Every Cillian Murphy And Christopher Nolan Movie Ranked From Meh To Masterpiece

Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy had already made 5 successful films before they began work on Oppenheimer and had established a reputation for their tandem. Even though Murphy didn't play a leading role in those films, he still earned his status as one of the director's favorite actors.

However, it's impossible for the films to achieve the same level of success, so even though their work together was generally good, some of the films received better reviews than others.

5. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

So the most underrated movie Nolan and Murphy made together is the one that actually concluded Nolan's Batman trilogy. The Dark Knight Rises wasn't as successful as its predecessors, and frankly, fans claimed that the movie almost didn't have the famous "Nolan touch" in the end.

It was also the movie that gave Murphy his smallest role under Nolan’s directorial oversight, with Cillian’s brief appearance as Scarecrow feeling like fan service to end the character's arc.

4. Batman Begins (2005)

This is only the fourth movie Nolan directed, and the one that started his Batman franchise. The story is well laid out there, although it really took off later with the sequel.

Cillian Murphy has a central role, as his Scarecrow has a major influence on Batman, and his piercing gaze and unmistakable intensity play well in the villainous role of the corrupt, drug-smuggling psychologist.

3. Inception ( 2010)

This movie was finally something bigger than Nolan's previous psychological dramas filled with various random twists. The director managed to create an ambitious, complex heist movie involving dreams.

Among the star-studded ensemble cast, Cillian Murphy appears in an important supporting role as Robert Fischer. And it's quite obvious that playing this role had a huge impact on Murphy's subconscious, helping him to create an even more mysterious image in the future.

2. Dunkirk (2017)

In this film, Cillian Murphy plays a pivotal role that can help audiences piece together the events and message of the movie. Set in the midst of the titular battle and evacuation during World War II, and shown from three different, overlapping perspectives, Dunkirk is at its best when it focuses on the desperation of its characters.

This is certainly true of Murphy's shivering soldier, who is never given a name and whose tragic arc is given more weight as his story is revealed through editing as the film jumps around in time.

1. The Dark Knight (2008)

This one is actually the best film Nolan had made with Murphy before Oppenheimer came along. It was their second collaboration and it seems like it was really meant to be. The Dark Knight is considered the greatest superhero movie ever made and also one of the best sequels.

Murphy's return as the Scarecrow is definitely an important part of the film, as the character helps set the plot in motion.