With box office hits and industry-altering masterpieces, British director Christopher Nolan has cemented himself as one of the most highly skilled and influential filmmakers alive. Although he hasn't accomplished this alone. Movie-making is by nature a team game, and Nolan has a trusted roster of talent that he's called upon during his incredible career.
The likes of Anne Hathaway and Kenneth Branagh each have two appearances in Nolan movies to their names, and Matt Damon will soon match their tally with his role in the upcoming Oppenheimer. But these stars are overshadowed by many other actors when it comes to The Dark Knight director's most frequent collaborators.
10 The First Of His 3 Nolan Appearances Made Tom Hardy A Star
Tom Hardy has shown exceptional range in his trio of Christopher Nolan collabs. Inception was something of a star-making moment for the young English actor, and Hardy followed this up with his fiercely intimidating Bane in The Dark Knight Rises.
Dunkirk would further prove Hardy's talent as a thespian. Despite spending the majority of the movie behind a mask as a WWII fighter pilot, he put in another awe-inspiring performance.
9 Jeremy Theobald Has Appeared In 3 Of Nolan's Films, Including The Very First
A familiar face to anyone who has seen Nolan's extremely low-budget debut movie, Following, is the British actor Jeremy Theobald. Theobald plays the main character, The Young Man, and has brief cameos in Batman Begins as a waterboard technician and Tenet as a steward.
Theobald would lay claim to more collaborations if short films were taken into account. Nolan and Theobald worked together on multiple short productions before the director shot to international fame, and it's nice to take Theobald's cameos as proof that the Hollywood filmmaker hasn't forgotten those who were with him from the start.
8 Morgan Freeman Made An Unmistakable Mark On The Dark Knight Trilogy
As each appearance was part of a trilogy, Morgan Freeman's casting in Christopher Nolan movies are relatively simple, and Freeman played the same character each time. Nonetheless, the Academy Award winner's performances in The Dark Knight Trilogy are impressive.
The Shawshank Redemption star is one of cinema's most respected and reliable actors, and Freeman's time as Batman's equipment supplier, Lucius Fox, only furthers this reputation.
7 The Dark Knight Rises, Interstellar, And Tenet Each Feature Josh Stewart's Talents
Josh Stewart's resume is undoubtedly a stirring one. While he's better known in the world of television than for his exploits on the big screen, he does have showings in The Dark Knight Rises, and voice performances in Interstellar and Tenet to boast about.
The American actor is perhaps most famous for his characters in Dirt, The Punisher, and Criminal Minds. With his last Nolan collaboration coming just a few years ago in Tenet, there will certainly be more chances for Stewart to appear in future films from the award-winning director.
6 Gary Oldman Is Another Star Of Nolan's Terrific Batman Trilogy
Gary Oldman is another cinema star whose Nolan collaborations are all part of the same trilogy. As the iconic Commissioner Jim Gordon, Oldman brought genuine world-class talent to The Dark Knight Trilogy and added to his long list of legendary roles in the process.
An Academy Award winner and one of the finest film stars of his era, fans will be hoping to see more of Gary Oldman in Christopher Nolan's motion pictures, which seems likely given both mens' fantastic reputation in Hollywood.
5 Larry Holden Appeared In Memento, Insomnia, And Batman Begins
An actor most famous for his roles in Christopher Nolan's movies, Larry Holden actually followed in his three-time collaborators' footsteps, writing and directing 8 independent films of his own. In collaboration with Nolan, Holden had roles in the mesmerizing Memento, Insomnia, and Batman Begins.
Sadly there's no further possibility when it comes to cameos in Nolan's pictures, as Holden tragically passed away in 2011 at the age of 49.
4 The Prestige Adds An Extra One To Christian Bale's Impressive Batman Tally
Easily one of the most prolific actors to ever don Batman's cowl, Christian Bale of course has the Dark Knight Trilogy to boast of when it comes to Nolan team-ups. The Welsh screen star also worked with the English director on the fantastic, mind-bending thriller The Prestige.
Bale's Hollywood career owes a fair amount to his time as the caped crusader, but the actor has been a presence in Tinseltown since he was a child. That said, his time at the top appeared to be faltering until Nolan cast him in Batman Begins.
3 Family Comes First, John Nolan Has Appeared In 5 Of His Nephew's Films
Christopher Nolan's uncle, John, was there in the very beginning – likely in Nolan's life as well as his film career. John Nolan appeared in Christopher Nolan's debut feature film Following and has since popped up in four more of the iconic director's pictures.
John Nolan stars in each of the Dark Knight movies. He also plays the old blind man during the highly emotional, goosebump-inducing ending to 2017's Dunkirk. John grabbed himself a recurring role sci-fi series Person of Interest, proving the Nolans take their family ties seriously in the entertainment business.
2 Cillian Murphy Will Soon Have A Whopping 6 Collaborations With Christopher Nolan
An actor who could reach for the crown in Christopher Nolan films, Cillian Murphy has currently appeared in 5 of the filmmaker's productions beginning with his role as Dr. Jonathan Crane aka The Scarecrow in Batman Begins. Murphy is set to star in the upcoming Oppenheimer, taking the Irish star's tally to 6.
1 Christopher Nolan's Good Luck Charm, Michael Caine Has Starred In 8 Of His Movies
No one has yet to top Michael Caine's involvements in Nolan movies. The British cinema icon is Christopher Nolan's good luck charm and likely the only person who is allowed a chair on the enigmatic director's film sets – or at least fans will hope this to be the case.
Caine has appeared in every movie from 2005's Batman Begins until 2020's Tenet, even popping up in Dunkirk with a small cameo over the pilot's radio. Fans will have their fingers crossed that Caine shows up in Oppenheimer in some manner, however small or brief it may be.