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

Ridley Scott has been a consistent fixture in the movie industry since 1977, with several classic movies in his legendary filmography. Starting as a commercial director, Scott launched into Hollywood with some incredible early movies and quickly cemented himself as a stylistic auteur. From taut historical dramas such as The Last Duel to a new Alien franchise entry to his return to the world of Gladiator, Scott’s recent movies show that he is still one of the best directors around and that he clearly has no plans of slowing down any time soon.

At the age of 86, there are few directors working as hard and as frequently as Ridley Scott, making four movies in the last five years. With 29 feature-length movies to his name so far, Scott has delivered movies that are regarded as some of the best of all time and helped launch popular franchises. Of course, there are also some movies that are less than stellar and even forgettable. Taking a look at Ridley Scott’s amazing work, it is no easy task deciding which one is the best.

29 Exodus: Gods And Kings (2014)

Scott’s Retelling Of The Story Of Moses

Ridley Scott assembled an all-star cast for the retelling of the story of Moses and the result falls far short of expectations. Everything about 2014’s Exodus: Gods and Kings feels so staggeringly misguided, although it’s not hard to see why Scott would have been drawn to the idea of making the sort of Biblical epics that Hollywood used to produce. The result is disappointingly flat and seriously lacking in the grandeur and intensity that source material like the story of Moses desperately needs.

Many modern-day blockbusters have been criticized for trying to make things too grim or edgy, and Exodus suffers a similar fate. If the casting choice of Christian Bale as Moses helped to get the movie made, this fact was clearly lost on Bale, who appears bored with both the script and his character’s motivations for the majority of Exodus, ensuring this ranks as the worst of Scott’s historical epics.

28 A Good Year (2006)

A France-Set Rom-Com

Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe made for a formidable duo with Gladiator, and 2006’s A Good Year marked their first reunion following the pair’s initial Oscar-winning success. Alas, this romantic comedy about an arrogant yuppie who finds love and a sense of purpose at his family’s vineyard estate in Provence translates as a limp cinematic effort. Crowe and Marion Cotillard’s chemistry is lacking and Scott seems out of his element in finding the comedy in the story.

The entire affair feels derivative of a dozen other stories about rich people finding themselves in beautiful locations. There’s no real reason to sympathize with Crowe’s whinging character who owns a beautiful apartment, a vineyard, a family who love him, and the attention of one of France’s most beautiful actresses. While it is admirable that Scott and Crowe sought to do something that was the polar opposite of Gladiator, it marks their worst collaboration together.

27 Robin Hood (2010)

A Gritty Origin Story

Robin Hood, directed by Ridley Scott, stars Russell Crowe as the legendary archer who battles corruption in 13th-century England. Joined by Cate Blanchett as Lady Marian, the film presents a gritty reinterpretation of the classic tale. As political intrigue and personal ambitions clash, Robin Hood emerges as a hero for the oppressed, challenging the tyranny of the ruling class while striving to bring justice to the common people.

Release Date

May 12, 2010

Runtime

140 Minutes

While A Good Year never made any 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 pair to take. Audiences hoped that this movie, a more historically rooted take on a highly familiar story, would bring Scott back to his Gladiator heights. Instead, Robin Hood is a dishearteningly joyless slog that takes itself far too 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 lightness and sense of mischief to the Robin Hood stories that are completely absent in Scott’s film, but there’s also no real reason for audiences to invest in the portentous drama that has taken its place. The cast is strong, at least, although Crowe’s accent choice for the savior of Locksley is certainly a strange one.

26 1492: Conquest Of Paradise (1992)

Christopher Columbus’ Journey To The New World

1492: Conquest Of Paradise is a historical drama film directed by Ridley Scott, depicting Christopher Columbus’s voyage to the New World in 1492. Starring Gérard Depardieu as Columbus, the film explores the Italian explorer’s journey to the Americas, sponsored by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain.

Release Date

October 9, 1992

Cast

Gérard Depardieu , Armand Assante , Sigourney Weaver , Loren Dean , Ángela Molina

Runtime

154 Minutes

Paramount had grand plans for Scott’s 1492: Conquest of Paradise, a fictionalized dramatization of Christopher Columbus’s travels to the New World. They even ensured that it would be released in time to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Columbus’s voyage. Unfortunately, the film is an overlong history lesson that cuts out most of the history in favor of lore and pretty scenery. The Italian Columbus is played by a Frenchman, Gérard Depardieu, who is clearly struggling with the English dialogue, making every Columbus scene a slog that undermines Conquest of Paradise‘s otherwise gorgeous exposition.

