All 28 Ridley Scott Movies, Ranked From Worst to Best

There are lots of issues that may be stated about Ridley Scott as a filmmaker, and his immense physique of labor. He is been making function movies for near 50 years now, and is well-known for his means to place out a brand new film each one to 2 years, and for his willingness to make motion pictures throughout very totally different genres. Not even foray into each style has been successful, after all, however the variability makes Scott’s filmography a really fascinating one to discover and dissect.

Since 1977 (when Scott himself was already 40 years outdated), he is labored at a gradual sufficient charge to direct a complete of 28 function movies, with 2023’s Napoleon being his most up-to-date movie. His filmography is stuffed with entries each good and dangerous, and all the things in between. Beneath are his best movies, ranked from nice to biggest.

28 ‘Exodus: Gods and Kings’ (2014)

Starring Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, and Ben Kingsley

Ridley Scott has proved himself able to making loads of action-heavy historic dramas and epics, which means Exodus: Gods and Kings was an unlucky and dramatic stumble for the director. It is a two-and-a-half-hour-long retelling of the biblical story of Moses, and fails to do something that different motion pictures with the identical premise already did (each 1956’s The Ten Commandments and 1998’s The Prince of Egypt are a lot better).

Exodus: Gods and Kings had an epic scale and a few gifted actors connected to it, however sure casting selections by Scott had been criticized. It is most likely a movie {that a} good many individuals have forgotten about, maybe not for the more severe, because it got here and went from theaters method again in 2014, with Ridley Scott’s profession fortunately choosing up steam once more within the years that adopted, demonstrating it was a comparatively transient hiccup.

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27 ‘Robin Hood’ (2010)

Starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett

Simply as there was a case {that a} new Moses film in 2014 wasn’t needed, so too is there an argument that one other Robin Hood film in 2010 wasn’t wanted. The legend of the titular character is one most individuals are already very accustomed to, and consequently, this 2010 film did not excite both critics or common audiences.

Nonetheless, not less than it is one other team-up between Scott and frequent main man Russell Crowe, as the 2 have collaborated on some superb tasks up to now. Then once more, that may have the unintended impact of creating anybody watching Robin Hood want they had been watching a greater Scott + Crowe film as a substitute. Those that are frequently on the lookout for a superb Robin Hood film past the Disney animated model and 1938’s The Adventures of Robin Hood should maintain looking out.

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26 ‘G.I. Jane’ (1997)

Starring Demi Moore and Viggo Mortensen

G.I. Jane was a film that had primarily been relegated to the dustbin of historical past, even when it is most likely not dangerous sufficient to name real trash. It rocketed again into public consciousness briefly some 25 years after launch, after Chris Rock used it to make a joke throughout the 2022 Oscars that Will Smith did not precisely recognize.

The movie itself has an fascinating premise, revolving round a army program set as much as enable girls to hitch the U.S. Navy, just for the movie’s execution to be less-than-amazing. Like many different Ridley Scott motion pictures that weren’t critically well-received, it was shortly forgotten about, maybe overshadowed in hindsight by the higher motion pictures the director has put out.

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25 ‘A Good Yr’ (2006)

Starring Russell Crowe, Albert Finney, and Marion Cotillard

When Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe work collectively on a film, the top result’s normally one thing that may be definable as an motion film. That is not the case in any respect for his or her 2006 movie, A Good Yr, which stands out – significantly inside Scott’s filmography – as being the filmmaker’s try at making a romantic dramedy.

It is primarily set in a picturesque winery, and revolves round two individuals who imagine they’ve inherited stated winery from a member of the family. Is A Good Yr a superb film, although? It is alright, however not tremendous spectacular or something. A Good Yr will get the job accomplished so far as romantic comedies go, and its existence implies that it is potential to say, “Sure, Ridley Scott has, in truth, made a rom-com.”

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24 ‘The Counselor’ (2013)

Starring Michael Fassbender, Penélope Cruz, and Brad Pitt

The Counselor is a grim and considerably disappointing movie, but it surely’s solely classifiable because the latter as a result of it actually ought to’ve been higher than it was. It had an amazing deal going for it, what with it being Ridley Scott directing a screenplay by Cormac McCarthy, and having a forged that features Michael Fassbender, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem, and Brad Pitt.

