Ranking All of the Films Ridley Scott Has Directed - Cinelinx

Ridley Scott has a lengthy filmography as director, with his share of hits and misses. Join us as we attempt to rank all 27 movies the filmmaker has helmed as director.

Ridley Scott is a veteran filmmaker who has regularly been churning out major feature film releases since 1977. In addition to his highly prolific career as a film director, Scott has been heavily involved in many other film and television projects as a producer. He first made a name for himself with 1979’s Alien, hailed as a hallmark of the science fiction and horror genres. Over the decades since he has released many critically-acclaimed and commercially successful films. Scott has directed 27 feature films to date, and been nominated for three Oscars as Best Director.

As I write this, Scott may be best known for offending people who didn’t see his movie by suggesting they are too heavily-invested in their cell phones, but you can’t deny the impact he has had on the industry. He was one of the first directors to transition from making commercials to film, bringing with him an eye for visuals which would help modernize our understanding of cinematography and lighting in mainstream cinema. But in addition to his influence on the way films look, Scott has long championed strong female characters in important roles. Movies like Alien and Thelma and Louise have helped to change our understanding of what a female-led film could be.

To honor all that he has achieved in his career so far, his 84th birthday(!), as well as the release of not one, but TWO Ridley Scott-directed films in 2021, I decided to rank all of his films. Below I have organized all 27 of his feature films from what I consider to be his worst film to his best film. For each I have given a brief explanation of its place on the list.

#27. A Good Year (2006)

The very worst Ridley Scott film is also his strangest. Not because it is weird or strongly disagreeable in any way, but because it isn’t. This is as generic a film as can exist, and it is very very surprising to come from Ridley Scott. It’s an unmotivated and unfunny attempt at a romantic comedy from a director best known for cutting-edge science fiction and epic historical action-dramas. It’s best to just forget that this film exists.

#26. The Counselor (2013)

Scott’s 2010’s output was very strange when you think about it, and this film was the strangest of all. It felt like Scott was trying to channel a mix between the Coen brothers, Danny Boyle, and maybe Guy Ritchie. I can appreciate the idea of trying to explore new territory, but Scott doesn’t have the charm, the energy, or the personality in his direction to make this tangled mess of a crime thriller work. At least it looks good, but that’s all I can say.

#25. 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)

A movie that might be too much Ridley Scott. It’s style over substance, but taken to a lengthy, and unrestrained conclusion no one asked for. It was Scott’s first attempt at a historical drama, and it lacks any sort of excitement or draw, or people speaking with the appropriate dialects. This expensive movie bombed in theaters and felt like Oscar bait that tripped up on its own two feet.

#24. Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)

Scott attempts to update The Ten Commandments for modern audiences without leaning on the religion aspect, and it goes as good as you might imagine. While the film isn’t terrible, and has an interesting cast, it lacks anything that would really grab your attention. I would still file it in the same blasphemous category as the recent Ben Hur remake.

#23. Hannibal (2001)

Hans Zimmer, Tony Hopkins, and Ridley Scott should have been the collaboration for the ages, but whatever potential there was for a Silence of the Lambs delayed prequel is wasted by a script that leans so heavily on our appreciation of the original film. As a result, the movie fails to convince us that it was worth the effort of making in the first place.

#22. Someone to Watch Over Me (1987)

After the box office failures of Blade Runner and Legend, Scott had to do a studio film. The result is kind of what you might expect. It’s an odd fit for Scott’s filmography, a generic thriller with some artistic flair within the context of the script. While the film doesn’t necessarily offend the viewer, it isn’t really exciting either.

#21. G.I. Jane (1997)

While the premise and execution hasn’t really aged well, I think the message is important. This is the kind of movie that would have been somewhat controversial upon its release, but today doesn’t move the needle too much. It’s clearly a film of its time. Demi Moore fails to fill the shoes her role demands, and Scott’s chaotic direction makes the film a bit more dynamic than it probably needed to be. Nevertheless, it isn’t boring.

#20. Robin Hood (2010)

Another historical drama undertaken by Scott in an attempt to give it a modern, epic movie feel. Scott’s visuals make it beautiful, and the cast is quite good. However, Robin Hood is one of those classics we’ve seen so many times on the big screen already that this one just feels like another attempt to cash in on a familiar story.

#19. Black Rain (1989)

This is one of those films that has potential with some good ideas, but just never comes together in the right way to resonate with audiences. Also, for the first time it feels like Ridley Scott ran out of ideas in terms of the visual approach of the film. If it wasn’t an issue enough that the plot feels somewhat redundant, the film looks like a Blade Runner rip-off. And yet, this is a movie I do enjoy watching.

#18. Legend (1985)

This is a tough one to rank because it will always be compared with classic 80’s fantasy films such as Labyrinth, Willow, or The Dark Crystal, against which it is a clearly inferior film. Legend is very heavily devoted to visuals over storytelling, and especially in the guise of a movie geared towards families, Ridley Scott feels out of his element. But, the film has a cult following and today is appreciated in certain circles.