Gallingly, the movie also treats Columbus himself as a saint-like figure contrasted against the terror of another explorer, Adrián de Moxica. While many of Scott’s historical epics have been called into question when it comes to historical accuracy, the complicated history of Columbus makes this white-washing of his story hard to overlook and bordering on offensive.

25 G.I. Jane (1997)

A Female Soldier Joins The Navy SEALs

G.I. Jane follows the grueling experience of Lieutenant Jordan O’Neil, played by Demi Moore, the first woman to undergo training in the U.S. Navy SEAL program. Facing extreme physical and mental challenges, the film highlights her fight against institutional sexism and personal limits.

Release Date

August 22, 1997

Cast

Demi Moore , Viggo Mortensen , Anne Bancroft , Jason Beghe , Morris Chestnut , Josh Hopkins , Jim Caviezel , Boyd Kestner , Kevin Gage , David Warshofsky

Runtime

125 minutes

Demi Moore was infamously lambasted for her performance in G.I. Jane, in which she plays a Naval officer who becomes the first woman to undergo training in the U.S. Navy Special Warfare Group. At the time, she was an easy tabloid target, and in hindsight, her performance here is exciting, balancing bombast with fragility and the weight of smothering expectations. The real problems, however, lie with the rest of the movie.

Many of the film’s moments pack a real punch, especially in showing the sheer brutality of the training Moore’s character is put through. While its intentions are noble when it comes to tackling issues of misogyny, it’s all too ham-fisted to make the impact it wants to. This story needed a more layered approach than G.I. Jane was willing to give in 1997. A lot of the intensity of the movie is also betrayed by the tacked-on cliché ending.

24 The Counselor (2013)

A Complex Crime Saga

Directed by Academy Award-nominated director Ridley Scott, The Counselor is a crime thriller about a Texas lawyer who gets involved with the Mexican cartel. It’s one of Scott’s more gruesome movies, which likely contributed to its mixed reception from audiences and critics. Despite this, it still performed reasonably well at the box office, generating more than $70 million against its $25 million production budget.

Release Date

November 14, 2013

Runtime

117minutes

The excitement surrounding The Counselor was justified at the time, especially considering 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 wordy and tough-to-describe crime thriller is one of Scott’s most divisive movies. For those who could get tuned into it, it was a brilliant ride, but many others were left perplexed and bored.

McCarthy’s dialogue doesn’t work as well on-screen, even when it’s being delivered by some of this generation’s finest talents. There’s a fascinating grimness and ugliness to the movie that is alluring, but flashes of greatness don’t amount to a satisfying final project. The glorious bright spot of The Counselor is a giddily off-the-hinge performance from Cameron Diaz, whose car scene opposite Javier Bardem was bafflingly bizarre.

23 Legend (1985)

Tom Cruise Stars In A Fantasy Adventure

In a fantastical realm, Jack must save Princess Lili from the clutches of the sinister Lord of Darkness, who plans to bring eternal night by killing the last unicorns. Teaming up with a group of mystical companions, Jack ventures through dark forests and treacherous terrains to stop Darkness and ensure the survival of their magical world.

Release Date

April 18, 1986

Cast

Tom Cruise , Mia Sara , Tim Curry , David Bennent , Alice Playten , Billy Barty , Cork Hubbert

Runtime

94 Minutes

After helping to redefine sci-fi with Blade Runner, Scott decided that he wanted to do the same with fantasy, so he joined forces with William Hjortsberg for the lavish 1985 movie Legend. Inspired by the Brothers Grimm, early Disney animation, and the works of Jean Cocteau, Legend is certainly a feast for the eyes at every turn that nails the aesthetic of classic fairy tales. This being said, the story itself is paper-thin and feels extremely gaudy in hindsight even by the 1980s’ standards.

A young Tom Cruise, years before he would become the biggest star on the planet, is more petulant than charming. However, the movie is at least worth watching for the amazing villainous performance by Tim Curry and his incredible makeup job as the Lord of Darkness. As a result, Legend is best viewed through a dreamlike haze, encouraging its audiences to forget narrative cohesion in favor of its admittedly stunning exposition.

22 Black Rain (1989)

An American Cop Takes On The Yakuza

Ridley Scott has shown his prowess in all manner of genres and styles, and with Black Rain, he shows off his skills in the cop thriller world. The ’80s were overloaded with stories like this — the police officer who doesn’t play by the rules, the job that goes wrong, the journey into the depths of the criminal underworld — and Black Rain isn’t exactly the best of them. Michael Douglas stars as a determined cop who travels to Japan to take on the Yakuza.