It is a couple of lawyer getting twisted up with drug traffickers, and the implications that ensue from being concerned with such a enterprise. The Counselor is a messy and inconsistent crime/thriller, and although some elements of it work – and it’s an fascinating, far-from-boring watch – there is a sense that it general ought to’ve been a lot better than it was, although its excessive components and oddball sensibilities have enabled it to be a movie with a set of defenders.

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23 ‘Hannibal’ (2001)

Starring Anthony Hopkins and Julianne Moore

Like The Counselor, made 12 years later, Hannibal is a darkish crime/thriller film that ought to be higher than it’s. It could effectively have at all times been doomed, given it is a sequel to the beloved The Silence of the Lambs, and although it offers Anthony Hopkins the prospect to reprise the function of Dr. Hannibal Lecter, Clarice Starling is distractingly performed by Julianne Moore this time round, as a substitute of Jodie Foster.

The plot is constructed across the two reuniting years after the occasions of The Silence of the Lambs, although issues are noticeably much less thrilling than they had been earlier than. Seeing Hopkins as Lecter as soon as once more ensures Hannibal is not a complete waste of time, and it is a competent sufficient movie if it isn’t in contrast too on to the 1991 movie it follows, however as a sequel, it’s greater than somewhat disappointing.

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22 ‘Somebody to Watch Over Me’ (1987)

Starring Tom Berenger, Mimi Rogers, and Lorraine Bracco

Somebody to Watch Over Me definitely is not the worst film Ridley Scott’s ever directed, but it surely’s a contender for probably the most obscure. It is one which’s onerous to come back throughout with out particularly digging into his filmography, and is a romantic thriller a couple of lady who witnesses a high-profile homicide, and will get assigned a detective who’s to guard her.

Perhaps the zeitgeist simply wasn’t proper for a romantic thriller surrounding girls who wanted defending, and males employed to do it, on condition that 5 years later, the creatively titled The Bodyguard turned an enormous hit. Or perhaps Somebody to Watch Over Me simply wanted extra Whitney Houston songs within the soundtrack. In any occasion, it isn’t dangerous, and definitely proves extra watchable than another Scott-directed motion pictures.

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21 ‘Physique of Lies’ (2008)

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe

Physique of Lies reunited Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe as soon as once more, however on this occasion, they had been additionally joined by Leonardo DiCaprio. DiCaprio is the movie’s lead general, with him taking part in a CIA agent who’s positioned in fixed hazard when he is despatched by the group to pursue and take down the mastermind behind a collection of lethal terrorist assaults.

Crowe’s character has a much more snug time, offering intel to DiCaprio’s character largely from the consolation of his own residence, because of satellite tv for pc know-how. Crowe additionally most likely had the cushier job as an actor right here, not less than in comparison with what DiCaprio needed to do. Perhaps that is one of many perks of working with Ridley Scott for longer than your co-star. Anyway, the film itself is ok.

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20 ‘White Squall’ (1996)

Starring Jeff Bridges and Caroline Goodall

White Squall is many issues without delay, being a survival movie, an journey/drama movie, and even a coming-of-age film. It follows what occurs when a bunch of younger sailors and their teacher have a coaching voyage spiral uncontrolled, after their old school crusing ship sails instantly right into a storm.

White Squall is a strong movie, and executed in a usually workmanlike vogue (few Ridley Scott motion pictures are sloppy sufficient to really feel basically damaged, in any case), and like all film with Jeff Bridges in it, it advantages from having Jeff Bridges in it. However the reality it is now pretty obscure implies that it is considerably underrated at greatest, and somewhat forgettable at worst. White Squall additionally had a very poor run on the field workplace, solely making a couple of quarter of its finances again domestically.

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19 ‘Home of Gucci’ (2021)

Starring Girl Gaga, Adam Driver, and Al Pacino

For a superb chunk of its ridiculously lengthy runtime (158 minutes!), Home of Gucci is a reasonably good crime film. It has some explosively over-the-top performances from the likes of Girl Gaga, Adam Driver, and Jared Leto, and is a fictionalized retelling of a real story involving fame, cash, and homicide among the many ultrarich in Italy.

