Ridley Scotthas consistently proven himself to be a highly effective and innovative director. From the atmospheric outer space horror ofAliento the tense realism ofThe Last Duel, Scott’s movies tend to be filled with a healthy mix of compelling characters and grandiose set pieces. However, Scott also clearly has a deep fondness for the historical epic.
A revered genre with its roots dating back to the earliest days of cinema, the historical epic is defined by a large scale of size and spectacle set at some point in the past. Originating from the works of directors such asD.W. GriffithandCecil B. DeMille, the historical epic is one of the oldest and most celebrated genres in Hollywood, and Scott is among its most prominent proponents today.Here is every Ridley Scott historical epic, ranked by how easy and inviting they are to revisit.
9’Napoleon' (2023)
Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby, Tahar Rahim
Napoleonis a historical epic biographical war film first released in 2023. The plot follows the titular general, played byOscar-winnerJoaquin Phoenix, as he becomes the powerful emperor of France amid his relationship with his wife Josephine, played by Oscar nomineeVanessa Kirby.
Napoleonhas very excellent costume design throughout. For example, the uniform worn by Phoenix is very historically accurate to French military uniforms of the time, thus increasing the immersion for the audience. However, the decision to focus on the romance between Napoleon and Josephine hurts the tone. For instance, Napoleon’s campaign during the Battle of the Pyramids ends abruptly upon learning that Josephine is having an affair. Thus,the battle scenes feel pointlessas this scene informs the audience that any bloody battle can simply be dropped at any point to focus on romance instead. It’s an interesting approach to the historical epic formula, but unfortunately, itdoesn’t lead to much rewatchability, especially for those looking for grandeur.
8’Robin Hood' (2010)
Starring Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Max von Sydow
Robin Hoodis a historical epic action-adventure film first released in 2010. The story follows the titular forest bandit, played byRussellCrowe, who has collaborated with Scott multiple times, as he takes on Godfrey, the sheriff of Nottingham, played byKingsman: The Secret Service’sMark Strong, to protect maid Marion, played by Oscar winnerCate Blanchett.
The biggest problem withRobin Hoodis thedistinct lack of action following the opening scene. For example, Robin and his Merry Men spend more of their time doing farm work than they do fighting the royal forces or stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. This not only goes against everything that the Robin Hood character is supposed to be about, but it also providesan extremely boring experience for the audienceby refusing to proceed at any pace faster than an excruciatingly slow crawl. On the other hand, Crowe is good in the role, but the script gives him very little to work with.
Robin Hood
7’Exodus: Gods and Kings' (2014)
Starring Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, Ben Kingsley
Exodus: Gods and Kingsis a biblical historical epic film first released in 2014 and serves as an adaptation ofThe Book of Exodus. The story follows the journey of Moses, played byChristian BaleofThe Dark Knight Trilogyfame, as he leads the Hebrew people out of slavery in Egypt and into the Promised Land while taking on the pharaoh Ramses I, played byZeroDark Thirty’sJoel Edgerton.
Exodus: Gods and Kingssuccessfully capturesthe scale and majesty of ancient Egypt. For example, the ancient Egyptian landscape is lined with massive columns decorated with hieroglyphics, dwarfing all of the characters throughout. This immense size shows the power of the Egyptian empire by depicting their influence as towering and ever-present. However,the story lacks depth, failing to convey the emotional journey thatThe Book of Exodusdeserves. For instance,the film speeds through the ten plaguesjust to get to the next action scene without letting any of the characters react to this, lessening the impact that these events would otherwise have.
Exodus: Gods and Kings
6'1492: Conquest of Paradise' (1992)
Starring Gérard Depardieu, Sigourney Weaver, Michael Wincott
1492: Conquest of Paradiseis a historical epic drama film first released in 1992 to coincide with the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' famed voyage of 1492. The plot follows Columbus, played by Oscar nomineeGérardDepardieu, in his voyage to the New World, his relationship with the Spanish nobility, especially Queen Isabella, played by common Scott collaborator andAlienstarSigourney Weaver, and his experiences with the native populations.
1492: Conquest of Paradiseemphasizes the wonder of the New World by showing the awe the land itself inspired.
Gérard Depardieu, an obvious Frenchman clumsily playing an Italian, is seriously miscast as Columbus, thus hurting the immersion. However,the natural landscapes shown throughout are very beautifuland well worth a rewatch. This is best shown during the scene in which Columbus and his men first land on the beach in the Americas, as the sandy shores are given special attention, thus emphasizing the wonder of their new location by showing the awe the land itself inspired.
