Every Ridley Scott Movie Ranked Worst to Best (Including House of Gucci)

Ridley Scott has been a constant presence in the film industry since 1977, with several classic films in his legendary filmography. Starting out as a commercial director, Scott launched himself into Hollywood with some incredible early films and quickly established himself as a stylistic auteur. From tense historical dramas like The Last Duel for a new Foreigner entry of the franchise for its return to the world of GladiatorScott’s recent films show that he’s still one of the best directors around and that he clearly has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.

At 86, few directors work as hard and as often as Ridley Scott, who has made four films in the last five years. With 29 feature films to his name so far, Scott has produced films that are considered some of the best of all time and helped launch popular franchises. Of course, there are also some films that are less than stellar and even forgettable. Taking a look at Ridley Scott’s incredible work, it’s no easy task to decide which is the best.

29

Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)

Scott’s retelling of the story of Moses

Ridley Scott brought together an all-star cast to retell the story of Moses and the result fell far short of expectations. All about 2014 Exodus: Gods and Kings seems so incredibly misguided, although it’s not hard to see why Scott would have been attracted to the idea of ​​making the kind of biblical epic that Hollywood used to produce. The result is disappointingly dull and seriously lacks the grandeur and intensity that source materials like the story of Moses desperately need..

Many modern blockbusters have been criticized for trying to make things too dark or edgy, and Exodus suffers a similar fate. If the casting of Christian Bale as Moses helped make the film, that fact was clearly lost on Bale, who seems bored with both the script and his character’s motivations much of the time. Exodusensuring this is the worst of Scott’s historical epics.

28

A Good Year (2006)

A Rom-Com set in France

Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe formed a formidable duo with Gladiator, and 2006 A good year marked their first reunion following the pair’s initial Oscar-winning success. Unfortunately, this romantic comedy about a cocky yuppie who finds love and a sense of purpose on his family’s wine estate in Provence translates as a weak cinematic effort. There is a lack of chemistry between Crowe and Marion Cotillard and Scott seems out of his element to find the comedy in the story.

The whole case seems to derive from a dozen other stories about rich people finding themselves in beautiful locations. There’s no real reason to sympathize with Crowe’s whiny character, who owns a beautiful apartment, a vineyard, a loving family, and the attention of one of France’s most beautiful actresses. While it’s admirable that Scott and Crowe sought to make something that was the opposite of Gladiator, this marks their worst collaboration together.

27

Robin Hood (2010)

A gritty origin story

While A good year never made sense as a Ridley Scott project with Russell Crowe in the lead, a big-budget reimagining of the Robin Hood legend seemed like a logical step for the duo to take. Audiences hoped that this film, a more historically rooted take on a highly familiar story, would bring Scott back to his story. Gladiator heights. Instead of, Robin Hood It is hard and discouraging work that is taken very seriously. In an era of gritty origin stories coming out of Hollywood, Robin Hood is a reminder that not all heroes need one.

There’s a deliberate levity and sense of mischief to the Robin Hood stories that is completely absent from Scott’s film, but there’s also no real reason for audiences to invest in the portentous drama that has taken their place. The cast is strong, at least, though Crowe’s choice of accent for Locksley’s savior is certainly odd.

26

1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)

Christopher Columbus’s Journey to the New World

Paramount had big plans for Scott 1492: Conquest of Paradisea fictional dramatization of Christopher Columbus’s voyages to the New World. They even ensured it would be released in time to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Columbus’s voyage. Unfortunately, the film is one long history lesson that eliminates most of the story in favor of lore and beautiful scenery. The Italian Columbus is played by a Frenchman, Gérard Depardieu, who is clearly struggling with the English dialogue, making every scene of Columbus a slog that detracts from Conquest of Paradiseotherwise beautiful exhibition.

Annoyingly, the film also treats Columbus himself as a saintly figure, in contrast to the horror of another explorer, Adrián de Moxica. Although many of Scott’s historical epics have been questioned when it comes to historical accuracy, Columbus’s complicated history makes this whitewashing of his history difficult to ignore and bordering on offensive.

25

GI Jane (1997)

A female soldier joins the Navy SEALs

Demi Moore was infamously criticized for her performance in Jane Janein which she plays a Marine officer who becomes the first woman to receive training in the U.S. Navy’s Special Warfare Group. At the time, she was an easy tabloid target, and In hindsight, her performance here is thrilling, balancing bombast with the fragility and weight of suffocating expectations.. The real problems, however, lie in the rest of the film.

