Summary

• Ridley Scott's recent films showcase his ability to tackle large-scale, original projects that capture the attention of audiences.
• Scott has a remarkable talent for working with actors, allowing them to showcase different sides of their personalities and giving them room to grow within his sequels.
• Consistency is a hallmark of Scott's career, with few outright failures and a track record of addressing current issues fearlessly and thematically connecting historical events with contemporary relevance.

There aren’t many filmmakers out there that have over five decades of masterpieces to their name, but Ridley Scott is part of that elite group. Ever since 1977’s The Duellists, Scott has continued to push the boundaries of cinema and ventured into nearly every imaginable genre. His influence on science fiction is almost taken for granted now, but Scott’s work bringing Alien and Blade Runner to life influenced generations of future storytellers. There’s no one out there who does historical epics as well as Scott, as proven by masterworks such as Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, Black Hawk Down, and The Last Duel. Scott has even shown a sense of humor with his deliriously dark comedies Matchstick Men and Thelma & Louise. How many directors can simultaneously entertain, engage, terrify, and educate their audiences as well as Scott?

Updated September 27, 2023 by Yosra Ben Lagha: In light of Ridley Scott's recent epic depicting French leader Napoleon's rise to power, this article has been updated to touch upon more reasons why this particular director could simply be the best in the industry.

While there are many filmmakers who emerged during the “New Hollywood” era of cinema that continue to work today, many of them haven’t been relevant within mainstream film culture for quite some time. The new films by Brian De Palma or Dario Argento don’t receive as much buzz or attention as their earlier projects, and some film fans may not even know that they’re still working in the industry. However, Scott’s influence hasn’t dwindled in the slightest throughout his extensive career. He seems to be more active than ever before; his new project, the Napoleon biopic starring Joaquin Phoenix, was released on September 22nd, and his long-awaited sequel to Gladiator is currently being prepared for release in 2024. Even if his resume earned him a place among the all-time greats, Scott’s recent output proves that he’s still the most exciting director working today.

The Scale and Ambition of Scott's Productions

The modern cinematic ecosystem has made it difficult for original projects to emerge. With so much attention paid to franchises and previously existing properties, filmmakers who want to wrangle a massive budget for something different often face roadblocks. However, Scott is one of the few who can get his huge-scale original projects made. Shortly after theaters reopened across the globe in the wake of COVID-19 shutdowns, Scott released the two massive historical epics, The Last Duel and House of Gucci within a month of each other.

The Last Duel was a period-accurate psychological thriller that showed the extent of medieval France’s beauty, and House of Gucci featured stunning recreations of some of the most wild and lavish fashion trends in history. Even for those who weren’t engaged in the narratives, Scott’s films were worth watching for the incredible work done by the production designers and set decorators that he employed.

Even Scott’s more divisive work is generally bound to at least start a conversation. Many viewers were split on his 2013 crime thriller The Counselor, which featured a surrealist, existentialism screenplay by author Cormac McCarthy. However, the film still has its defenders, including director Guillermo del Toro. He tweeted that it was “a meditation of the illusory nature of normalcy and the devastation to come.”

Scott's Unparalleled Relationship With Actors

Scott never fails to hire anyone but the best talent. It’s not hard to see why, as many actors have received Oscar nominations for their performances in his work, including Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix (Gladiator), Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis (Thelma & Louise), and Matt Damon (The Martian). It’s also been interesting to see how his relationships with certain stars have evolved over the years; Crowe has been given the chance to star as heroes like Robin Hood, but he’s also played more comedic parts, such as A Good Year.

Scott often allows actors to show a different side of their personalities. Jared Leto’s ridiculous performance as Paolo Gucci in House of Gucci is unwieldy, but Scott shows his trust in allowing Leto to commit to the absurdity. He even granted Nicolas Cage one of the best roles of his career in Matchstick Men during a period when his filmography started a critical decline. Following the production of The Last Duel, Jodie Comer said that she was impressed by Scott’s attention to detail.