#17. Alien: Covenant (2017)

The issues audiences had with Prometheus (i.e. not being a direct prequel to Alien) were only multiplied with Alien: Covenant which chooses to not be a direct sequel to Prometheus (I mean, it feels like we’re missing a movie between them). Still, it brings the ideas from Alien into a new space which is more closely connected with old-school horror. The visuals alone make this film worthy of watching even if the script feels predictable compared with where the franchise has gone before.

#16. White Squall (1996)

This film previews Scott’s fascination with more contemporary historical events, which he would focus on over the next few decades of his career. But despite the adventurous plot and some interesting visual techniques, this film feels more by-the-numbers than it should from a director of Scott’s caliber.

#15. Body of Lies (2008)

Scott’s first Post 9/11 subgenre film is an ode to political thrillers of the 70’s but dealing with modern problems. It borrows from not only what he did in Black Hawk Down but also other contemporary films of that era such as the Jason Bourne movies and Syriana. Despite an intriguing cast and interesting script it doesn’t move beyond the general spy thriller category.

#14. All the Money in the World (2017)

A movie which best represents Scott’s later-career output; a historical drama depicting an actual event you may or may not have been aware of. The film is of course beautifully and well-made, the actors do a well-enough job, and it has moments of excitement. The only issue is that the film just doesn’t stand out enough in any one area to be memorable.

#13. Kingdom of Heaven (2005)

Building on what he achieved with Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven is a further exploration of the Crusades which Scott would visit several times in his career. Less action-oriented than Gladiator, this one is more plodding than effortlessly engaging – make sure to check out the director’s cut which makes the film feel much more complete than the theatrical release. It has a great cast, fantastic production, and covers a grand scope that could have easily faltered under the direction of anyone else.

#12. House of Gucci (2021)

Halfway between camp and realism, it’s yet another historical drama by Scott, but more enjoyable. Lady Gaga steals the show, and commands your attention, bringing the whole film into her orbit. Add in some incredible production and a talented cast, and you have a movie that approaches the historical drama in a manner that is more fun than most.

#11. Prometheus (2012)

Scott’s first return to the world of Alien had us initially very confused because it didn’t answer many of the questions we thought it would need to. Nonetheless, the film’s haunting imagery and exciting twists have softened our initial shock, and the film is better appreciated today than when it first came out.

#10. The Duellists (1977)

Scott’s first film would showcase his eye for visual flair, albeit at the expense of dramatic depth. His experience working on commercials is clearly evident in a movie that is as beautiful to look at today as it was back in 1977. The plot feels similar to Barry Lyndon in a way, so it doesn’t feel like the most original film. Still, with good performances and a creative production, it’s worth a watch.

#9. Matchstick Men (2003)

One of Scott’s rarer lighter films, its an intriguing crime drama which is partly about the actual con jobs and partly about the kinds of people who would perpetuate them. The film’s twisty story isn’t infinitely rewatchable, but it has its charms especially from an impeccable cast.

#8. Black Hawk Down (2001)

An intense action film with high production values and some real-world basis. It builds off of the militaristic approach of G.I. Jane, but does it in a more first-person perspective. No one talks enough about how influential this film would be to later films of the post 9/11 era.

#7. The Last Duel (2021)

A controversial pick to be this high, but I think it is an important film that is well made and very unique. It takes Scott’s attention to detail and makes that focus part of the fun. This isn’t a typical historical drama, it’s a battle of perspectives. Once the controversy dies down, I think this one will be much better appreciated as it ages.

#6. American Gangster (2007)

Dark, twisted, complicated, and unique. This crime thriller/noir transports you into an era of history and doesn’t let you escape. With impressive production and incredible acting, this is a film that deserves more attention.

#5. The Martian (2015)

A very rare example of a movie being almost as good as the book upon which it was based. The Martian is sleek survivalist science fiction, with a wit and an impeccable sense of style. As director, Ridley Scott makes this film engaging and fun.

#4. Thelma and Louise (1991)

Scott has shown feminist tendencies in his films, and perhaps Thelma and Louise makes the boldest statement in that regard. But the film is also extremely stylish, and emotionally motivating. It’s a classic that will always be remembered.

#3. Gladiator (2000)

Gladiator is a rare action-oriented Best Picture winner. It speaks to Ridley Scott’s impeccable sense of detail, and his ability to elevate a source material through his direction. Gladiator is one of those films that will stand the test for time, and will always be entertaining to watch.

#2. Blade Runner (1982)

Blade Runner was so far ahead of its time that audiences and critics didn’t know what to think about it. Today we know it as one of the most interesting, influential, and thought-provoking science fiction films ever made.

#1. Alien (1979)

# 1 and #2 may be interchangeable on this list, but for me I have to give Alien the nod because not only did it make Scott’s career, but it was a hugely influential film for science fiction. Also, to me it is more directly entertaining than Blade Runner.

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