‘Gladiator II’ is here. Will it be Ridley Scott’s best movie ever?
The man has many classics, but here’s my list of the top 7 you can stream right now.
With Ridley Scott’s sequel “Gladiator II” hitting theaters this weekend, it’s a great time to countdown his top movies on streaming. The director has been making movies for almost 50 years – since he released “The Duellists” in 1977. And he’s done it across multiple genres – from historical dramas to space epics to sci-fi dystopian futures, to road trip movies. So, here are the top 7 Ridley Scott movies you can watch on streaming right now.
Top 7 Ridley Scott movies on streaming - Ranked
No. 7: ‘Black Hawk Down’ (2001) | Peacock
Coming in No. 7 is “Black Hawk Down” – Scott’s intense depiction of the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, where an elite group of U.S. soldiers is tasked with capturing a Somali warlord. What starts as a quick mission devolves into a brutal urban firefight when two Black Hawk helicopters are downed, leaving the soldiers trapped and outnumbered in hostile territory. War movies aren’t usually my thing, but it’s a powerful ride with its quick pacing and unflinching realism. The film helped solidify Scott’s reputation for masterfully coordinating large-scale action sequences. “Black Hawk Down” had a budget of $92 million and grossed $173 million worldwide. But it wasn’t just the box office that mattered—the film earned two Academy Awards and became a defining modern war movie, inspiring countless imitators.
Black Hawk Down
When U.S. Rangers and an elite Delta Force team attempt to kidnap two underlings of a Somali warlord, their Black Hawk helicopters are shot down, and the Americans suffer heavy casualties, facing intense fighting from the militia on the ground.
No. 6: ‘American Gangster’ (2007) | Netflix
Next on the list is the crime drama “American Gangster,” which tells the story of Frank Lucas - a Harlem drug lord who rose to power in the 1970s by smuggling heroin into the United States via returning Vietnam War servicemen. The film explores Lucas’s ascent in the criminal underworld and the pursuit by detective Richie Roberts to bring him to justice. With a production budget of $100 million, “American Gangster” took in $270 million worldwide at the box office and garnered two Academy Award nominations. It’s highlighted by Denzel Washington’s incredible performance as Frank Lucas, complemented by other stars like Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Josh Brolin.
American Gangster
Following the death of his employer and mentor, Bumpy Johnson, Frank Lucas establishes himself as the number one importer of heroin in the Harlem district of Manhattan. He does so by buying heroin directly from the source in South East Asia and he comes up with a unique way of importing the drugs into the United States. Partly based on a true story.
No. 5: ‘Thelma & Louise’ (1991) | AMC+
At No. 5 on the list comes the road trip/crime drama “Thelma & Louise.” This classic film follows two friends, Thelma Dickinson (Geena Davis), a meek housewife, and Louise Sawyer (Susan Sarandon), a sharp-tongued waitress, who head out on a weekend road trip to escape their mundane lives. What begins as a fun getaway takes a dark turn when Louise shoots and kills a man attempting to assault Thelma at a bar. Fearing they won’t receive justice, the women decide to run, setting off on a cross-country journey that turns into a powerful tale of rebellion and liberation.
I watched this movie in film school, so you know it’s important. With a production budget of $16.5 million, “Thelma & Louise” brought in almost triple that with $45.4 million worldwide. Davis and Sarandon shine, along with other notable performances by Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, and Brad Pitt in a breakout role. The film was a critical success, wracking up six Academy Award nominations and winning Best Original Screenplay.
Thelma & Louise
Whilst on a short weekend getaway, Louise shoots a man who had tried to rape Thelma. Due to the incriminating circumstances, they make a run for it and thus a cross country chase ensues for the two fugitives. Along the way, both women rediscover the strength of their friendship and surprising aspects of their personalities and self-strengths in the trying times.
No. 4: ‘Blade Runner’ (1982) | Rent on Prime Video
This is where the blade meets the robot. “Blade Runner” is Scott’s science fiction noir set in a dystopian Los Angeles in 2019. The film follows Rick Deckard, a weary ex-cop and “blade runner,” as he is pulled back into duty to hunt down rogue replicants—bioengineered beings designed for off-world labor. What begins as a routine assignment transforms into a deeper exploration of identity, morality, and humanity as Deckard faces the charismatic replicant leader Roy Batty. The film stars Harrison Ford as Deckard, Rutger Hauer as Batty, and Sean Young as Rachael.