While Black Rain is a largely forgettable movie in comparison to the genre’s other offerings of the era, it is an example of how Scott’s directing skills can elevate subpar material. The lackluster story is brought to life with a slick and energetic style, making Black Rain a fun movie to watch even if audiences might not look back on it fondly once it is over.

21 Body Of Lies (2008)

The Complicated World Of Modern Espionage

Body of Lies, directed by Ridley Scott, stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a CIA operative and Russell Crowe as his manipulative superior. Set against the backdrop of the global war on terror, the film delves into espionage and counterterrorism as the characters navigate complex political landscapes in the Middle East. The storyline explores themes of loyalty, deception, and the blurred lines between allies and enemies.

Release Date

October 10, 2008

Runtime

128 minutes

Body of Lies is one of those movies that’s so jam-packed with skill, ideas, and obvious potential only for the final result to end up being rather uninspired. Based on a novel by David Ignatius, this action-drama about the CIA’s attempt to capture an Islamic terrorist includes a slew of acting talent — Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, and Oscar Isaac — then saddles them with stock thriller roles that could be found in any number of similar movies.

There are some interesting elements at play here, with the movie exploring the contrast between DiCaprio’s on-the-ground operative constantly put in danger and Crowe’s boss calling the shots from the United States with a somewhat uncaring view of the operation. However, this dynamic can only take the movie so far before its dull story and convoluted exploration of modern espionage becomes tedious.

20 Someone To Watch Over Me (1987)

A Detective Falls For A Suspect

Someone to Watch Over Me is a thriller directed by Ridley Scott, released in 1987. Tom Berenger stars as Detective Mike Keegan, who is assigned to protect Claire Gregory, played by Mimi Rogers, an affluent New Yorker who becomes a murder witness at a high-end nightclub.

Release Date

October 9, 1987

Cast

Mimi Rogers , Tom Berenger , Lorraine Bracco , Jerry Orbach , John Rubinstein , Andreas Katsulas , Tony DiBenedetto , James E. Moriarty , Mark Moses , Daniel Hugh Kelly , Harley Cross , Joanne Baron , Anthony Bishop , David Berman , Sharon K. Brecke , Meg Mundy , Harlan Cary Poe , Marilyn Rockafellow

Runtime

103 minutes

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Between Blade Runner and Thelma and Louise, Scott found himself in a bit of a rut during the 1980s, with a string of flops that left critics wondering if the director could produce meaningful work outside of sci-fi. He followed up the fantasy of Legend with the slick noir-inspired crime thriller Someone To Watch Over Me, starring Tom Berenger as an NYPD detective who becomes embroiled in an illicit affair while investigating a mob murder.

The movie is perhaps the most overlooked film of Scott’s career, but it is not entirely deserving of being discovered by fans. It is another example of Scott elevating the material as he pulls off the slick noir style of the movie effortlessly, helping immerse the audience into the world even if the story doesn’t really do that. However, there is not enough there to save Someone to Watcher Over Me from its messy ending.

19 Hannibal (2001)

Clarice Starling Hunts Hannibal Lecter

Hannibal is a thriller that sees Anthony Hopkins reprising his role as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer. Directed by Ridley Scott and based on Thomas Harris’s novel, the film follows the intriguing dynamics between Lecter and FBI agent Clarice Starling, played by Julianne Moore, as she seeks to capture him while he remains at large.

Release Date

February 9, 2001

Runtime

132 Minutes

Ridley Scott took on the unenviable task of directing the follow-up to The Silence of the Lambs, Jonathan Demme’s multi-Oscar-winning thriller that made household names of Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling. Thomas Harris’s sequel was deeply divisive with fans and took some bizarre turns 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’ 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 is less the movie itself than the reality that sheer cultural overload and endless parodies had long since rendered Anthony Hopkins’s cannibal psychiatrist more funny than scary, and despite a truly repulsive turn by Gary Oldman as the main villain, Hannibal simply cannot conjure up the true tension of The Silence of the Lambs.

18 Napoleon (2023)

Joaquin Phoenix Plays The French Emperor

From director Ridley Scott and writer David Scarpa comes Napoleon, a dramatic historical-epic film that follows the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte as he embarks on a lengthy French campaign of conquest. The film also focuses on his relationship with Josephine, his Empress and the love of his life, a relationship that was equal parts romantically intense and self-destructive.

Release Date

November 22, 2023

Runtime

158 Minutes

Napoleon is another Ridley Scott movie that sounds terrific on paper but the end result leaves a bit to be desired. The historical epic saw Scott reuniting 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 of Napoleon is impressive, showcasing Scott’s ability to still tell these grand stories and also deliver big battle sequences. However, the movie also has a strange tone that is hard to get in sync with, while Phoenix’s performance is more reserved than audiences might expect or want. In the end, Napoleon is a fine movie that, given the subject matter and talent involved, could have been so much more.

