All 30 Ridley Scott Movies Ranked From Worst to Best
As filmmaker Ridley Scott reaches his thirtieth feature film with the release of the post-apocalyptic thriller The Dog Stars, major entertainment outlets have published comprehensive retrospectives ranking his entire filmography from worst to best. According to Esquire and USA TODAY, the 88-year-old British director’s extensive catalog spans half a century of influential science fiction, historical epics, and modern dramas, culminating in his latest big-screen project starring Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin.
Where The Dog Stars Lands in the 30-Film Ranking
According to Esquire’s entertainment team, Scott’s thirtieth film, The Dog Stars, lands at number 26 on the comprehensive list. Based on the novel by Peter Heller, the post-apocalyptic thriller features a star-studded cast including Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, Benedict Wong, Guy Pearce, and Allison Janney portraying survivors nine years after a pandemic wiped out most of humanity, as reported by USA TODAY. Both publications characterize the feature as a so-so thriller held together by a talented cast trying to navigate a difficult slog.
Bottom-Tier Releases and Historical Epics
At the bottom of the rankings, multiple outlets place historical and biblical epics among Scott’s weaker efforts. According to Esquire and USA TODAY, 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992) occupies the thirtieth spot, criticized for historical inaccuracies and a runtime exceeding two and a half hours, though USA TODAY notes appreciation for the Vangelis score featuring flamenco synthesizers. Similarly, Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) ranks near the bottom at position 23 according to USA TODAY and position 29 according to Esquire, with reviewers pointing to its over-baked spectacle and Christian Bale portraying Moses.
Other lower-tier entries include the Russell Crowe collaborations A Good Year (2006) and Robin Hood (2010). Esquire places A Good Year at number 28, citing a struggling tone that falls somewhere between a romantic comedy and a drama, while USA TODAY ranks it similarly as the weakest team-up between Scott and Crowe. Robin Hood lands at number 26 in Esquire’s evaluation and number 26 in USA TODAY’s catalog, with both outlets describing it as a grim, self-serious take on the legendary outlaw.
Critical Acclaimed Classics and Career Highs
While contemporary and historical misfires occupy the lower rungs, Scott’s masterworks remain anchors of modern cinema. According to Esquire and USA TODAY, the director established his legacy with seminal science-fiction and historical classics such as Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982), Thelma & Louise (1991), Gladiator (2000), and The Martian (2015). Reviewers across both publications emphasize that despite mixed receptions for recent endeavors like Gladiator II (2024)—which USA TODAY and Esquire note failed to match the lofty heights of the original—Scott maintains an enduring footprint across multiple cinematic genres.