Ridley Scott's Best Movies Ranked by the KinoCheck Community
The Community and the KinoCheck editorial team have voted
One of the greatest directors of our time is returning to the big screen: Sir Ridley Scott's new film "The Dog Stars" is coming soon to theaters. For us, that's reason enough to look back on the filmmaker's career. So we turned to the KinoCheck community and asked: What's your favorite Ridley Scott movie? At the same time, we also asked the KinoCheck editorial team—with a slightly different result. As quickly becomes clear, choosing the director's best film is anything but easy.
Over his nearly 50-year career in Hollywood, Scott has directed numerous films across a wide range of genres. He is particularly well-known for his science fiction works such as "Blade Runner," "The Martian," and his "Alien" films. Scott has also returned to the historical epic several times, including "Gladiator" and "Kingdom of Heaven."
The KinoCheck Community's Top 10
But which movie tops the list? You voted enthusiastically—we received over 8,000 votes. Please note: Not all of Scott's 29 feature films could be included in the poll. The poll simply allows for a limited number of options. Ultimately, the KinoCheck community's Ridley Scott ranking yields the following Top 10:
No. 10: Thelma & Louise (1991)
The ranking begins with Scott's classic road movie, "Thelma & Louise." The film centers on two friends, Thelma and Louise, whose road trip takes a dramatic turn and escalates further and further. At its core, the film tells a story of friendship, freedom, and female self-determination. Ridley Scott and the lead actresses, Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon, were nominated for an Academy Award, while screenwriter Callie Khouri won the award for Original Screenplay. If you haven't seen "Thelma & Louise" yet, you should definitely catch up on it.
No. 9: American Gangster (2007)
"American Gangster" tells the story of drug kingpin Frank Lucas and detective Richie Roberts, whose paths cross in 1970s New York. With Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, this gangster drama boasts a star-studded cast. Ridley Scott directs the film as an atmospheric crime epic, painting a picture of organized drug trafficking in America at that time.
No. 8: Prometheus (2012)
With "Prometheus," Ridley Scott returned in 2012 to the "Alien" universe. A group of researchers travels to a distant planet to uncover the origins of humanity. In addition to spectacular visuals, the film focuses primarily on philosophical questions.
"Prometheus" certainly faced some backlash upon its release. Many fans expected a "true" "Alien" movie given Scott's return. Instead, the filmmaker focused more on spiritual and philosophical aspects, which didn't go over well with all fans. But over time, "Prometheus" has found its fans—and now ranks No. 8 in the community rankings.
No. 7: Hannibal (2001)
In "Hannibal," Anthony Hopkins returned to his iconic role as Hannibal Lecter in 2001. The thriller is the sequel to Jonathan Demme's "The Silence of the Lambs" and brings Lecter's story to Europe. There, he is once again tracked down by his former adversary Clarice Starling, this time played by Julianne Moore.
While even many "Hannibal" fans agree that "The Silence of the Lambs" is the stronger film in the franchise, Scott's film should not be underestimated. After all, "Hannibal" once again features Hopkins in his signature role—and Scott directs a dark and atmospheric psychological thriller.
No. 6: Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
With "Kingdom of Heaven," Scott transports us to the 12th century and tells the story of the young blacksmith Balian (Orlando Bloom) against the backdrop of the Crusades. Balian suddenly finds himself caught in the middle of a conflict between various political and religious powers. Ridley Scott combines historical events with a big-screen spectacle and elaborate battle scenes. Many fans particularly appreciate the longer Director's Cut version. For the KinoCheck community, this earns it sixth place.
No. 5: Black Hawk Down (2001)
"Black Hawk Down" is based on the events of the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993 and depicts the mission of American soldiers in Somalia. Ridley Scott opts for an intense, uncompromising approach, conveying the chaotic dynamics of the battle from the perspective of the soldiers involved. The cast includes Josh Hartnett, Eric Bana, and Ewan McGregor, among others. Scott was nominated for an Oscar for Best Director. Its high ranking in the community poll shows that "Black Hawk Down" continues to resonate even 25 years after its release.
No. 4: Blade Runner (1982)
There's no question about it: "Blade Runner" is now considered one of the most significant science fiction films in cinematic history. Ridley Scott's classic depicts a bleak, futuristic version of Los Angeles, where Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a so-called Blade Runner, hunts down replicants.