17 House Of Gucci (2021)

A True-Crime Saga About The Fashion Dynasty

Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci is a 2021 drama based on Sara Gay Forden’s biographical book “The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour”, and inspired by the real-life family behind the famous fashion brand Gucci. With a star-studded cast that includes Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, Jared Leto, Jack Huston, and Salma Hayek, the movie focuses on Patrizia Reggiani’s determination to take over her husband’s dynasty and the events that motivated her to kill him.

Release Date

November 24, 2021

Cast

Jeremy Irons , Reeve Carney , Miloud Mourad Benamara , Adam Driver , Lady Gaga , Mehdi Nebbou , Salma Hayek Pinault , Jack Huston , Al Pacino , Camille Cottin , Mădălina Diana Ghenea , Jared Leto

Runtime

2h 37m

Ridley Scott ventured into the true-crime territory while also examining a dysfunctional and powerful family in the captivating House of Gucci. The movie veers between salacious drama and dour boardroom sequences, as it depicts the internal power, struggles the fashion behemoth Gucci faced in 1978. This is, in essence, House of Gucci‘s main issue, with the film unable to settle on a consistent tone as it shows both the real scandals Gucci faced coupled with some outrageous creative liberties taken when portraying members of the Gucci board.

This is not to say House of Gucci is not thoroughly enjoyable, however, as Lady Gaga’s performance as Patrizia Reggiani is a career-best for the twelve-time Grammy-award 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

Kingdom of Heaven is a historical epic directed by Ridley Scott. Set during the Crusades of the 12th century, the film stars Orlando Bloom as Balian, a blacksmith who becomes a knight and defender of Jerusalem. The cast includes Eva Green, Jeremy Irons, and Liam Neeson. The movie explores themes of honor, faith, and conflict in a turbulent period of history.

Release Date

May 6, 2005

Cast

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

Runtime

144 Minutes

When discussing Kingdom of Heaven, it is important to remember that the version that made its way to theaters in 2005 is by far the inferior cut of the movie. Hoping to replicate the financial and critical success of Gladiator, 20th Century Fox panicked at the lukewarm preview screenings for 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-sitting offering. Unfortunately, the result was a deeply flawed historical drama with obvious holes throughout.

Fresh off of the success of The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Orlando 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 heft or complexity, overshadowed by costars Eva Green, Edward Norton, and Jeremy Irons. The theatrical cut further flattens out some of the nuances of this tangled period in history, making the film weaker than it should have been and consigning Kingdom of Heaven to a grade of middling historical drama at best.

15 Prometheus (2012)

A Mission To Discover Humanity’s Origins Turns Into Horror

2012’s Prometheus is the fifth installment in the Alien franchise and was directed by Ridley Scott. Starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba, and Guy Pearce, the film acts as a direct prequel to 1979’s Alien.

Release Date

June 8, 2012

Runtime

124 Minutes

Ridley Scott’s return to the Alien franchise he helped to launch was a major deal for fans, so Prometheus certainly had weighty expectations resting upon its shoulders. Perhaps it was inevitable that Scott’s much different and bold approach to the story was met with a fairly divisive reaction. Scott attempted to avoid retelling the same story which is a noble approach yet not something everyone wanted to see.

Scott has always had a keen eye for casting, and Prometheus benefits from including figures like Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, and a scene-stealing Michael Fassbender. Its biggest weakness lies in overwhelming the story. The exposition that the original never needed provides a backstory that has intriguing moments but is less satisfying as a whole than its individual parts. It does, however, benefit from astonishing production design and perhaps the most terrifying incubation scene in all of sci-fi cinema to date.

14 Alien: Covenant (2017)

Scott’s Second Alien Prequel

Alien: Covenant, directed by Ridley Scott, follows the crew of the colony ship Covenant as they discover an uncharted planet. Initially seeming like a paradise, the planet soon reveals dark secrets. Katherine Waterston, Michael Fassbender, and Billy Crudup lead the cast in this science fiction horror film, which serves as a direct sequel to Prometheus and continues to explore the origins of the Alien species.

