Born 30 November 1937, English director Ridley Scott is best known for films set in the Science-Fiction and Historical genres. After over 40 years in the film industry, Scott has cemented his place in the top tier of film directors, sitting comfortably at the top table with some of the best. With his visual style and epic story-telling, Ridley Scott has created some of the most memorable movie moments of all time.
Scott's career began with his first feature debut The Duellists (1977). However it was 2 years later that he really made a name for himself with Alien (1979), a film that sparked a franchise that now consists of 8 films, with Scott directing the most recent instalments, Prometheus (2012) and Alien: Covenant (2017), himself. Sticking with the sci-fi genre, Scott went on to direct Blade Runner (1982), another staple movie embedded in the genre he made his name. Over the next 20 years Scott regularly made films, with varying degrees of quality. His first movie of the millennium came in the form of Gladiator (2000), a film to this day stands the test of time and provided probably one of the best quotes of all time. The historical genre was another that Scott lends his hand to regularly with the likes of Robin Hood (2010), Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) and most recently Napoleon (2023).
Ridley Scott's filmography is extensive, covering all genres across the board creating some of the most iconic films in those genres. So here are some of those movies that we as a team personally love, make sure to check them out if you've not already.
FILM FOCUS RECOMMENDATIONS
KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: DIRECTORS CUT (2005)
Synopsis: Balian of Ibelin travels to Jerusalem during the Crusades of the 12th century, and there he finds himself as the defender of the city and its people.
"Stunning battle scenes in true Ridley Scott style, with the directors cut including those scenes that add more depth to the story." - Elliot Lines
ALIEN (1979)
Synopsis: The crew of a commercial spacecraft encounters a deadly lifeform after investigating an unknown transmission.
"A masterclass in horror and sci-fi; every shot is perfection." - Becca Johnson
BLADE RUNNER (1982)
Synopsis: A blade runner must pursue and terminate four replicants who stole a ship in space and have returned to Earth to find their creator.
"A morbidly beautiful, brilliantly scored and engrossing sci-fi. Very ahead of its time." - Jack Ransom
THE MARTIAN (2015)
Synopsis: An astronaut becomes stranded on Mars after his team assume him dead, and must rely on his ingenuity to find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive and can survive until a potential rescue.
"A sci-fi epic which goes a long way to prove humans collectively can achieve great things." - Alex Gilston
BLACK HAWK DOWN (2001)
Synopsis: The story of 160 elite U.S. soldiers who dropped into Mogadishu in October 1993 to capture two top lieutenants of a renegade warlord, but found themselves in a desperate battle with a large force of heavily armed Somalis.
"A wholly immersive experience, Black Hawk Down is a frenetic shot of adrenalin that grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go." - M.N.Miller
THELMA AND LOUISE (1991)
Synopsis: Two best friends set out on an adventure, but it soon turns around to a terrifying escape from being hunted by the police, as these two girls escape for the crimes they committed.
"A director known for his sci-fi, don't forget this fantastic feminist film about friendship and love. Compelling performances from Sarandon & Davis as they navigate their lives, running off on an unforgettable journey." - Romey Norton
GLADIATOR (2000)
Synopsis: A former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery.
"One of the most iconic, historical epics that still excites every fibre even after all these years." - John McDonald
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