Even though he hails from commercials and some television work, Ridley Scott’s second and third films were fantastic: the pioneering sci-fi horror Alien in 1979, and the dazzling film noir Blade Runner in 1982.
It is an audacious beginning to a versatile career that has lasted five decades and counting.
Scott’s ability to work in various movie genres and styles is impressive, makes him nearly unstoppable.
At 86, he shows no signs of slowing down. That’s the good news.
His filmography boasts half a dozen great films, including Alien Thelma & Louise, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, American Gangster and The Martian.
However, at least dozen of his pictures are weak, and especially so in the genre of the epic spectacle. It may be time to stop describing his as Hollywood’s grand master of the grand-scale historical genre.
Scott’s Worst Movies
Exodus: Gods and Kings
Grade: D+
1492: Conquest of Paradise
Grade: C
Kingdom of Heaven: C
Grade: C
Robin Hood
Grade: C
The Last Duel
Grade: C
Scott’s Filmography, 1977-2024
29 features in 47 years
Great Films: 8
Mediocre: 8
Weak/Terrible: 13
1977: The Duellists, Paramount
1979: Alien, 20th Century Fox
1982: Blade Runner Warner Bros.
1985: Legend, Universal/20th Century Fox
1987: Someone to Watch Over Me, Columbia
1989: Black Rain, Paramount
1991: Thelma & Louise, MGM
1992: 1492: Conquest of Paradise Paramount
1996: White Squall, Buena Vista
1997: G.I. Jane, Disney
2000: Gladiator DreamWorks/ Universal Pictures
2001: Hannibal MGM/ Universal
2001: Black Hawk Down: Sony Pictures
2003: Matchstick Men, Warner Bros
2005: Kingdom of Heaven: 20th Century Fox
2006: A Good Year
2007: American Gangster Universal
2008: Body of Lies, Warner Bros.
2010: Robin Hood, Universal Pictures
2012: Prometheus, 20th Century Fox
2013: The Counselor, 20th Century Fox
2014: Exodus: Gods and Kings
2015: The Martian
2017 Alien: Covenant
2017: All the Money in the World, Sony Pictures
2021: The Last Duel, 20th Century
2021: House of Gucci United Artists/ Universal
2023: Napoleon Sony Pictures Releasing / Apple TV+
Oscar Directors: Ridley Scott, Master of the Historical Epic? his Worst Movies are in this Genre!
Ridley Scott
Even though he hails from commercials and some television work, Ridley Scott’s second and third films were fantastic: the pioneering sci-fi horror Alien in 1979, and the dazzling film noir Blade Runner in 1982.
It is an audacious beginning to a versatile career that has lasted five decades and counting.
Scott’s ability to work in various movie genres and styles is impressive, makes him nearly unstoppable.
At 86, he shows no signs of slowing down. That’s the good news.
Scott’s Filmography, 1977-2024
29 features in 47 years