All 28 Ridley Scott Movies, Ranked From Worst to Best

There are many things that can be said about Ridley Scott as a filmmaker, and his immense body of work. He’s been making feature films for close to 50 years now, and is well-known for his ability to put out a new movie every one to two years, and for his willingness to make movies across very different genres. Not even foray into every genre has been a success, of course, but the variety makes Scott’s filmography a very interesting one to explore and dissect.

Since 1977 (when Scott himself was already 40 years old), he’s worked at a steady enough rate to direct a total of 28 feature films, with 2023’s Napoleon being his most recent film. His filmography is filled with entries both good and bad, and everything in between. Below are his finest films, ranked from great to greatest.

28 ‘Exodus: Gods and Kings’ (2014)

Starring Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, and Ben Kingsley

Ridley Scott has proved himself capable of making plenty of action-heavy historical dramas and epics, meaning Exodus: Gods and Kings was an unfortunate and dramatic stumble for the director. It’s a two-and-a-half-hour-long retelling of the biblical story of Moses, and fails to do anything that other movies with the same premise already did (both 1956’s The Ten Commandments and 1998’s The Prince of Egypt are much better).

Exodus: Gods and Kings had an epic scale and some talented actors attached to it, but certain casting choices by Scott were criticized. It’s probably a film that a good many people have forgotten about, perhaps not for the worse, as it came and went from theaters way back in 2014, with Ridley Scott’s career thankfully picking up steam again in the years that followed, demonstrating it was a relatively brief hiccup.

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27 ‘Robin Hood’ (2010)

Starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett

Just as there was a case that a new Moses movie in 2014 wasn’t necessary, so too is there an argument that another Robin Hood movie in 2010 wasn’t needed. The legend of the titular character is one most people are already very familiar with, and as a result, this 2010 movie failed to excite either critics or general audiences.

Still, at least it’s another team-up between Scott and frequent leading man Russell Crowe, as the two have collaborated on some very good projects in the past. Then again, that can have the unintended effect of making anyone watching Robin Hood wish they were watching a better Scott + Crowe movie instead. Those who are continually looking for a good Robin Hood movie beyond the Disney animated version and 1938’s The Adventures of Robin Hood ought to keep searching.

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26 ‘G.I. Jane’ (1997)

Starring Demi Moore and Viggo Mortensen

G.I. Jane was a movie that had essentially been relegated to the dustbin of history, even if it’s probably not bad enough to call genuine trash. It rocketed back into public consciousness briefly some 25 years after release, after Chris Rock used it to make a joke during the 2022 Oscars that Will Smith didn’t exactly appreciate.

The film itself has an interesting premise, revolving around a military program set up to allow women to join the U.S. Navy, only for the film’s execution to be less-than-amazing. Like many other Ridley Scott movies that weren’t critically well-received, it was quickly forgotten about, perhaps overshadowed in hindsight by the better movies the director has put out.

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25 ‘A Good Year’ (2006)

Starring Russell Crowe, Albert Finney, and Marion Cotillard

When Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe work together on a movie, the end result is usually something that can be definable as an action movie. That’s not the case at all for their 2006 film, A Good Year, which stands out – particularly within Scott’s filmography – as being the filmmaker’s attempt at making a romantic dramedy.

It’s primarily set in a picturesque vineyard, and revolves around two people who believe they’ve inherited said vineyard from a family member. Is A Good Year a good movie, though? It’s alright, but not super impressive or anything.A Good Year gets the job done as far as romantic comedies go, and its existence means that it’s possible to say, “Yes, Ridley Scott has, in fact, made a rom-com.”

Rent on Apple TV+

24 ‘The Counselor’ (2013)

Starring Michael Fassbender, Penélope Cruz, and Brad Pitt

The Counselor is a grim and somewhat disappointing film, but it’s only classifiable as the latter because it really should’ve been better than it was. It had a great deal going for it, what with it being Ridley Scott directing a screenplay by Cormac McCarthy, and having a cast that includes Michael Fassbender, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem, and Brad Pitt.

It’s about a lawyer getting tangled up with drug traffickers, and the consequences that ensue from being involved with such a business. The Counselor is a messy and inconsistent crime/thriller, and though some parts of it work – and it is an interesting, far-from-boring watch – there’s a sense that it overall should’ve been much better than it was, though its extreme elements and oddball sensibilities have enabled it to be a film with a collection 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 dark crime/thriller movie that should be better than it is. It may well have always been doomed, given it’s a sequel to the beloved The Silence of the Lambs, and though it gives Anthony Hopkins the chance to reprise the role of Dr. Hannibal Lecter, Clarice Starling is distractingly played by Julianne Moore this time around, instead of Jodie Foster.

The plot is built around the two reuniting years after the events of The Silence of the Lambs, though things are noticeably less exciting than they were before. Seeing Hopkins as Lecter once again ensures Hannibal isn’t a total waste of time, and it’s a competent enough film if it’s not compared too directly to the 1991 film it follows, but as a sequel, it is more than a little disappointing.

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22 ‘Someone to Watch Over Me’ (1987)

Starring Tom Berenger, Mimi Rogers, and Lorraine Bracco

Someone to Watch Over Me certainly isn’t the worst movie Ridley Scott’s ever directed, but it’s a contender for the most obscure. It’s one that’s hard to come across without specifically digging into his filmography, and is a romantic thriller about a woman who witnesses a high-profile murder, and gets assigned a detective who’s to protect her.

Maybe the zeitgeist just wasn’t right for a romantic thriller surrounding women who needed protecting, and men hired to do it, given that five years later, the creatively titled The Bodyguard became a huge hit. Or maybe Someone to Watch Over Me just needed more Whitney Houston songs in the soundtrack. In any event, it’s not bad, and certainly proves more watchable than some other Scott-directed movies.

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21 ‘Body of Lies’ (2008)

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe

Body of Lies reunited Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe once again, but in this instance, they were also joined by Leonardo DiCaprio. DiCaprio is the film’s lead overall, with him playing a CIA agent who’s placed in constant danger when he’s sent by the organization to pursue and take down the mastermind behind a series of deadly terrorist attacks.

Crowe’s character has a far more comfortable time, providing intel to DiCaprio’s character largely from the comfort of his own home, thanks to satellite technology. Crowe also probably had the cushier job as an actor here, at least compared to what DiCaprio had to do. Maybe that’s one of the perks of working with Ridley Scott for longer than your co-star. Anyway, the movie itself is fine.

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20 ‘White Squall’ (1996)

Starring Jeff Bridges and Caroline Goodall

White Squall is many things at once, being a survival film, an adventure/drama film, and even a coming-of-age movie. It follows what happens when a group of young sailors and their instructor have a training voyage spiral out of control, after their old-fashioned sailing ship sails directly into a storm.

White Squall is a solid film, and executed in a typically workmanlike fashion (few Ridley Scott movies are sloppy enough to feel fundamentally broken, after all), and like any movie with Jeff Bridges in it, it benefits from having Jeff Bridges in it. But the fact it’s now fairly obscure means that it’s somewhat underrated at best, and a little forgettable at worst. White Squall also had a particularly poor run at the box office, only making about a quarter of its budget back domestically.

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19 ‘House of Gucci’ (2021)

Starring Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, and Al Pacino

For a good chunk of its ridiculously long runtime (158 minutes!), House of Gucci is a pretty good crime movie. It has some explosively over-the-top performances from the likes of Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, and Jared Leto, and is a fictionalized retelling of a true story involving fame, money, and murder among the ultrarich in Italy.

At a point, though, it just wears out its welcome, and there’s a case to be made that House of Gucci is almost an hour too long, which really isn’t something that can be said about many movies. There’s enough campy silliness (the jury’s still out on how intentional House of Gucci‘s comedy is) to still make this a fun watch for more than half its runtime, but that lengthy runtime does ultimately hold the movie as a whole back considerably. It can be given a cautious recommendation, but tread lightly.

