Rolling Stone Ranks Ridley Scott's Films — Here's What Came Out on Top

Ridley Scott has spent five decades jumping between genres, from sci-fi to war epics to crime dramas. Rolling Stone just ranked all 29 of his films, and one clear winner rose above the rest.

In a span of five decades, Ridley Scott has built a filmography across various genres including sci-fi, war epics, crime dramas, and historical epics.

Director Ridley Scott at the premiere of "Gladiator II" on November 13, 2024 in London | Source: Getty Images

This month, Rolling Stone ranked all 29 of his feature films from worst to best, and at the very top sits 1979's “Alien,” credited for giving birth to a new genre that blends horror and hard science fiction, described as the “ultimate haunted-house-in-space story.”

The film’s defining legacy isn’t just its iconic creature design, but also Sigourney Weaver's Ripley, still considered one of cinema's best action heroines, and how patiently the film builds dread before its most infamous scene.

Sigourney Weaver as Ripley in the 1979 film, "Alien" | Source: Getty Images

Sitting on the number two spot is 1982's “Blade Runner,” Scott's genre-redefining dystopian noir starring Harrison Ford. Rolling Stone believes it’s the unsolved mystery surrounding the film — of whether Ford’s character is human — that makes it widely debated and frequently rewatched more than 40 years later.

On the Set of "Blade Runner" Harrison Ford on the set of "Blade Runner" | Source: Getty Images

Rounding out the top three is 1991's “Thelma & Louise,” the road trip drama starring Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon that turned two friends on the run into cultural icons. Rolling Stone highlighted the film's emotional depth and its now-legendary ending, along with a young Brad Pitt's breakout performance as a hitchhiker who catches the women's attention.

Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon in a scene from the film "Thelma & Louise," 1991 | Source: Getty Images

At the opposite end of the list, Rolling Stone ranked 2014's “Exodus: Gods and Kings” last. The biblical epic starring Christian Bale as Moses was criticized for its stiff dialogue and uneven ensemble, a rare miss for a director otherwise known for pulling off large-scale historical spectacle.

Scott just recently released his latest film, the post-apocalyptic thriller, “The Dog Stars,” starring Jacob Elordi, and box office returns reflected a poor opening weekend, with just $8 million domestically. The film, which cost more than $80 million to produce, also got poor reviews, landing a 39% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a "C+" CinemaScore grade.

Jacob Elordi at the world premiere of "The Dog Stars" on August 20, 2026 in London | Source: Getty Images

• My MIL Rearranged My Kitchen Every Time She Visited – Then She Threw Away Something That Belonged to My Late Mother
• Harry Styles Pays Tribute to Dolly Parton Using a Song Most Associated With Whitney Houston
• Jelly Roll Addresses His Political Views in ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Monologue After Grammys Controversy

Variety noted that “The Dog Stars” ranks among Scott's biggest box office misfires on opening weekend, much like the underwhelming debut of his 2021 film, “The Last Duel.”