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- Ridley Scott's filmmaking style is characterized by realism, atmospheric lighting, and grandeur, resulting in visually stunning and thought-provoking films.
- Scott has a knack for creating immersive worlds, whether it's the claustrophobic confines of a spaceship or the expansive landscapes of ancient Rome.
- While some of Scott's films have been box office disappointments, his cinematic portfolio is a testament to his long career and versatility, with several blockbusters earning over $4.4 billion collectively.
Ridley Scott may not be a top pick for many moviegoers, but the British filmmaker has undeniably crafted a legacy that has spanned over six decades in the industry.
Known for his visually stunning and thought-provoking films, Scott has been impressively consistent with his style and output.
Scott's filmmaking style is characterized by its blend of realism, atmospheric lighting, and grandeur, seamlessly weaving historical accuracy with engaging storytelling.
He has a knack for creating immersive worlds, whether it's the claustrophobic confines of a spaceship in Alien or the expansive landscapes of ancient Rome in Gladiator.
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Viola Davis has starred in almost 40 films, grossing over $3 billion. She is one of the highest-paid actresses in the world, worth over $25 million.Scott's rich filmography is a testament to his long career and versatility. Collectively, his films have grossed over $4.4 billion.
Ridley Scott's cinematic portfolio is a dichotomy of success and failure; however, a good number of entries in his resume are blockbusters at the box office.
Although he is well into his eighties, the knighted filmmaker continues to headline theaters with upcoming projects like Gladiator 2.
10 Black Hawk Down (2001)
Worldwide Box Office Gross: $172.9 Million
Scott's intense war drama Black Hawk Down chronicles the real-life battle of Mogadishu, a harrowing military operation in Somalia that turned into a desperate fight for survival for a group of American soldiers.
Based on the eponymous 1999 non-fiction book by journalist Mark Bowden, the film follows a group of Delta Force soldiers and Rangers who are sent on a mission to capture two Somali warlords.
However, when their mission goes awry, they become trapped in a hostile city and must fight their way out.
Critics praised Black Hawk Down for its realistic portrayal of combat and its intense action sequences.
The film won two Academy Awards for "Best Film Editing" and "Best Sound" at the 74th Academy Awards.
The film performed modestly well at the box office, grossing $172 million worldwide against a production budget of $92 million.
Budget | $92,000,000 |
Box Office (Domestic) | $108,638,745 |
Box Office (International) | $64,350,906 |
Box Office (Worldwide) | $172,989,651 |
9 Kingdom Of Heaven (2005)
Worldwide Box Office Gross: $218 Million
One look at Scott's filmography, and you will sense a pattern: the revered filmmaker loves making historical films in a grand style.
In Kingdom Of Heaven, Scott transports the audience to the tumultuous backdrop of the Crusades, where a young blacksmith named Balian (Orlando Bloom) finds himself drawn into a world of religious conflict and political intrigue.
He is tasked with a mission to defend the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem from the Ayyubid Sultan Saladin.
Although Kingdom of Heaven was not particularly a box office hit domestically, it was well received overseas, especially in Arabic-speaking countries.
It earned $47.4 million in the US and Canada and $164 million in other countries against a budget of around $130 million.
Budget | $130,000,000 |
Box Office (Domestic) | $47,398,413 |
Box Office (International) | $170,724,214 |
Box Office (Worldwide) | $218,122,627 |
8 Alien: Covenant (2017)
Worldwide Box Office Gross: $240.8 Million
Alien: Covenant serves as a sequel to Prometheus (2012), the second entry in the Alien prequel series, and the sixth installment in the Alien franchise, three of which are Scott's works.
The science fiction film is set a decade after the events of Prometheus; the film follows the crew of the Covenant, a colonization vessel bound for a remote planet.
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Alien: Covenant grossed $74.3 million in the United States and Canada and $166.6 million in other countries, against a production budget of $97 million.
Although the film was a box office disappointment, especially when compared to its prequel Prometheus, it is still considered a noteworthy entry in Ridley Scott's Alien Universe.
Budget | $97,000,000 |
Box Office (Domestic) | $74,262,031 |
Box Office (International) | $166,629,732 |
Box Office (Worldwide) | $240,891,763 |
7 American Gangster (2007)
Worldwide Box Office Gross: $269.7 Million
Based on a New York Magazine profile of Frank Lucas, a vicious heroin magnate in the 1970s, American Gangster is a straightforward mob epic.
Denzel Washington embodies Lucas, a shadowy entrepreneur who rises to power after the death of Harlem kingpin Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson, while Russell Crowe portrays the determined detective determined to bring him down.
The film was well-received by critics and was nominated for twenty-one awards.
American Gangster was mildly profitable, working on a production budget of $100 million; the film grossed $130 million at the local box office and over $140 million in other territories.
Budget | $100,000,000 |
Box Office (Domestic) | $130,164,645 |
Box Office (International) | $139,590,785 |
Box Office (Worldwide) | $269,755,430 |
6 Exodus: Gods And Kings (2014)
Worldwide Box Office Gross: $268 Million
In an effort to bring the Old Testament to life, Scott burned through a $200 million production budget, an investment which paid off at the box office.
Although Scott's focus was narrowed to the epic spectacle itself rather than conveying genuine spiritual conviction, it was still a wonderful cinematic experience.
Exodus: Gods And Kings retells the story of Moses, a prophet chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt.
