Ridley Scott’s career stretches back to the 1970s, and he has directed plenty of crowdpleasing blockbusters over the years that have a lot of rewatch value.Ridley Scott’s best moviesencompass a wide range of genres. He started his career with the sci-fi classicsAlienandBlade Runner, but he later earned a reputation for historical epics likeGladiator,and he has also directed crime thrillers, comedies and the odd fantasy movie.
Ridley Scott has a track record of box office success, proving that his movies are often hugely popular. Naturally, this means that they’re often worth watching many times. Whether he’s directing a sci-fi movie, a historical epic or something else, his movies usually have gorgeous production values, which means that it can often take multiple rewatches to take in every detail.
10 years after winning an Oscar for his performance inThe Silence of the Lambs,Anthony Hopkins returned to the role of Hannibal Lecter. 2001’sHannibaland 2002’sRed Dragonmay not reach the lofty standards ofThe Silence of the Lambs,but they are still worth watching for fans of the crime genre. It’s a joy to see Hopkins stepping back into his most famous role after a decade away.
Every Ridley Scott Sequel & Prequel, Ranked Worst To Best
Ridley Scott’s three direct follow-ups to his previous films have ranged from impressive sequels to more tonally disjointed follow-ups.
Although Hopkins delivers a commanding performance as usual, neither Jonathan Demme nor Jodie Foster returned for the sequel.Julianne Moore takes on the role of Clarice Starling, with Ridley Scott in the director’s chair.Hannibalis even more grotesque than its predecessor. It may not be as refined, but it all adds to the legend of Hannibal Lecter, and it has plenty of artistic flourishes to elevate the lurid subject.
Ridley Scott started his career as a director with 1977’sThe Duellists,andThe Last Duelalso follows the feud between two French men in a historical setting. It’s tempting to compare the two movies based on the similarities, butThe Last Dueltakes place hundreds of years earlier, and the combat is far more brutal and bloody. One thing that both movies share is Scott’s gorgeous recreation of a historical era.
Audiences shouldn’t expect a historical documentary fromThe Last Duel,but it’s a wonderful period drama with a superb cast.
Scott has often stirred controversy with his approach to historical accuracy. He believes in cinematic spectacle even at the expense of stringent accuracy.The Last Duelis based on a true story, which also muddies things a little. Audiences shouldn’t expect a historical documentary fromThe Last Duel,but it’s a wonderful period drama with a superb cast, and its dismal box office failure doesn’t reflect its quality.
All the Money in the Worldcreated headlines before it was even released, as Kevin Spacey was fired in a storm of controversy and replaced by Christopher Plummer. This move paid off, as Plummer was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance as J. Paul Getty.All the Money in the Worldis based on the unbelievable true story of the 1973 kidnapping of Getty’s grandson in Rome by an Italian crime syndicate.
The real-world context lends some extra weight toAll the Money in the World.
The real-world context lends some extra weight toAll the Money in the World.It’s a tense crime thriller that takes in the media frenzy surrounding the family at the time and the internal conflict that took place behind the scenes.Plummer’s performance deserves the praise that it received at the time, since he certainly doesn’t feel like a hasty replacement, but the entire cast is pivotal in lendingAll the Money in the Worldits dramatic thrust.
Legendcame out beforeTop Gun, The Color of MoneyandRain Manturned Tom Cruise into one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. It was initially viewed as a flop, but as Cruise and Ridley Scott have developed their careers, it has been critically reassessed.Legendis now seen by many as an underrated cult classic, and many of its reviews don’t reflect its considerable charms.
Its intriguing production design invites the audience in, and the gorgeous details are part of what gives it so much rewatch value.
Legendhas taken on a nostalgic appeal in the decades since its release. Its practical effects are reminiscent of other 1980s fantasy classics likeLabyrinthandThe Neverending Story,althoughLegendhas a darker tone. Its intriguing production design invites the audience in, and the gorgeous details are part of what gives it so much rewatch value.The 2002 Director’s Cut is a big improvement.
Ridley Scott doesn’t direct many comedies, and this is part of what makesMatchstick Menstand out from the rest of his filmography. Nicolas Cage and Sam Rockwell make a delightful pair as two zany con artists, each with their own foibles and shortcomings, and they are given a script which makes the most of their talents.Matchstick Menis just as funny and intelligent on a second watch.
WhileMatchstick Menis unusual for a Ridley Scott movie in many ways, it’s a fun comedy that deserves more love.
Matchstick Menis all about deception, but it still manages to deliver a brilliant twist ending. Unlike some other movies with twists,Matchstick Menis enjoyable the second time round, as it reveals its hidden tricks scene-by-scene. WhileMatchstick Menis unusual for a Ridley Scott movie in many ways, it’s a fun comedy that deserves more love, thanks to a lively script and some strong performances.