At some extent, although, it simply wears out its welcome, and there is a case to be made that Home of Gucci is sort of an hour too lengthy, which actually is not one thing that may be stated about many motion pictures. There’s sufficient campy silliness (the jury’s nonetheless out on how intentional Home of Gucci‘s comedy is) to nonetheless make this a enjoyable look ahead to greater than half its runtime, however that prolonged runtime does in the end maintain the film as a complete again significantly. It may be given a cautious advice, however tread calmly.

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18 ‘Legend’ (1985)

Starring Tom Cruise and Mia Sara

Ridley Scott’s identify is extra related to the sci-fi style than the fantasy one (as lots of his best possible movies attest to), however Legend represents the filmmaker having a shot on the latter style. It is received the form of fantasy premise you’ve got seen many instances earlier than: there is a princess that wants saving and an amazing evil that wants defeating, with a younger hero and his pretty ineffective comedic sidekicks being the one ones who can save the day.

The title itself is even somewhat generic – simply “Legend.” However what does make the movie novel is its casting, as a result of it contains a younger Tom Cruise in a uncommon fantasy function because the movie’s hero, and Tim Curry hamming it up because the lead villain. So far as Nineteen Eighties fantasy motion pictures go, Legend is fairly easy and will get the job accomplished. It’d lack a wow issue, but it surely equally lacks too many issues to complain about, too.

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17 ‘Black Rain’ (1989)

Starring Michael Douglas, Andy García, and Ken Takakura

Whereas it may not stack as much as the movies within the Battles With out Honor and Humanity collection, Black Rain remains to be a rock-solid motion/thriller film concerning the Yakuza. Its premise sees a member of the Yakuza getting arrested in New York Metropolis, and two cops then being tasked with transporting him to Japan and turning him over to authorities there.

Given their success would imply the film would finish after quarter-hour, the Yakuza member breaks free as soon as they arrive in Japan, main the 2 cops on a determined mission to recapture him. It is a easy premise that permits for Scott to seize loads of trendy visuals, and movie a number of very entertaining motion scenes. It is general a bit simplistic and perhaps a tad overlong, however Black Rain’s nonetheless a film that works a superb deal greater than it does not.

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16 ‘All of the Cash within the World’ (2017)

Starring Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer, and Mark Wahlberg

Equally to 2021’s Home of Gucci, All of the Cash within the World appears again on a real-life crime-related occasion from the twentieth century. On this occasion, the film is concerning the kidnapping of billionaire J. Paul Getty’s grandson, and what occurs when Getty refuses to pay the ransom cash demanded by the abductors.

It is the type of film that turned extra well-known for its manufacturing over the rest, as Christopher Plummer changed Kevin Spacey as Getty shortly earlier than the movie was scheduled to launch, resulting in quite a few reshoots. All of the Cash within the World was a testomony to Scott’s work ethic that all of it received efficiently reshot, and a testomony to Plummer as an actor, too, as he obtained his third and ultimate Oscar nomination for the efficiency.

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15 ‘Alien: Covenant’ (2017)

Starring Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, and Billy Crudup

Alien: Covenant is a divisive film, serving as a sequel to a 2012 film that was an Alien prequel, however not too closely tied to stated collection exterior some key moments. It may well’t be denied that Covenant seems like an Alien film, although, in contrast to its predecessor, with an emphasis as soon as once more on outmatched human characters being pressured to outlive in opposition to a relentless xenomorph.

For these wanting a really direct burst of Alien, it is truthfully not almost as dangerous as some folks can have you imagine. It could pale compared to the perfect motion pictures within the Alien collection, however the results, performances, and pulse-pounding thriller/horror sequences right here all largely work, making this one in every of Ridley Scott’s most over-hated motion pictures.

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14 ‘Matchstick Males’ (2003)

Starring Nicolas Cage and Sam Rockwell

Trying over many Ridley Scott motion pictures could give the impression that he is a reasonably severe man, what with all of the motion, crime, drama, sci-fi, and thriller motion pictures. However that does not imply he is incapable of helming a profitable comedy, as he ended up releasing a reasonably good (albeit darkish) one with 2003’s Matchstick Males.

It is a film about an skilled con artist and his protégé beginning to discover success of their unethical discipline, just for the sudden emergence of the con artist’s daughter into his life to begin throwing issues off steadiness. Matchstick Males is kind of good all through, and decently balances comedy, crime, and drama components whereas additionally benefiting significantly from the truth that it stars each Nicolas Cage and Sam Rockwell.