Related: 10 Best Ridley Scott Films, Ranked

It may be challenging for actors to continue playing characters throughout multiple franchise installments, but Scott allows his cast to improve within his sequels. Michael Fassbender’s dynamic role as the android David in Prometheus was granted even more screen time in the sequel Alien: Covenant. Even though Anthony Hopkins had already embodied the role of Hannibal Lecter in Jonathan Demme’s Silence of the Lambs, Scott let him become an even more unleashed villain in his 2001 sequel Hannibal.

Consistent Quality

Any filmmaker who has been working in the industry as long as Scott is bound to have an occasional dud, but Scott has remarkably few outright failures. His recent track record has been incredibly strong. The Martian received a Best Picture nomination and has become a modern classic among science fiction fans, and The Last Duel received praise for its thoughtful analysis of gender roles in medieval times. All the Money in The World managed to be the definitive depiction of the Getty scandal, even though the FX miniseries Trust aired shortly after and covered the same events.

Scott’s films are often bold in addressing current hot-button issues fearlessly, even if other filmmakers might be overwhelmed by the prospect of engaging in such divisive debates. His 2008 thriller Body of Lies examined surveillance, international terrorism, and the United States military with a critical eye. Similarly, 2007’s American Gangster may have taken place in the Vietnam War, but Scott was able to thematically connect historical racism with current events.

His most recent biopic, Napoleon, is a compelling story about a historical icon's rise to power, who is strategic and violent, but insecure and laughable at the same time. Only a few days after it was released, the film had a worldwide box office return of $78.8 million and received largely positive reviews from critics. The Guardian commends Ridley Scott for dispensing "with the symbolic weight attached to previous biopics in favor of a spectacle with a great star at its center."

Scott’s more divisive work has often stood the test of time and eventually won over its detractors. While not every Alien fan was impressed with Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, the two films serve as fascinating prequels at a time when franchise films are often terrified to take risks. Similarly, those underwhelmed by the initial release of Kingdom of Heaven may have been more impressed with Scott’s vastly superior director’s cut.

Scott Gets Great Reviews From His Actors

You can learn everything you need to know about a director through what their actors say about them. Scott's cast of actors all testify to his unique skill as a filmmaker and his fun, easy-going personality that puts everyone at ease on set. Idris Elba, who starred in one of Scott's most significant movies, Prometheus, considers him a masterful filmmaker. Brad Pitt, who was in The Counselor — probably one of the director's most underrated movies — says Ridley Scott gave him his shot into the film industry and, humbly, gave him recognition, and thanks for being part of his unmatched success in acting.

Related: Napoleon Review: Ridley Scott Baffles in Flawed Historical Epic

House of Gucci's lead actress, Lady Gaga calls him a mathematician and an architect whose work is a geometrical piece of art, alluding to the director's beautiful attention to detail and his insatiable artistic fervor. Prometheus actor, Guy Pearce, also shares her opinion and calls him a visual director in one of his interviews. Jodie Comer, who was very nervous about starting her filming journey with the director, said that his confidence relieved her as an actress and gave her the stress-free environment she needed.

Katherine Waterstone says that it's extraordinary to be in his presence and points to his kindness and beautiful on-set energy, proving once again that Scott's genius is not just in filmmaking but in being a people person with amazing social skills. Most directors who are very attentive to detail tend to be very stiff, drag the scenes forever, and put an immense amount of pressure on the whole crew, but Scott seems to know the difference between perfectionism and simply being annoying.

In his most recent work, co-lead actress Vanessa Kirby attests that Scott shoots really fast, through multiple cameras, and empowers actors to improvise — the breakfast scene and the first seduction scene in Napoleon were a spur-of-the-moment creation of Kirby and Phoenix. The combination of being time-efficient and allowing actors the space to improvise not just a few words, but a whole scene, proves Scott could be just the best director of our time. He is creative, visual, and an expert in filmmaking, yet he doesn't stifle his actors' own talent and ability to bring more to the films.