Many of the film’s moments are truly remarkable, especially when showing the brutality of the training that Moore’s character undergoes. While his intentions are noble when it comes to dealing with issues of misogyny, he is too clumsy to make the impact he wants. This story needed a more detailed approach than Jane Jane was willing to compromise in 1997. Much of the film’s intensity is also betrayed by the added cliché ending.

24

The Counselor (2013)

A complex crime saga

The excitement surrounding The Counselor was justified at the time, especially considering that Ridley Scott, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Cormac McCarthy, and a cast of Oscar winners and nominees that included Javier Bardem, Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, and Penélope Cruz , were all assigned to the project. Ultimately, this long-winded, hard-to-describe crime thriller is one of Scott’s most controversial films. For those who were able to tune in, it was a brilliant ride, but many others were left baffled and bored.

McCarthy’s dialogue doesn’t work all that well on screen, even when it’s delivered by some of this generation’s best talent. There’s a fascinating grimness and ugliness to the film that’s appealing, but flashes of greatness don’t equal a satisfying final project. The glorious shining point of The counselor is a dizzying performance from Cameron Diaz, whose scene in the car alongside Javier Bardem was disconcertingly bizarre.

23

Legend (1985)

Tom Cruise stars in a fantasy adventure

After helping redefine science fiction with Blade runnerScott decided he wanted to do the same with fantasy, so he joined forces with William Hjortsberg for the lavish 1985 film Legend. Inspired by the Brothers Grimm, Disney’s first animations and the works of Jean Cocteau, Legend It’s certainly a feast for the eyes with every step that nails the classic fairy tale aesthetic. That said, the story itself is paper-thin and seems extremely tawdry in retrospect, even by 1980s standards.

Young Tom Cruise, years before becoming the biggest star on the planet, is more petulant than charming. However, At least the film is worth watching for the incredible performance of Tim Curry’s villain and his incredible makeup work as the Dark Lord. As a result, Legend is best viewed through a dreamlike haze, encouraging its audience to forget narrative cohesion in favor of its admittedly impressive exposition.

22

Black Rain (1989)

An American police officer faces the Yakuza

Ridley Scott has shown his skill in all genres and styles, and with black rain, he shows his skills in the world of crime thriller. The 80s were overloaded with stories like this – the cop who doesn’t follow the rules, the job gone wrong, the journey into the depths of the criminal underworld – and Black Rain It’s not exactly their best. Michael Douglas stars as a determined police officer who travels to Japan to take on the Yakuza.

While Black Rain is a largely forgettable film compared to other offerings in the genre at the time, it’s an example of how Scott’s directorial skills can elevate subpar material. Lackluster story comes to life with stylish, energetic styledoing Black Rain a fun film to watch, even if the audience doesn’t look back fondly on it when it’s finished.

21

Body of Lies (2008)

The complicated world of modern espionage

Body of Lies is one of those films packed with skill, ideas, and obvious potential, only for the end result to end up being uninspired. Based on a novel by David Ignatius, this action drama about the CIA’s attempt to capture an Islamic terrorist includes a host of talented actors – Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe and Oscar Isaac – and then saddles them with suspenseful roles that can be found in any number of similar films.

There are some interesting elements at play here, with the film exploring the contrast between DiCaprio’s local agent constantly placed in danger and Crowe’s boss calling the shots in the United States with a somewhat lackadaisical view of the operation.. However, this dynamic can only take the film so far before its dull story and convoluted exploration of modern espionage become tedious.

20

Someone to Take Care of Me (1987)

A detective falls in love with a suspect

Between Blade runner and Thelma and LuisaScott found himself in a difficult situation during the 1980s, with a series of flops that left critics wondering whether the director could produce significant work outside of science fiction. He followed the fantasy of Legend with the elegant noir-inspired crime thriller Someone to take care of mestarring Tom Berenger as an NYPD detective who becomes involved in an illicit case while investigating a mob murder.

The film is perhaps the most forgotten film of Scott’s career, but it doesn’t fully deserve to be discovered by fans. It’s another example of Scott elevating the material by using the film’s noir style effortlessly, helping to immerse the audience in the world even if the story doesn’t really do that.. Yet there’s not enough to save Someone to watch over me since its confusing ending.