Blade Runneris just as captivating and visually stunning as ever, partly due to the simple fact that sci-fi movies have been trying to emulate its style for decades. Ridley Scott’s seminal sci-fi thriller has influenced countless other directors with its murky, grim dystopia, both aesthetically and thematically. The plot innovates on many film noir conventions, updating the genre for the 21st century and beyond.
Ridley Scott’s 4 Upcoming Movies Explained
From a Bee Gees biopic to a new Alien movie to Gladiator III, Ridley Scott has a handful of exciting upcoming movie projects in the works.
Blade Runneris a great detective story, even before considering the added depth of the sci-fi concept.Harrison Ford delivers one of his finest performancesas he trudges through a strange and foreboding world, culminating in a mystery about his character’s true identity that urges the audience to watch the whole movie all over again.Blade Runner 2049was an outstanding legacy sequel without Scott as director, and the franchise is continuing with the TV spinoffBlade Runner 2099.
With the success ofRidley Scott’sGladiator II,the original movie from 24 years earlier has been undergoing a resurgence. Fortunately, it’s just as enjoyable as ever. Russell Crowe’s commanding performance is a key factor inGladiator’s appeal. He injects every scene with the grandeur and intensity that the setting requires, and he’s also great to watch in the scenes inside the arena.
Gladiatorshows Scott firing on all cylinders, from the iconic opening battle to the final duel with Commodus.
Gladiatoris one of the movies that cemented Scott’s reputation as a master of large-scale action, especially historical battles. He has many other historical epics, but as 2023’sNapoleonshows, these aren’t all universally beloved.Gladiatorshows Scott firing on all cylinders, from the iconic opening battle to the final duel with Commodus.He earned a Best Director nomination forGladiator,just one of the movie’s 12 nominations.
Thelma and Louisedoesn’t usually get discussed alongside the likes ofAlien,Blade RunnerandGladiatorin the debate over Ridley Scott’s best movies. It’s much smaller in scale than these epics, but Scott shows that he’s a master of his craft in the cross-country crime thriller.Thelma and Louisecouples an exciting chase with some gut-wrenching personal stakes, and it has been hailed as a modern feminist classic.
Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis strike up a brilliant dynamic inThelma and Louise.
Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis strike up a brilliant dynamic inThelma and Louise.Each of the two main characters has their own reason for wanting to get away, and their own reason for accepting their grim fate inThelma and Louise’s iconic ending. The story also has time for some lighthearted humor, which helps to humanize the bond between the two women.Brad Pitt’s supporting role is another reason to rewatchThelma and Louisemutliple times.
The Martianstars Matt Damon as an astronaut who gets stranded on Mars when his crew believes him to be dead. Ridley Scott follows the story from Mars and Earth as NASA tries to bring him home, and Mark Watney tries to survive for long enough on the inhospitable planet. It’s a dramatic sci-fi story, butThe Martianis also filled with humor, making it a great movie to rewatch.
It’s a dramatic sci-fi story, butThe Martianis also filled with humor, making it a great movie to rewatch.
The Martianoffers an uplifting tale about humanity’s perseverance in the face of incalculable odds. Mark’s video diary is one way that the movie keeps things light as he faces endless hardships alone on Mars, but the soundtrack and the fractious dynamics among the NASA hierarchy are also entertaining. It has repeatedly been criticized for its scientific inaccuracies and half-truths, but wading into the nitty-gritty misses the point ofThe Martian.
Alienwas Ridley Scott’s big breakout movie after the critical success ofThe Duellists,and it remains one of his most influential and entertaining contributions to film. The sci-fi horror classic has many elements of a slasher movie, as Ellen Ripley sees her crewmates on board the Nostromo being picked off one-by-one by an enigmatic creature.There’s no shortage of iconic scenes to enjoy, from the chestburster scene to the final confrontation with the alien on the escape pod.
Every Alien Movie In The Franchise, Ranked Worst To Best
Ridley Scott’s Alien marked a shift in the sci-fi genre and kicked off a space horror franchise, but there’s definitely a worst and best Alien movie.
Alien’s practical effects give it a visceral, kinetic feel, but Scott’s direction is also important in ratcheting up the tension and feeding into the mystery of the alien. His vision of the Nostromo feels simultaneously futuristic and rooted in the 1970s. The ensemble cast are also great at providing an immersive and believable atmosphere on board. Few horror movies can make their characters feel so relatable in such a short amount of time, and details like this makeAliena great movie to watch over and over again.
