On Sunday, March 10th, Christopher Nolan finally entered the long-awaited moment his fans had been hanging on for. The 53-year-old filmmaker walked away with his first Oscar for the commercially and critically lauded film Oppenheimer. While cheers rang out for Nolan’s win at the 2024 ceremony, there was a time when the filmmaker had to jump through hoops to impress the Academy. Thinking back on those struggles, Nolan remembered the so-so reaction to one of his cinematic gems, Dunkirk (2017), at the Oscars.

He shared his reaction to the final verdict by the Academy and why it did not really get him down.

Christopher Nolan on Dunkirk’s performance at the Oscars

In the biography, The Nolan Variations (2020), Christopher Nolan took a glance at Dunkirk‘s Oscar journey. The movie secured three Oscars for sound editing, mixing, and film editing. Yet, many had anticipated Nolan to receive the Best Director accolade. Reflecting on the setback, Nolan confided in Tom Shone that he has “given up trying to analyze these things“. Describing the award system as a “marketing campaign“, he argued that Dunkirk did not need such validation, as its success was evident.

Indeed, Dunkirk was almost like the opposite of Saving Private Ryan. While that movie had hardcore scenes to hammer in the brutality of war, Dunkirk showed that war is not some grand spectacle. The best part though, Dunkirk let the events speak for themselves. It showed the struggle for survival in a whole new light. Now that Nolan has finally got that long-overdue Oscar win, it is time for the next chapter in his filmmaking journey, and apparently, he has already got something cooking up.

Reportedly, Christopher Nolan might be turning the page to the next chapter of his already beloved and successful franchises.

What is Christopher Nolan’s next move?

As reported by Puck News, Christopher Nolan has already rolled up his sleeves for his next cinematic venture. While specifics are thin on the ground, Nolan, in the past, has teased the possibility of a lighter or less serious tone for his next film. Speculations abound that Nolan might revisit the territory of his acclaimed Dark Knight trilogy. Christopher Nolan himself had hinted at being “open to anything” to explore diverse avenues for his next film.

It is very much possible that his next film will not carry the same “bleak” tone as Oppenheimer. Speculation ranges from a potential sequel to Tenet to discussions about him directing the next James Bond installment. Beyond that, there is also talk of a Howard Hughes biopic or an adaptation of the 1967 classic The Prisoner. With Nolan already making up for Dunkirk‘s Oscar snub with Oppenheimer, one can foresee him delivering more Oscar-worthy gems in the years to come.

What do you think about Christopher Nolan’s nonchalant response to Dunkirk‘s performance at the Oscars? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.