19

Hannibal (2001)

Clarice Starling hunts Hannibal Lecter

Ridley Scott took on the unenviable task of directing the sequel to The Silence of the LambsJonathan Demme’s multi-Oscar-winning thriller that made Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling household names. Thomas Harris’ sequel was deeply divisive among fans and took some bizarre twists that Scott and screenwriter Steven Zaillian mercifully decided to avoid. A lot of Hannibal is therefore fascinating, especially the deeply atmospheric scenes set in Venice, which were also the best part of Harris’s second book.

Julianne Moore is an excellent actress, but it’s hard not to feel the absence of Jodie Foster in the beloved role of Clarice. A big problem with Hannibal It’s less the film itself than the reality that sheer cultural overload and endless parodies have long made Anthony Hopkins’ cannibalistic psychiatrist more funny than scary, and despite a truly repulsive turn from Gary Oldman as the main villain, Hannibal simply fails to evoke the true tension of THE Silence of the Lambs.

18

Napoleon (2023)

Joaquin Phoenix plays the French emperor

Napoleon is another Ridley Scott film that looks great on paper, but the end result leaves a little to be desired. The historical epic saw Scott reunite with Joaquin Phoenix for the first time since Gladiator for a biopic of one of the most notorious historical figures of all time, Napoleon Bonapart. However, those expecting another action-packed epic from Scott, anchored by a towering performance from Phoenix, were left somewhat disappointed.

The scale and style Napoleon is impressive, showcasing Scott’s ability to still tell these great stories and also deliver great battle sequences. However, The film also has an odd tone that is difficult to sync with, while Phoenix’s performance is more reserved than audiences might expect or want.. At the end, Napoleon It’s a beautiful film that, given the subject matter and the talent involved, could have been so much more.

17

Gucci House (2021)

A true crime saga about the fashion dynasty

Ridley Scott ventured into true crime territory as he examined a powerful, dysfunctional family in the captivating House of Gucci. The film oscillates between salacious drama and dark boardroom sequences as it depicts the inner power and struggles that fashion giant Gucci faced in 1978. This is, in essence, House of GucciThe film’s main problem, with the film being unable to establish a consistent tone as it shows the real scandals that Gucci faced, along with some outrageous creative liberties taken when portraying Gucci board members.

This doesn’t mean House of Gucci It’s not entirely pleasant, however, as Lady Gaga’s performance as Patrizia Reggiani is a career-best for the twelve-time Grammy winner to date. She is joined by an all-star ensemble that also includes Adam Driver, Al Pacino and Jared Leto, all delivering entertaining performances.

16

Kingdom of Heaven (2005)

Scott’s epic look at the crusades

When discussing Kingdom of Heaven, It’s important to remember that the version that hit theaters in 2005 is by far the inferior cut of the film. Hoping to replicate the financial and critical success of Gladiator20th Century Fox panicked over lukewarm showings of Scott’s crusading epic and opted to cut 45 minutes from the runtime in an effort to make Kingdom of Heaven a more digestible, single-session offering. Unfortunately, the result was a deeply flawed historical drama with obvious holes.

Fresh off the success of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the KingOrlando Bloom was a huge star and casting him may have been a smart business choice, but artistically it was a mistake. He is unable to handle a role of this weight or complexity, overshadowed by supporting actors Eva Green, Edward Norton and Jeremy Irons. The theatrical cut further flattens out some of the nuances of this complicated period in history, making the film weaker than it should have been and consigning Kingdom of Heaven to a middling degree of historical drama at best.

15

Prometheus (2012)

A quest to discover the origins of humanity turns into horror

Ridley Scott’s return to Foreigner franchise he helped launch was a big deal for fans, so Prometheus he certainly had heavy expectations on his shoulders. It was perhaps inevitable that Scott’s very different and bold take on the story would be met with a rather divisive reaction. Scott tried to avoid retelling the same story, which is a noble approach, but not something everyone would want to see.

Scott always had a keen eye for the cast and Prometheus benefits from the inclusion of figures like Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba and the scene-stealing Michael Fassbender. Its greatest weakness lies in overloading the story. Exposition that the original never needed provides a backstory with intriguing moments, but is less satisfying as a whole than its individual parts. However, it benefits from astonishing production design and perhaps the most terrifying hatching scene in all of science fiction cinema to date.