Release Date

May 19, 2017

Cast

Michael Fassbender , Katherine Waterston , Billy Crudup , Danny McBride , Demián Bichir , Carmen Ejogo , Jussie Smollett , Callie Hernandez , Amy Seimetz , Nathaniel Dean , Alexander England , Benjamin Rigby , Uli Latukefu , Tess Haubrich , Lorelei King , Goran D. Kleut , Andrew Crawford , Tom O’Sullivan , James Franco , Guy Pearce , Noomi Rapace

Runtime

123 Minutes

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Alien: Covenant shares many of the weaknesses of Prometheus, but this sequel is buoyed by its sheer bleakness. The echoes of Frankenstein ring heavily throughout what may be the darkest entry in the Alien series as it delves fully into the recesses of humanity’s arrogance. More unsettling than the aliens themselves is Michael Fassbender, who plays not one but two identical androids who represent the ultimate questions of artificial intelligence and free will.

Watching Fassbender act with himself — and having surprisingly excellent chemistry as a result — is a strange high-wire act of intrigue and morbidity, and Fassbender’s dual performances fully display his talents as a leading man. The Alien franchise has never been big on happy endings, but the pure nihilism of Alien: Covenant as a sequel, and the idea that humanity’s destruction by its own hand may be necessary for the evolution of the universe as a whole, is sharply radical for a 2010s blockbuster.

13 White Squall (1996)

Jeff Bridges Stars In The Sailing Drama

White Squall, directed by Ridley Scott, follows a group of prep school students embarking on a journey aboard a sailing ship in 1960. Led by Capt. Christopher Sheldon, the voyage aims to instill discipline and fortitude but unexpectedly becomes a lesson in survival during a white squall storm.

Release Date

February 2, 1996

Cast

Caroline Goodall , Jeff Bridges , John Savage , Scott Wolf , Jeremy Sisto , Ryan Phillippe , David Lascher , Eric Michael Cole , Jason Marsden , David Selby , Julio Oscar Mechoso , Željko Ivanek , Balthazar Getty , Ethan Embry , Jordan Clarke , Lizbeth MacKay , Jill Larson , James Medina , James Rebhorn , Nicole Ann Samuel , Becky Ann Baker , Camilla Overbye Roos

Runtime

129 minutes

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White Squall is another of Ridley Scott’s movies that has been largely overlooked but stands as 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 Squall is a coming-of-age drama with a disaster-film edge. Jeff Bridges plays a captain in charge of a sailing trip with a group of young boys that goes horribly wrong when a freak storm hits their vessel.

All of the movie’s best scenes are set on the ship, with the excitement and cinematic energy Scott displays helping to balance the slower character moments from the young cast. However, Jeff Bridges is riveting and has strong paternal energy with his young characters, including Ryan Phillipe and Scott Wolf. It makes for 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

Ridley Scott’s All the Money in the World is a crime thriller based on the real-life kidnapping of John Paul Getty III in 1973. The film follows Getty’s mother, Gail (Michelle Williams), as she tries to convince his grandfather, the billionaire J. Paul Getty (Christopher Plummer, replacing Kevin Spacey), to pay the ransom demanded by the kidnappers.

Release Date

December 21, 2017

Runtime

133minutes

It’s hard to think about 2017’s All the Money in the World as just a movie, given the drama surrounding its post-production. As a sheer feat of cinematic commitment, it’s incredibly impressive that Scott removed Kevin Spacey from the narrative and replaced him with Christopher Plummer in only eight days of shooting, a month before the film’s premiere (Plummer went on to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor).

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

While Plummer got all the headlines for his 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 galling conviction.

11 Matchstick Men (2003)

Nicolas Cage Plays A Neurotic Conman

While Nicolas Cage has staged an impressive comeback following several years of straight-to-video B-movies, Matchstick Men was a reminder that he is an incredible actor and excels with the right material. 2003’s 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.

Though Ridley Scott has struggled with more comedic material in the past, this movie proves he can deliver a smaller character-driven story with big laughs. It’s about as sentimental as Scott ever gets, but the central character work of Cage, a scene-stealing Sam Rockwell, and the criminally underrated Alison Lohman are wholly worth the ride. Scott’s filmography is jam-packed with titles fans may not have seen, but it’s Matchstick Men that remains his most underrated to date.

10 Gladiator II (2024)

The Long-Awaited Follow-Up To Scott’s Best Picture Winner

Gladiator 2 is the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s award-winning film Gladiator from 2000. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 had been stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.

Release Date

November 22, 2024

Cast

Paul Mescal , Pedro Pascal , Denzel Washington , Connie Nielsen , Joseph Quinn , Fred Hechinger , Derek Jacobi , May Calamawy , Peter Mensah , Matt Lucas , Alexander Karim , Tim McInnerny , Lee Charles , Chidi Ajufo , Alfie Tempest , Riana Duce , Chi Lewis Parry , Paul Candelent , Hadrian Howard , Alexander Simkin , Mikhail Basmadjian , Matthew Charlery-Smith , Maxime Durand , Lior Raz

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

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