The Top Five Ridley Scott Directed Movies of All Time

Ridley Scott is quickly becoming known as one of the greatest directors that Hollywood has ever seen. His movies are always hard hitting and exciting, and while the majority of his movies are action based, they are not exclusively dependent upon that action. They always seem to have a solid back story and crisp, sharp story telling. What makes Ridley Scott directed movies so special is often what you do not see on the surface. Some directors seem to have an eye for using talent to the fullest, and Ridley Scott certainly qualifies for this distinctive talent. Here are the top five Ridley Scott directed movies of all time:

Gladiator (2000)

Many people look at Gladiator and see Russell Crowe as the shining light of the movie. The truth is, the real star of this movie was the story and the visual effects. Perhaps no other movie about this time period better captures the gritty reality so succinctly. Ridley Scott navigates this storyline with the perfect amount of grit and equal amounts of drama, making the movie a classic for the fans of the genre. Gladiator is a special movie and deserves the number one spot on this list.

Kingdom of Heaven (2005)

The crusades are a part of history that have been documented in films many times over the years, and it is hard to find something that feels original within the genre. Kingdom of Heaven actually does this in a very powerful fashion. Not only does it capture the feeling of the era, but it also makes a great stand alone story about a father and son healing sins of old. Kingdom of Heaven is one movie that should be seen by everyone.

Alien (1979)

Nobody that has ever sat through a viewing of this eerie film will forget the experience, and this is largely due to the expert job that Ridley Scott did of directing. The way the movie flows to an epic climax is a master class in the horror genre, and most horror buffs wish that Scott spent more time on horror. Alien is a classic example of using what you have to the fullest extent.

Thelma and Louise (1991)

This movie almost seems like it should not be on the list as it is far from the same type of movie. Still, it is a masterful combination of chick flick and dramatic storytelling. Ridley Scott directing this movie showed that he can handle pretty much any type of cinema, and it helped him to stretch his wings.

Black Hawk Down (2001)

Some people do not particularly care for this movie as it had some political ramifications with subject matter. What was impressive to war movie buffs was that Ridley Scott treated the movie fairly. Scott did not add a ton of Hollywood to the movie and the result is a powerfully shown story about modern day war. If you like your war movies on the realistic side, then Black Hawk Down is certainly worth a look.

Ridley Scott is certainly one of the greatest directors of all time, and looking over this top five list is a perfect example of why. It is peppered with many different types of movies, and all are brilliant in their own way. With any luck, Ridley Scott will continue to put out great movies for many years to come.