Its initial theatrical reception was lukewarm, grossing just $42 million worldwide on a budget of $28 million. But over time, it’s become a seminal work in science fiction, both for its take on what it means to be human and its visual design dripping with noir style. It redefined how sci-fi could merge style with substance and is now one of the most influential films of all time.
Blade Runner
In the smog-choked dystopian Los Angeles of 2019, blade runner Rick Deckard is called out of retirement to terminate a quartet of replicants who have escaped to Earth seeking their creator for a way to extend their short life spans.
No. 3: ‘The Martian’ (2015) | Rent It On Prime Video
I love a good sci-fi movie and “The Martian” is as good as anything in the genre, up there with Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar” and Alfonso Cuarón’s “Gravity.” The movie follows astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon), who becomes stranded on Mars after a storm forces his crew to evacuate, thinking he’s dead. Now alone and facing deadly conditions, Watney utilizes his ingenuity and spirit to survive, cultivating food and finding ways to communicate with NASA. The film features a strong ensemble cast, including Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels, Michael Peña, Kate Mara, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
With a production budget of $108 million, “The Martian” was a smash hit, taking in $630 million – with seven Academy Award nominations to boot, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Damon. It won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and handed a Golden Globe to Damon. And it’s no surprise - the film is funny, dramatic, terrifying, and hopeful all at the same time, solidifying Scott as one of the all-time greats.
The Martian
During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.
No. 2: ‘Gladiator’ (2000) | Paramount+
The historical epic so good they made a sequel almost 25 years later. Coming in No. 2 on the list is Ridley Scott’s (now original) “Gladiator.” The historical epic tells the tale of Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius, played by Russell Crowe, who’s out for vengeance against Emperor Commodus after being betrayed and forced into slavery. The movie revitalized the sword-and-sandal genre and solidified Scott’s reputation for crafting visually stunning and emotionally powerful movies.
With a production budget of $103 million, “Gladiator” is one of Scott’s highest-grossing movies, pulling in $465 million back in 2000. With stars like Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus, Connie Nielsen as Lucilla, and Oliver Reed as Proximo, the movie picked up no less than 12 Academy Award nominations and won five, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe. I’m seeing “Gladiator II” this weekend – here’s hoping it’s even half the movie the first one is. If so – I’ll be happy!
Gladiator
In the year 180, the death of emperor Marcus Aurelius throws the Roman Empire into chaos. Maximus is one of the Roman army’s most capable and trusted generals and a key advisor to the emperor. As Marcus’ devious son Commodus ascends to the throne, Maximus is set to be executed. He escapes, but is captured by slave traders. Renamed Spaniard and forced to become a gladiator, Maximus must battle to the death with other men for the amusement of paying audiences.
No. 1: ‘Alien’ (1979) | Hulu
It was a tight race, but for my money, “Alien” is Ridley Scott’s best movie. One big reason why is that this sci-fi horror movie holds up as well today as it did on its release in the summer of 1979. It doesn’t rely wholly on special effects (though the film did win an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects) and over-the-top CGI. But instead, it’s a slow burn of foreboding fear. The second reason is that at the time, it totally reimaged extra-terrestrial life as something other than a benevolent humanoid creature. With the terrifying alien, it helped usher in “space horror” as a genre, while also pulling out themes of isolation and corporate greed that would go on to influence future sci-fi and horror filmmakers for decades.
And for director Scott, it was the ultimate coming-out party. It transformed him from a relatively unknown director to a major Hollywood force. His unique blend of sci-fi and horror set a new standard for atmospheric tension and world-building, while the film’s success (it grossed $108.6 million on a budget of just $11 million – almost a 10x return) opened the doors to projects like “Blade Runner.” That’s why it lands No. 1 on my list. Enjoy!
Alien
The commercial spaceship Nostromo is heading back to Earth when they’re tasked with intercepting a distress signal from a distant planet. The crew discovers a chamber full of seemingly benign eggs. When one hatches unexpectedly, the crew is unaware of the impending nightmare set to descend upon them. Directed by Ridley Scott, this film is the first in the series to feature its most-known protagonist, Ripley (Sigourney Weaver).