Rent on Amazon
5’Kingdom of Heaven' (2005)
Starring Orlando Bloom, Eva Green, Jeremy Irons
Kingdom of Heavenis a historical epic drama film first released in 2005. The story follows a blacksmith named Balian de Ibelin, played byPirates of the Caribbean’sOrlando Bloom, as he seeks to defend the Kingdom of Jerusalem from an Ayyubid invasion beforethe Third Crusadeafter traveling there from France following a confrontation with the local clergy.
The ambitiousKingdom of Heavenexcels in organically intertwining the stories of its various characters. For example, when Balian first arrives in Jerusalem, he spares the life of a servant named Imad ad-Din, played byAlexander Siddig, who also appeared inClash of theTitans, who later spares Balian’s life in turn. This helps to provide a level of complexity to the ongoing conflict by showing that each side is equally capable of human kindness through these reciprocal acts of mercy. However,the director’s cut is by far the best way to watchKingdom of Heaven, to the point that the original theatrical cut is not even worth watching.
Rent on Apple
4’Gladiator II' (2024)
Starring Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal
Gladiator IIis a historical epic action film and asequel to Ridley Scott’s Oscar-winningGladiator. The plot follows a man named Lucius, played by Oscar nomineePaul Mescal, as he fights in the gladiatorial arenas in order to seek revenge upon the Roman General Acacius, played byThe Last of Us’Pedro Pascal.Connie Nielsenis among the actors who returned for the sequel, joined by newcomers likeDenzel Washington.
Gladiator IIhasexpertly crafted action setpieces. For example, during the naval battle, the Colosseum is flooded, and hordes of gladiators conduct their fights on a fleet of ships, ending with Lucius firing a crossbow into the stands. The action has been amped up to the maximum by including a full-on sea battle in the middle of a sword and sandals series of fights. However,the plot is almost entirely recycled from the first film, starting with the main character being attacked at his house, taken prisoner, forced to fight as a gladiator, and so on. Still, it’s well worth a couple of rewatches, if only to enjoy the sheer spectacle.
Gladiator II
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3’The Duellists' (1977)
Starring Keith Carradine, Harvey Keitel, Edward Fox
The Duellistsis a historical epic drama first released in 1977 and serves asRidley Scott’s directorial debut. It is an adaptation of the short storyThe Duelby famous authorJoseph Conrad, best known forHeart of Darkness. The story follows two French Army lieutenants named Armand and Gabriel, played byNashville’sKeith Carradineof fame andHarvey Keitel, another common Scott collaborator, and their ongoing rivalry over two decades during the Napoleonic era.
The best part ofThe Duellistsis the relationship between Armand and Gabriel. For instance, Gabriel is portrayed as fanatically honorable to the point that he will cite any aspect of the Napoleonic code of honor to justify a duel. Armand, on the other hand, is perpetually anxious and confused about the insanity happening around him due to the obsession with honor going on with everyone else. This dynamic conveys the absurdity of the nobility’s obsession by presenting this as the main source of conflict throughout. Surprisingly intimate for such a grand movie,The Duellistsis an enjoyable and easy-to-revisit entry into Scott’s library.
The Duellists
2’The Last Duel' (2021)
Starring Jodie Comer, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck
The Last Duelis a historical epic drama first released in 2021, based on the 2004 bookThe Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal, and Trial by Combat in Medieval Franceby literary critic and UCLA professorEric Jager. The plot follows a duel to the death between knights Jean de Carrouges and Jacques le Gris, played byOscar winnerMatt Damonand Oscar nomineeAdam Driver, respectively, and the events leading up to it.
The Last Duelhas an incredible set design throughout. For example, the castles are suitably grand and have lots of open space, fully displaying the majesty of a noble society. In addition, the wooden structures shown during the titular duel are very rugged and have lots of sharp edges around them, providing subtle foreshadowing of the brutality of the duel before it begins. This attention to detail showsthe permeating nonverbal storytelling that shines through the rest of the filmand conveys details to the audience that dialogue alone would not be able to.
The Last Duel
1’Gladiator' (2000)
Starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen
Gladiatoris a historical epic film first released in 2000. The story follows a Roman general named Maximus Meridius, played by Russel Crowe, who won the Oscar for his role. After Maximus is robbed of his young family and home, he is sold into slavery and forced to fight in the gladiatorial arenas by Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix.
Gladiatoris filled to the brim with expertly choreographed fight scenes. For instance, there is one fight scene during which Maximus is fighting another far bigger gladiator, who is then slashed repeatedly by Maximus and then collapses dead amid lots of blood splatter. The film isn’t afraid to showthe brutality of gladiatorial combat, enhancing the gritty realism by depicting these kinds of fights just as violently as they would have been in ancient Rome. This is furtherenhanced by Maximus' iconic line, “Are you not entertained,” forcing the audience to contemplate the horror of what they are watching. All of this leads toGladiatorbeingthe best and most rewatchable of Ridley Scott’s historical epics.
