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Ridley Scott, the legendary English director behindAlien,Gladiator,Blade Runner,The Martian, and so, so many more, really doesn’t care what you think about his movies… and we can’t help but love him for it. As we get older, it becomes easier to stop caring about the opinions of others. In the case of Ridley Scott, “others” refers to critics, historians, and disgruntled audiences. It’s a grouchy persona that the likes ofBrian Cox can pull off charmingly. Scott does the same, but get on the wrong side of him, and he’ll definitely let you know.
Across his long career as a director, Ridley Scott has understandably made some blunders. Be it a bad movie likePrometheus, or glaring historical inaccuracies in the likes ofGladiator— orGladiator II, which is already beingtorn to shreds by historians, and it hasn’t even been released yet. However, the director has owned many of his mistakes and couldn’t care less when others try to flaunt them.
Gladiator II
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Ridley Scott Doesn’t Care About Historical Accuracy
Over the last decade,audiences have become obsessed with authenticity and historical accuracy in cinema. YouTube is filled with thousands upon thousands of hours ofexperts breaking down scenes from moviesand TV shows, rating how accurate they are. When historians are brought onto these shows, Ridley Scott is often in the firing line.Gladiatorwas heavily criticized for its inaccuracies involving the weaponry, battle tactics, and its depiction of Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). But becauseGladiatoris such a timeless hit, none of these detract from the movie.
But, whenScott releasedNapoleonin 2023, the mixed reviews added fuel to the fire when the historians came knocking. Despite labeling itself as a “biopic,“Napoleonwas littered with inaccuracies, including his coronation, the Battle of Waterloo, and the execution of Marie Antoinette. What did Ridley Scott have to say about it all?“Get a life,” was his response when TV Historian Dan Snow pointed out the aforementioned historical flaws(viaThe New Yorker).
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In a separate interview withThe Times,Ridley Scott expanded upon his loathing for historical perfection in cinema. The director raised his most prominent point when dealing with historians. He said, “When I have issues with historians, I ask: ‘Excuse me, mate, were you there? No? Well, shut the f*ck up then.'” The historian community had a field day with his comments, while movie fans defended his point, arguing that cinema is about emotion and entertainment, while documentaries deal with facts.
Ridley Scott Has Framed a Negative Review of ‘Blade Runner’
It’s not just historians who get the Ridley Scott treatment, as the lauded director couldn’t care less about the opinions of critics. The dynamic between film critics and filmmakers has always been shaky and complex. On the one hand, both exist within the same industry and pursue their careers out of a love of movies. However, several filmmakers have criticized the notion of criticism (how the tables have turned), arguing that critics don’t add anything to the movie-going experience but dissect and destroy the entertainment factor.
Ridley Scott’s opinions on critics aren’t as extreme as that, but the director has spent the last 30 years ignoring their opinions. Speaking toThe Hollywood Reporter, Scott said he stopped caring after reading Pauline Kael’s New Yorker review ofBlade Runner, in which she famously lambasted the sci-fi hit. “It was four pages of destruction. I never met her. I was so offended,” he said. In response to the review, Scott framed the pages and turned it into a surprisingly poignant life lesson. He continued:
“I framed those pages and they’ve been in my office for 30 years to remind me there’s only one critic that counts and that’s you.”
Ridley Scott makes his internal criticism known to the public. Speaking toDeadlinerecently, Scott criticized thedivisiveAlienprequel,Prometheus, which he directed. Scott knows the prequel is far from the stellar entry in the franchise he once aimed for. “We were asleep at the wheel,” Scott said. The director put some of the blame on his own shoulders. However, in true Ridley Scott fashion, he distanced himself from many of the movie’s flaws. “I partly blame myself, except I was busy making other films. And so it was let go and it shouldn’t have been,” he justified.
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While Scott will occasionally criticize his past works, he has no problem laying praise on his own filmography. While promoting the upcomingGladiator II, Scott couldn’t help but pat himself on the back. Of course, any director should be proud of their latest movie, but Ridley Scott took the opportunity to praise many of his past works. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever made,” he said ofGladiator II. The director continued, saying he should know because he’s “made a few good ’uns.” Never change, Ridley Scott.Gladiator IIreleases in theaters on July 05, 2025.
