7 favourite films of Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan to stream on Netflix India, Amazon Prime Video

Starting out his career in the year 1998 with the self-funded black-and-white film Following, Christopher Nolan has managed to achieve a unique and name and place for himself in the world of cinema. Despite having no background or any formal education in filmmaking, Nolan's work echoes a kind of rare auteurship that, quite evidently, stems from all the films that he has watched and loved over the years. And like any great filmmaker, Christopher Nolan, too, is very vocal and passionate about the cinema or the movies that have influenced him over the years. 

So, with Oppenheimer currently playing to packed houses across the world, we thought it would be a good opportunity to discuss the films that Nolan himself has admitted to have loved or admired. The list has been put together based on the many interviews or interactions that he has had while discussing the various elements of cinema and the films that he has drawn influences from. If you are someone who likes to know what your favourite filmmaker enjoys watching, then this list is just for you - and to make things sweeter, we have included those that are readily available on Indian OTT platforms.

Alien (1979)

Ridley Scott directs this sci-fi horror classic. The crew of the spaceship Nostromo, including Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), responds to a distress signal on an unexplored planet. They discover a deadly extraterrestrial creature that infiltrates their ship, picking off the crew one by one. Trapped and isolated, the crew must fight for survival against this relentless and terrifying adversary. "Alien" revolutionized the sci-fi genre, combining suspense, horror, and memorable creature design. Sigourney Weaver's portrayal of Ripley became an iconic figure in cinema, and the film remains a benchmark in sci-fi and horror storytelling.

Scott has been a huge influence on Christopher Nolan and the latter has never shied away from admitting that, even referring to the veteran filmmaker as one of his idols or heroes. It's a known fact that Ridley Scott's other great film Blade Runner (1982) has been another of Nolan's most favourite films of all time. 

Where to watch: Disney+Hotsar

Heat (1995)

This incredibly gripping crime thriller dares to pit two iconic actors, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, against each other. Pacino plays Vincent Hanna, a dedicated LAPD detective, and De Niro is Neil McCauley, a seasoned bank robber. As McCauley's crew plans their final heist, Hanna relentlessly pursues them, leading to a high-stakes showdown that blurs the lines between cop and criminal. With an ensemble cast that includes Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, and Jon Voight, Heat is a tense and stylish crime drama with memorable action sequences and complex characters.

"Absolute classic. I have been talking about this (film) for years, I kept ripping it off - a big influence on The Dark Knight because it has that incredible shootout sequence," says Christopher Nolan about the Michael Mann classic, referring to the bank heist sequence in his own 2008 film.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

There Will Be Blood (2007)

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, this epic drama follows Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis), a ruthless oil prospector in early 20th-century America. Obsessed with wealth and power, Plainview's ambition leads him to clash with a local preacher (Paul Dano) and exploit the community. The film delves into themes of greed, ambition, and the dark side of the American dream. Daniel Day-Lewis delivers a powerhouse performance, supported by Paul Dano's captivating portrayal of religious fervour. "There Will Be Blood" is a masterful exploration of human nature and the consequences of unbridled ambition.

"Excellent Film, I think (it's) Paul's (Paul Thomas Anderson) best. Ruth De Jong, the production designer of Oppenheimer was an art director working with Jack Fisk (on There Will Be Blood) and she had a lot of stories but a lot of knowledge about how they created the period on a budget. Fabulous performance from Daniel Day-Lewis," says Christopher Nolan in a recent interaction.

Where to watch: Netflix

The Hateful Eight (2015)

Quentin Tarantino and Christopher Nolan, along with Paul Thomas Anderson and a few others, belong to the rare breed of modern-day filmmakers who prefer to, or rather are adamant about, shooting on film. Tarantino's 2015 masterpiece is a western all right, but not without the quirks and quintessence of the director who lends his vision an epic, wide and high-resolution 70 mm touch.

Set in post-Civil War Wyoming, a bounty hunter, John Ruth (Kurt Russell), is transporting a dangerous fugitive, Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh), to face justice. Along the way, they encounter a group of strangers, including another bounty hunter (Samuel L. Jackson), a Confederate general (Bruce Dern), and a mysterious cowboy (Tim Roth). Trapped by a blizzard, tensions rise as the true intentions of the strangers come to light. 

"That's a hell of a movie. Watching this film, it felt like it had an increased level of formalism. There is a real calm and thought for where the camera is always. It’s also, perhaps, in the music. There is a great sense of the history of cinema in it,” Nolan said while interviewing Quentin Tarantino.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Baby Driver (2017)

Fellow British filmmaker Edgar Wright's music and pop-culture-heavy heist action thriller is a pure adrenaline rush. The film is centred around a young getaway driver named Baby (Ansel Elgort) who suffers from tinnitus and is compelled to drown out this constant ringing in the ears by listening to music. Baby becomes entangled in a life of crime under the control of a ruthless crime boss (Kevin Spacey) but when he falls for a waitress (Lily James), he sees a chance for a fresh start. However, escaping the criminal world is far from easy. The film boasts a stellar soundtrack, inventive car chases, and a charismatic lead performance.

"For me, the action is so spectacularly well directed in this film. The fight scenes, I love the way you put those together," said Christopher Nolan on a podcast that had him interviewing Edgar Wright. Nolan would shower more praises during the conversation and describe Wright's execution as 'showmanship'.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Aftersun (2022)

Charlotte Wells' film is best described as a tender and equally touching portrait of an endearing memory shared by a father and his 11-year-old daughter. Starring Paul Mescal, Frankie Corio and Celia Rowlson-Hall, the film won the hearts of many across the world including Christopher Nolan who felt that the film was an intimate experience that deserves to be seen on the big screen. 

“Why would you have to see something like ‘Aftersun’ on the big screen? But, of course, you have to. It also plays wonderfully on TV, but that’s not the point,” said Nolan to The Telegraph. 

Where to watch: Mubi