Christopher Nolan: Not Your Average TV Fan
You might assume Christopher Nolan spends his spare time buried in film scripts, but his viewing habits are full of surprises. He's previously called the Fast and Furious franchise a “tremendous action franchise,” listed Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby among his favorite films, and even commended the Marvel Cinematic Universe for drawing crowds back to theaters, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, his top series pick might throw devoted Nolan fans for a loop.
Recently, Nolan has praised Showtime’s black comedy The Curse, describing it as “unlike anything” on TV. The show has caught his famously sharp eye—and its appeal is clear.
What’s The Curse Actually About?
The Curse centers on Asher Siegel (Nathan Fielder) and his wife Whitney (Emma Stone), who host an HGTV-style reality show called “Fliplanthropy.” Their aim is to renovate struggling neighborhoods while trying to start a family. Things take a turn when Asher, while filming, pretends to give a $100.00 bill to a young local girl, Nala (Hikmah Warsame), who responds by “cursing” him. From there, strange and ominous events begin to unfold.
Asher’s luck spirals downward. His marriage suffers, and the couple faces a devastating ectopic pregnancy. Even Asher’s friend and the show’s producer, Dougie (Benny Safdie), ends up cursing him during a heated moment. Fielder drew inspiration for the series from his own experience of being “cursed” by someone, later explaining:
“I don't believe in that stuff, but I can't get those things out of my head. Sometimes if someone says something to you, even conversationally, where you feel like you messed up something, it can linger in your mind and grow and consume you. Then we just started riffing on that idea, like, ‘Wouldn't it be interesting if that vibe was hanging over an entire show?'”
A Series That Breaks the Mold—and Earns Critical Acclaim
The Curse hasn’t just received Nolan’s endorsement; critics have praised its unusual blend of dark comedy and drama. The story explores much more than a potential supernatural curse. It delves into themes like gentrification, marital tension, and the couple’s struggle to be “good people.” The show exposes how “Fliplanthropy” is contributing to gentrification in the community, and it’s revealed that Whitney’s parents are slumlords. Asher’s insecurities about his marriage and place in life add even more layers to the mix. This complex storytelling likely explains Nolan's attraction to the series.
Nolan’s Praise—and Standout Performances
After a screening of the series pilot, Nolan hosted a Q&A with creators Fielder and Safdie and offered high praise. He compared The Curse to acclaimed, unconventional series:
“It’s an incredible show, and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen on television before. There are so few shows that come along that have genuinely no precedence. You’re going back to things like Twin Peaks, or The Prisoner, or Dennis Potter’s Singing Detective, and things like that, so you’re in an amazing space, and I can’t wait to catch up with the climax.”
Both The Curse and shows like Twin Peaks begin in a familiar genre before veering into unexpected territory. Fielder’s past projects, such as Nathan For You and The Rehearsal, share a similar surreal sensibility.
Nolan also spotlighted Emma Stone’s performance as Whitney:
“I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say, as the series develops, she can be pretty maddening at times, in a very credible way. The performance, I think, is absolutely amazing and wonderful. She’s totally in it.”
Stone brings deeper shades to Whitney as the series progresses. In the penultimate episode, “Young Hearts,” Whitney delivers a cutting monologue to Asher about how he’s kept her from her dreams—a tense, powerful scene that stands out for Stone’s nuanced delivery. This performance drew fresh attention after her acclaimed 2023 film, Poor Things.
The Finale, Nolan Ties, and the Uncertain Future
The show’s most memorable twist occurs in the finale, “Green Queen.” Just as Asher and Whitney’s relationship seems to improve and Whitney prepares for childbirth, things take a bizarre turn for Asher, proving the curse may never have left him. The arrival of fire crews adds dark comedy to the surreal shift—exactly the kind of plot twist Nolan is famous for, which could explain his fondness for The Curse. Benny Safdie, who co-created and stars in the show, also played physicist Edward Teller in Nolan’s Oppenheimer and is slated to appear in Nolan’s anticipated film adaptation of The Odyssey.
Despite critical acclaim, Showtime had not yet renewed The Curse for a second season as of May 2026. Both Fielder and Safdie have said they have mapped out ideas beyond the first season. Fielder told The Hollywood Reporter:
“There definitely could be. From the start, we had it mapped out beyond the first season.”
Fans and critics alike remain hopeful for more—and perhaps even a directorial cameo from Nolan, who has made clear just how much the show impressed him.