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18 ‘Legend’ (1985)

Starring Tom Cruise and Mia Sara

Ridley Scott’s name is more associated with the sci-fi genre than the fantasy one (as many of his very best films attest to), but Legend represents the filmmaker having a shot at the latter genre. It’s got the kind of fantasy premise you’ve seen many times before: there’s a princess that needs saving and a great evil that needs defeating, with a young hero and his fairly useless comedic sidekicks being the only ones who can save the day.

The title itself is even a little generic – just “Legend.” But what does make the film novel is its casting, because it features a young Tom Cruise in a rare fantasy role as the film’s hero, and Tim Curry hamming it up as the lead villain. As far as 1980s fantasy movies go, Legend is pretty straightforward and gets the job done. It might lack a wow factor, but it similarly lacks too many things to complain about, too.

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17 ‘Black Rain’ (1989)

Starring Michael Douglas, Andy García, and Ken Takakura

While it might not stack up to the films in the Battles Without Honor and Humanity series, Black Rain is still a rock-solid action/thriller movie about the Yakuza. Its premise sees a member of the Yakuza getting arrested in New York City, and two cops then being tasked with transporting him to Japan and turning him over to authorities there.

Given their success would mean the movie would end after 15 minutes, the Yakuza member breaks free once they arrive in Japan, leading the two cops on a desperate mission to recapture him. It’s a simple premise that allows for Scott to capture plenty of stylish visuals, and film a few very entertaining action scenes. It’s overall a bit simplistic and maybe a tad overlong, but Black Rain’s still a movie that works a good deal more than it doesn’t.

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16 ‘All the Money in the World’ (2017)

Starring Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer, and Mark Wahlberg

Similarly to 2021’s House of Gucci, All the Money in the World looks back on a real-life crime-related event from the 20th century. In this instance, the movie is about the kidnapping of billionaire J. Paul Getty’s grandson, and what happens when Getty refuses to pay the ransom money demanded by the kidnappers.

It’s the sort of movie that became more well-known for its production over anything else, as Christopher Plummer replaced Kevin Spacey as Getty shortly before the film was scheduled to release, leading to numerous reshoots. All the Money in the World was a testament to Scott’s work ethic that it all got successfully reshot, and a testament to Plummer as an actor, too, as he received his third and final Oscar nomination for the performance.

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15 ‘Alien: Covenant’ (2017)

Starring Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, and Billy Crudup

Alien: Covenant is a divisive movie, serving as a sequel to a 2012 movie that was an Alien prequel, but not too heavily tied to said series outside some key moments. It can’t be denied that Covenant feels like an Alien movie, though, unlike its predecessor, with an emphasis once again on outmatched human characters being forced to survive against a relentless xenomorph.

For those wanting a very direct burst of Alien, it’s honestly not nearly as bad as some people will have you believe. It may pale in comparison to the best movies in the Alien series, but the effects, performances, and pulse-pounding thriller/horror sequences here all largely work, making this one of Ridley Scott’s most over-hated movies.

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14 ‘Matchstick Men’ (2003)

Starring Nicolas Cage and Sam Rockwell

Looking over many Ridley Scott movies may give the impression that he’s a pretty serious guy, what with all the action, crime, drama, sci-fi, and thriller movies. But that doesn’t mean he’s incapable of helming a successful comedy, as he ended up releasing a pretty good (albeit dark) one with 2003’s Matchstick Men.

It’s a movie about an experienced con artist and his protégé starting to find success in their unethical field, only for the sudden emergence of the con artist’s daughter into his life to start throwing things off balance. Matchstick Men is quite good throughout, and decently balances comedy, crime, and drama elements while also benefiting greatly from the fact that it stars both Nicolas Cage and Sam Rockwell.

