Director and producer Ridley Scott is known for his atmospheric and distinct, highly concentrated visual style. His works have spanned genres like neo-noir science fiction with Blade Runner, historical epics like Gladiator, and sci-fi horror like Alien. Let’s take a look at which 11 of his films our members have rented most.
11. BLADE RUNNER
Harrison Ford stars in this fascinating, dark vision of the near future as a policeman who tracks engineered humans – a Blade Runner. In the year 2019, the police department forces Rick Deckard (Ford) out of retirement to hunt four genetically engineered humans who have come to earth.
Designed to do difficult, hazardous work, the manufactured humans are stronger, faster and smarter than non-engineered humans. They feel no pain or remorse; they are almost indistinguishable from other humans... and they are killing people. Now, Deckard must stop them before they kill again.
10. BLACK HAWK DOWN
Based on a true story, 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 face intense combat with the militia on the ground.
9. GLADIATOR
Tapped for the throne after the death of the emperor, Roman general Maximus instead finds himself condemned to death by the late ruler's power-hungry son. Escaping execution, Maximus becomes a powerful gladiator, bent on exacting revenge in the ring.
Featuring a strong supporting cast and an Oscar-winning performance from actor Russell Crowe as the dauntless Roman general Maximus, this big-budget Best Picture winner became an instant classic – and helped elevate its leading man to icon status.
8. THE MARTIAN
Abandoned on the surface of Mars after his crew mistakenly concludes that he perished in a dust storm, astronaut Mark Watney must find a way to survive the planet's harsh environment – despite having only 28 days of supplies left.
7. MATCHSTICK MEN
When Roy Waller, a professional con man struggling with an obsessive-compulsive disorder, meets the daughter he never knew he had, he inadvertently jeopardizes his tightly organized and artificially controlled life.
6. PROMETHEUS
When scientific explorers unearth an artifact that points to the origins of humankind, they're pulled into the unexpected adventure of a lifetime. But if they falter, the very future of their species is at stake.
5. A GOOD YEAR
Oscar winner Ridley Scott directs this adaptation of Peter Mayle's best-selling novel, following the romantic misadventures of an Englishman who inherits a vineyard from his uncle in Provence, France. When failed banker Max Skinner (Russell Crowe) moves abroad to accept what his late uncle (Albert Finney) left him, he meets a beautiful French woman (Marion Cotillard), along with an American (Abbie Cornish) who claims to be his long-lost cousin.
4. KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
During the 12th century in the holy city of Jerusalem, a young peasant blacksmith (Orlando Bloom) takes up the mantle of knighthood so he can help repel the army of Christian crusaders that took control of the city in the year 1099. Eva Green, Liam Neeson, Jeremy Irons and David Thewlis star.
3. ROBIN HOOD
When Robin happens upon the dying Robert of Loxley, he promises to return the man's sword to his family in this big-budget twist on the classic tale. There, Robin assumes Robert's identity; romances his widow; and draws the ire of the town sheriff.
2. AMERICAN GANGSTER
From director Ridley Scott comes this tense crime thriller starring Denzel Washington as true-life Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas and Russell Crowe as the dogged outcast NYPD cop charged with bringing him down. Ruby Dee (in an Oscar-nominated role), Cuba Gooding Jr., Josh Brolin and Chiwetel Ejiofor lead the supporting cast in this powerhouse tale penned by Steven Zaillian (Schindler's List) and based on actual events.
1. BODY OF LIES
Newly stationed in Jordan, an idealistic CIA agent teams with a veteran operative and the head of Jordanian intelligence to infiltrate an underground terrorist network and locate a criminal mastermind in this thriller based on a David Ignatius novel.