Christopher Nolan has long remained one of the most influential directors in modern Hollywood, with his work continuing to inspire young filmmakers to this day. The director clearly still explores the world of cinema through the films of his peers and often shares his impressions — but with one cult film, Nolan has not-so-fond memories.
Back in the 1990s, like many others, Nolan eagerly awaited the release of Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction and went to see it as soon as it hit cinemas — but before doing so, he made a choice that completely ruined the experience for him.
Christopher Nolan Regrets Reading the Script for Pulp Fiction
Like any passionate filmmaker, Nolan couldn’t resist and decided to read the screenplay for Tarantino’s film — but did so before actually watching it. Not only did he know the entire plot by the time the first scene of Pulp Fiction appeared on screen, but he was also aware of all the narrative twists, which are, of course, considered a hallmark of Tarantino’s style.
Later, Nolan admitted that he still regrets that decision and, even decades later, hasn’t been able to fully enjoy the film — despite trying to rewatch it several times.
Nolan’s Mistake Is a Lesson for Other Directors (and Viewers Too)
Although Christopher Nolan is himself known for his intricately structured narratives, his story proves that even the masters make mistakes — and that first impressions matter, especially in the world of cinema. In an era when spoilers travel quickly across the internet, filmmaking still aims to surprise its audience — and as strange as it may sound, we should allow ourselves to be surprised rather than resist it.
Still, we won’t hold this mistake against Nolan — especially since he’s already earned his place among the top five international directors without a single bad film to his name.