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13 ‘Napoleon’ (2023)

Starring Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby

2023’s Napoleon is one of many movies to be based around the historical figure Napoleon Bonaparte. It sees Ridley Scott taking on an immense life story, ambitiously condensed into just over 2.5 hours (with a four-hour-long director’s cut set to be released eventually). There were so many dramatic events in Napoleon’s life and various battles he took place in, however, to make even this relatively long runtime still feel too short.

Still, for the committed performances by Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby, as well as for some spectacular battle sequences and general impressive technical elements, Napoleon remains worth watching. It’s not one of Scott’s best epics, but neither could it be considered one of his worst, and its reputation may well grow in time after the director’s cut becomes available, and perhaps even the preferred way to inevitably watch this 2023 film.

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12 ‘1492: Conquest of Paradise’ (1992)

Starring Gérard Depardieu and Sigourney Weaver

Released to commemorate 500 years since Christopher Columbus discovered the New World, 1492: Conquest of Paradise is a sweeping epic, and a complex film to break down. Columbus himself is a divisive historical figure, to say the least, and some viewers may come away from 1492: Conquest of Paradise feeling like certain things were either ignored or sugarcoated.

Thematically and narratively, there are issues that will be glaring to some viewers, but from a technical perspective, 1492: Conquest of Paradise is often spectacular. It takes a potentially troubling approach to mythologizing this time in history, rather than being properly accurate, but the power of its images – and its awe-inspiring score by Vangelis – prove impactful and sometimes even rousing.

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11 ‘Prometheus’ (2012)

Starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, and Charlize Theron

Prometheus depicts certain events that are pivotal for future movies in the Alien series, but it doesn’t feel constrained in a way where it “has” to be an Alien movie. Things get violent and survival-heavy towards the end, sure, but much of the rest of the film is a decidedly more meditative affair about exploration of a strange new place, and discovering the origins of humanity.

So, going back to the more Alien-esque final act… could Prometheus be accused of having its cake and eating it too? No, it shouldn’t be. The cake is tasty. The final act is exciting. No one’s saying you can’t enjoy an uneaten cake for a while and then, at a later point, consume it.Prometheus is good cake. Shut up and eat your cake!

Prometheus

Release Date

June 8, 2012

Director

Ridley Scott

Cast

Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Guy Pearce, Logan Marshall-Green

Rating

R

Runtime

124

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10 ‘The Duellists’ (1977)

Starring Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel

Ridley Scott’s very first film had a period setting and a decent amount of action, though its personal story and relatively low budget means it can’t be called a full-on epic. The film in question is The Duellists, and it centers on two French Army lieutenants who have a years-long rivalry, challenging each other to numerous duels throughout the early 1800s.

It’s the kind of introspective historical war/drama movie that should appeal to fans of Stanley Kubrick‘s Barry Lyndon (though that one does have an epic runtime). The Duellists is a small film, but it’s very satisfying and well-made for a debut feature, and is also noteworthy for being partially set at the same point in history that Scott’s Napoleon ended up covering, making it feel as though both films sort of bookend each other; one early Ridley Scott work contrasting with a late-career one.

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9 ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ (2005)

Starring Orlando Bloom, Eva Green, and Liam Neeson

As long as you watch the director’s cut, Kingdom of Heaven is up there as one of Ridley Scott’s best movies, and easily one of his very best historical epics. It follows a blacksmith getting wrapped up in the holy wars during the Crusades, which were a series of huge battles fought in medieval times over various religions.

The director’s cut increases the theatrical cut’s runtime by 50 minutes, taking it over the three-hour-mark, and transforming Kingdom of Heaven into a true epic. As it turns out, this extra time was needed to ensure the story made sense, and that the characters could be sufficiently fleshed out. Without the director’s cut, Kingdom of Heaven is a series of well-photographed big battle scenes interspersed with confusing character interactions, but with the director’s cut, it becomes a genuinely great film.

Kingdom of Heaven

Release Date

May 3, 2005

Director

Ridley Scott

Cast

Martin Hancock, Michael Sheen, Nathalie Cox, Eriq Ebouaney, Jouko Ahola, David Thewlis

Rating

R

Runtime

138

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