With its unique visual aesthetic, film noir-inspired atmosphere, and philosophical questions about humanity and identity, the film became a stylistic benchmark for science fiction cinema. Quite a few Scott fans consider "Blade Runner" to be the director's best film—it ranks fourth in the community poll.
No. 3: The Martian (2015)
With "The Martian", Scott adapted Andy Weir's popular science-fiction novel for the big screen in 2015. The film combines sci-fi with a survival drama and a healthy dose of humor. After astronaut Mark Watney is left behind on Mars, he must fight to survive with limited resources and find a way to contact Earth. Matt Damon carries the film as an optimistic survivor, while Scott tells the story with spectacular cinematography and a comparatively light tone. For the KinoCheck community, this earns it third place in the Ridley Scott ranking.
No. 2: Alien (1979)
With "Alien", Ridley Scott set a milestone in science fiction horror in 1979. The crew of the spaceship Nostromo encounters an unknown life form on an alien planet—with deadly consequences. In the lead role is Sigourney Weaver, who became a cinematic icon as Ripley. The claustrophobic atmosphere, H. R. Giger's creature design of the Xenomorph, and Scott's impressive direction made the film a classic that had a lasting impact on the film world. Scott's "Alien" also kicked off a full-fledged franchise.
Many more sequels, spin-offs, and most recently even a TV series followed. Many movie fans consider "Alien" to be Ridley Scott's greatest film. In the community ranking, however, the classic has to settle for second place. That's because another film took the top spot...
No. 1: Gladiator (2000)
At the top of the ranking is "Gladiator." The historical epic tells the story of Roman general Maximus, who loses everything after being betrayed and ultimately fights for his survival as a gladiator. Russell Crowe embodies the main character with great presence, while Scott weaves monumental battles into a personal narrative.
"Gladiator" won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Russell Crowe received the award for Best Actor. "Gladiator" is a modern classic and remains a true audience favorite to this day. In the community ranking, "Gladiator" received twice as many votes as the second-place film, "Alien." As of now, approximately 2,600 users voted for "Gladiator" and 1,300 for "Alien"—a clear result.
The KinoCheck Editorial Team's Ranking
The vote within the KinoCheck editorial team turned out somewhat differently—particularly when it came to the top spot, opinions were divided. Here are the editorial team's top 5:
No. 5: Kingdom of Heaven
No. 4: Gladiator
No. 3: The Martian
No. 2: Blade Runner
No. 1: Alien
But which of his films does Scott consider the best? In 2024, Letterboxd asked him to name his four all-time favorite films. In addition to "2001: A Space Odyssey," "Star Wars," and "Quest for Fire," he named one of his own films: "Blade Runner."
Honorable Mentions: What Other Highlights Does Scott Have to Offer?
It's also a fact that Ridley Scott has directed far more than the ten films mentioned. And the community survey made it clear that some of you have a completely different favorite film by the director. Quite a few respondents didn't vote for any of the films on the list but instead chose the option "another film."
No wonder—after all, Scott has directed a whole lot of great films! Some of them are true hidden gems and have only a small fan base. These include, for example, early works such as Scott's feature film debut, "The Duellists," or the fantasy adventure "Legend" starring Tom Cruise. And the historical films "The Last Duel," "Napoleon," and "Gladiator 2" certainly have their fans as well.
Over the years, Scott's thriller "The Counselor" (with a screenplay by Pulitzer Prize winner Cormac McCarthy) has also become a true cult classic. The same goes for "Alien: Covenant"—an underrated "Alien" entry in the eyes of some Scott fans. Another hidden gem is "Matchstick Men" starring Nicolas Cage. And the Leonardo DiCaprio film "Body of Lies", "House of Gucci," and "All the Money in the World" are also highly regarded by fans.
The Dog Stars: Scott's New Film
At the age of 88, Scott is now bringing his 30th feature film, "The Dog Stars," to theaters. It is an adaptation of Peter Heller's novel of the same name.
The official plot synopsis: After the world's population has been ravaged by a pandemic, a man (Jacob Elordi) lives a lonesome existence in a Colorado airplane hangar with his dog and a dour gunman (Josh Brolin) he has befriended. When a mysterious transmission comes through on the radio while he's flying his old Cessna, it sparks a hunt for the provenance of the sound.
Margaret Qualley and Guy Pearce play other key roles. The ensemble also includes Allison Janney, Benedict Wong, and Alara-Star Khan. "The Dog Stars" hits theaters on August 28. You can watch the latest trailer here:
