This isn't THAT hard to understand.
He makes blockbuster movies that aren't awful. Compare his film's to Michael Bay - and it's just night and day. You can look at a director like PTA, Wes Anderson etc. And while their movies are fantastic, and infinitely better than the majority of filmmakers out there right now, the majority of people that watch movies will I. Not see those movies in the first place. II. If they see them, not really care for their non-conventional style.
This is like asking why formulaic and predictable things are popular and sell the most. Because people don't like change, they want comfort, accessibility, and for things to go down smoothly.
Nolan makes those kind of films, but brings more quality to them then they are usually afforded (Mostly in his plots - which most blockbusters lack). The problem is, fans of Nolan then want badly for Nolan to be seen as a visionary artist, that makes high art. And the reality is, often his films are still shlock. They are higher quality shlock. But still shlock.
. Why do people act like he's one of the greatest directors ever when he isn't even one of the best from this decade?