Christian Bale delivers a powerful performance as Moses, a man torn between his loyalties to his Egyptian brother Ramses and his calling to liberate his enslaved people.
The film turned a quick buck on its opening weekend, earning $24.1 million in its first three days.
It ended its theatrical run with $268 million worldwide.
Budget | $140,000,000 |
Box Office (Domestic) | $65,014,513 |
Box Office (International) | $203,161,118 |
Box Office (Worldwide) | $268,175,631 |
5 Robin Hood (2010)
Worldwide Box Office Gross: $321.6 Million
The iconic Robin Hood legend has gone through several reboots over the years, but Scott's version has a lot of historical bends to give it a more grounded and authentic feel.
Scott reinvents the classic tale of the iconic archer, played with rugged charm by Russell Crowe.
In this gritty and grounded reboot, Robin is a hardened ex-soldier haunted by his experiences in the Crusades, seeking redemption and a chance to liberate his oppressed people from the clutches of the tyrannical King John.
Robin Hood brings to life the medieval world with sweeping visuals, thrilling action sequences, and a compelling narrative.
Despite mixed critical reviews decrying a perceived lack of substance and depth, Robin Hood found a devoted audience.
The film's global earnings of $321 million propelled into the ranks of the highest-grossing medieval-period films of all time.
Budget | $200,000,000 |
Box Office (Domestic) | $105,269,730 |
Box Office (International) | $216,400,011 |
Box Office (Worldwide) | $321,669,741 |
4 Hannibal (2001)
Worldwide Box Office Gross: $351.6 Million
Hannibal serves as a sequel to the 1991 film The Silence Of The Lambs.
The plot follows disgraced FBI special agent Clarice Starling as she attempts to apprehend cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter – portrayed with chilling intensity by Academy Award-winner Anthony Hopkins – before his surviving victim, Mason Verger, captures him.
Hannibal masterfully blends suspense, psychological horror, and elements of Italian giallo cinema, creating an unnerving and thrilling cinematic experience thanks to Ridley Scott's adept direction.
Giallo cinema (or gialli, pluralized) is a murder and mystery genre of Italian film known for blending elements of arthouse and exploitation film.
Hannibal grossed $58 million at the domestic box office in its opening weekend.
It went on to gross $352 million worldwide against a production budget of $87 million.
Budget | $87,000,000 |
Box Office (Domestic) | $165,092,268 |
Box Office (International) | $186,600,000 |
Box Office (Worldwide) | $351,692,268 |
3 Prometheus (2012)
Worldwide Box Office Gross: $403 Million
Ridley Scott effortlessly merges science fiction horror with cosmic terror in Prometheus.
It is the fifth entry in the Alien franchise and a prequel to Alien, which attempts to deliver the gruesome monster-movie thrills of the franchise, while posing fundamental questions about the nature of human existence.
Set in the late 21st century, the story line centers on the crew of the spaceship Prometheus as it follows a star map discovered among the artifacts of several ancient Earth cultures.
Seeking the origins of humanity, the crew docks on a distant world, and discovers a threat that could cause the extinction of the human species.
Prometheus earned $126.5 million in North America and $276.9 million in other regions for a global total of $403.4 million.
The film was considered a financial success overall, given that it made more than three times its production budget at the box office.
Budget | $130,000,000 |
Box Office (Domestic) | $126,477,084 |
Box Office (International) | $276,877,385 |
Box Office (Worldwide) | $403,354,469 |
2 Gladiator (2000)
Worldwide Box Office Gross: $503 Million
Gladiator is arguably Scott's finest work so far. It unleashes the roar of the ancient Roman Colosseum and redefines the swords-and-sandals genre.
Russell Crowe delivers a towering performance as Maximus Decimus Meridius, a valiant Roman general betrayed by the power-hungry Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), who forces him into slavery and gladiatorial combat.
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Russell Crowe is one of the few lucky actors who have starred in more than one Hollywood blockbuster.Gladiator is the only film in Scott's resume to earn him an Academy Award; Gladiator won five Academy Awards at the 73rd Academy Awards, including "Best Picture," and "Best Actor" for Crowe.
The film grossed $187.7 million in the United States and Canada and over $315.4 million internationally for a global total of $503 million.
In 2021, Scott confirmed that a sequel is in production, it is scheduled to be released in November 2024.
Budget | $103,000,000 |
Box Office (Domestic) | $187,705,427 |
Box Office (International) | $315,456,886 |
Box Office (Worldwide) | $503,162,313 |
1 The Martian (2015)
Worldwide Box Office Gross: $630.6 Million
Ridley Scott's penchant for interstellar exploration is evident in the abundance of that genre across his works.
With Matt Damon in the lead role, The Martian chronicles the extraordinary journey of astronaut Mark Watney.
Stranded alone on the Red Planet after a fierce storm, Watney must draw upon his scientific expertise, unwavering determination, and a touch of humor to survive until his crew mates can return.
The Martian is one of the most successful sci-fi movies of the past decade; critics praised it for its direction, visual effects, musical score, screenplay, scientific accuracy, and likability, largely due to Damon's performance.
The Martian was a box office hit. It grossed $228.4 million at the domestic box office and $402.2 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $630.6 million against a budget of $108 million.
Deadline Hollywoodcalculated the net profit of the film to be $150.32 million.
Budget | $108,000,000 |
Box Office (Domestic) | $228,433,663 |
Box Office (International) | $402,187,155 |
Box Office (Worldwide) | $630,620,818 |
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