14

Alien: Covenant (2017)

Scott’s Second Alien Prequel

Alien: Alliance shares many of the weaknesses Prometheus, but this sequence is driven by its utter desolation. The echoes of Frankenstein sounds strongly throughout what may be the darkest entry in the Foreigner series as he delves deep into the recesses of humanity’s arrogance. More disturbing than the aliens themselves is Michael Fassbender, who plays not one but two identical androids who represent the fundamental questions of artificial intelligence and free will.

Watching Fassbender play himself – and have surprisingly excellent chemistry as a result – is a strange act of intrigue and morbidity, and Fassbender’s dual performances fully showcase his talent as a leading man. THE Foreigner the franchise has never been big on happy endings, but the sheer nihilism of Foreigner: Covenant as a sequel, and the idea that humanity’s destruction at its own hands may be necessary for the evolution of the universe as a whole, is wildly radical for a 2010 blockbuster.

13

White Storm (1996)

Jeff Bridges stars in sailing drama

White Storm is another Ridley Scott film that has been largely forgotten, but remains a solid gem in his career. Based on the 1962 book The Last Voyage of the Albatross by Charles Gieg Jr. and Felix Sutton, White Storm is a coming-of-age drama with a disaster movie twist. Jeff Bridges plays a captain in charge of a boat trip with a group of boys that goes horribly wrong when a storm hits their ship.

All of the film’s best scenes take place on the ship, with the emotion and cinematic energy that Scott displays helping to balance out the slower moments for the young cast’s characters.. However, Jeff Bridges is fascinating and has a strong paternal energy with his young characters, including Ryan Phillipe and Scott Wolf. It’s a solid sports movie, with Scott helping to make it a little more memorable through some exciting sequences.

12

All the Money in the World (2017)

A true crime story of a high-profile kidnapping

It’s hard to think about 2017 All the money in the world just like a film, given the drama that surrounds its post-production. As a pure feat of cinematic commitment, it’s incredibly impressive that Scott removed Kevin Spacey from the narrative and replaced him with Christopher Plummer in just eight days of filming, a month before the film’s release (Plummer received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting ). Actor).

Ultimately, the final product is a sharp and deft thriller centering on a group of people who would be criticized for being ridiculous if they weren’t all real. There is dark humor in this dark story of a kidnapped young man and his miserable grandfather who refuses to pay the demanded $17 million ransom. All the money in the world understands how money corrupts and how it can poison even the simplest ideas or problems.

Although Plummer got all the headlines for her last-minute performance here, the real star of the show is Michelle Williams, who conveys the agony and frustration of being yet another pawn in a rich man’s world with infuriating conviction.

11

Matchstick Men (2003)

Nicolas Cage plays a neurotic conman

Although Nicolas Cage has made an impressive comeback after several years of straight-to-video B-movies, matchstick men it was a reminder that he is an incredible actor and shines with the right material. 2003 matchstick men sees Cage play a con man who begins to question his career after a series of panic attacks lead to the discovery that he has a teenage daughter.

Although Ridley Scott has struggled with more comedic material in the past, this film proves that he can tell a smaller, character-driven story with lots of laughs. It’s as sentimental as Scott gets, but the work of Cage’s scene-stealing central character, Sam Rockwell, and the criminally underrated Alison Lohman are totally worth it. Scott’s filmography is full of titles that fans may not have seen, but it is matchstick men which remains the most underrated so far.

10

Gladiator II (2024)

The long-awaited sequel to Scott’s best picture winner

Ridley Scott’s latest film is the long-awaited sequel to one of his most popular titles. Although there were some crazy ideas for a potential Gladiator sequel, Scott ultimately opted for a more conventional one that brought in a new cast for another epic film set in ancient Rome. Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington lead the saga of Maximus’ son, Lucius, who seeks revenge against a Roman general by becoming the most powerful gladiator in the arena.

Gladiator II falls a little short of capturing the excitement of the first film, with certain sequences feeling overdone. However, the film is a blockbuster special that makes the theater-going experience so exciting. Without Russell Crowe headlining the show, the new Gladiator II The cast shines on their own with Washington stealing the show with an electrifying performance. It’s an incredible demonstration of Scott’s abilities at this point in his career.