but also to the movies as an art form. He said, “To the Academy — movies are just a little bit over 100 years old.”
He continued, “We don’t know where this incredible journey is going from here. But to know that you think I’m a meaningful part of it means the world to me.” With great emotion, he then added, “Thank you to those who have believed in me my whole career.”
“Sometimes you catch a wave”
It was fitting reward for a movie which had been critically adored, but also hugely outstripped expectations at the box office. It made $957 million worldwide — a figure unheard of for talky, three-hour biopics about real-life events — and became a genuine cultural phenomenon.
In trying to explain why it resonated so deeply, Nolan told Variety, “With certain films, your timing is just right in ways that you never could have predicted… Sometimes you catch a wave and the story you’re telling is one people are waiting for.”
An astonishing payday
Indeed, Oppenheimer was such an enormous hit that it didn’t just see Nolan cement his status as the most powerful director in the game; it also saw him take home a payday which beggared belief.
In the aftermath of its triumph at the Academy Awards, Variety reported that Nolan personally made almost $100 million, thanks to a number of factors. There was his base salary, obviously, but also his deal included a cut of the movie’s profits, as well as bonuses for box-office escalators and for the Oscar wins.