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13 ‘Napoleon’ (2023)

Starring Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby

2023’s Napoleon is one in every of many motion pictures to be primarily based across the historic determine Napoleon Bonaparte. It sees Ridley Scott taking up an immense life story, ambitiously condensed into simply over 2.5 hours (with a four-hour-long director’s minimize set to be launched finally). There have been so many dramatic occasions in Napoleon’s life and varied battles he occurred in, nonetheless, to make even this comparatively lengthy runtime nonetheless really feel too quick.

Nonetheless, for the dedicated performances by Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby, in addition to for some spectacular battle sequences and common spectacular technical components, Napoleon stays price watching. It is not one in every of Scott’s greatest epics, however neither might or not it’s thought of one in every of his worst, and its status could effectively develop in time after the director’s minimize turns into accessible, and even perhaps the popular option to inevitably watch this 2023 movie.

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12 ‘1492: Conquest of Paradise’ (1992)

Starring Gérard Depardieu and Sigourney Weaver

Launched to commemorate 500 years since Christopher Columbus found the New World, 1492: Conquest of Paradise is a sweeping epic, and a fancy movie to interrupt down. Columbus himself is a divisive historic determine, to say the least, and a few viewers could come away from 1492: Conquest of Paradise feeling like sure issues had been both ignored or sugarcoated.

Thematically and narratively, there are points that shall be evident to some viewers, however from a technical perspective, 1492: Conquest of Paradise is commonly spectacular. It takes a probably troubling method to mythologizing this time in historical past, slightly than being correctly correct, however the energy of its photographs – and its awe-inspiring rating by Vangelis – show impactful and typically even rousing.

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11 ‘Prometheus’ (2012)

Starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, and Charlize Theron

Prometheus depicts sure occasions which are pivotal for future motion pictures within the Alien collection, but it surely does not really feel constrained in a method the place it “has” to be an Alien film. Issues get violent and survival-heavy in direction of the top, certain, however a lot of the remainder of the movie is a decidedly extra meditative affair about exploration of an odd new place, and discovering the origins of humanity.

So, going again to the extra Alien-esque ultimate act… might Prometheus be accused of getting its cake and consuming it too? No, it should not be. The cake is tasty. The ultimate act is thrilling. Nobody’s saying you possibly can’t take pleasure in an uneaten cake for some time after which, at a later level, eat it. Prometheus is nice cake. Shut up and eat your cake!

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10 ‘The Duellists’ (1977)

Starring Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel

Ridley Scott’s very first movie had a interval setting and a good quantity of motion, although its private story and comparatively low finances means it will probably’t be referred to as a full-on epic. The movie in query is The Duellists, and it facilities on two French Military lieutenants who’ve a years-long rivalry, difficult one another to quite a few duels all through the early 1800s.

It is the form of introspective historic conflict/drama film that ought to enchantment to followers of Stanley Kubrick‘s Barry Lyndon (although that one does have an epic runtime). The Duellists is a small movie, but it surely’s very satisfying and well-made for a debut function, and can also be noteworthy for being partially set on the identical level in historical past that Scott’s Napoleon ended up masking, making it really feel as if each movies type of bookend one another; one early Ridley Scott work contrasting with a late-career one.

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9 ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ (2005)

Starring Orlando Bloom, Eva Inexperienced, and Liam Neeson

So long as you watch the director’s minimize, Kingdom of Heaven is up there as one in every of Ridley Scott’s greatest motion pictures, and simply one in every of his best possible historic epics. It follows a blacksmith getting wrapped up within the holy wars throughout the Crusades, which had been a collection of big battles fought in medieval instances over varied religions.

The director’s minimize will increase the theatrical minimize’s runtime by 50 minutes, taking it over the three-hour-mark, and remodeling Kingdom of Heaven into a real epic. Because it seems, this additional time was wanted to make sure the story made sense, and that the characters may very well be sufficiently fleshed out. With out the director’s minimize, Kingdom of Heaven is a collection of well-photographed huge battle scenes interspersed with complicated character interactions, however with the director’s minimize, it turns into a genuinely nice movie.

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