‘Alien’ and ‘Blade Runner’ Director Ridley Scott Would Rather Watch His Own Movies Than “Modern Sh*t”
Ridley Scott, the visionary behind sci-fi masterpieces like Alien and Blade Runner, has unleashed a blistering critique of Hollywood’s current output, calling most modern movies “sht” and admitting he rewatches his own films for quality escapism. In a candid chat at London’s BFI Southbank, the 87-year-old director lamented the flood of poorly planned blockbusters drowning the industry in mediocrity, while praising the rare gems that still shine through. As Scott gears up for more epics like* Gladiator III, his no-holds-barred take has fans buzzing about the state of cinema in 2025.
Here’s the TL;DR...
Scott slammed the “millions” of films churned out globally each year, insisting “most of it is sht”* due to rushed production and weak scripts.
He confessed to rewatching his own classics, like Black Hawk Down, because “they don’t age” and stand out against today’s “mediocrity.”
Blame goes to overreliance on digital effects masking “what they haven’t got... a great thing on paper first.”
Still, Scott sees hope: “Occasionally a good one will happen,” offering relief in a sea of subpar releases.
Ridley Scott’s Fiery BFI Rant on Hollywood’s “Sh*t” Overload
Picture this: It’s October 5, 2025, and Ridley Scott—fresh off Gladiator II’s box-office glory—is onstage at the British Film Institute Southbank, trading barbs with his son, director Luke Scott. The vibe? Electric, unfiltered, and brutally honest. When the conversation veers to comfort watches amid a barren cinematic landscape, Scott doesn’t mince words.
“The quantity of movies that are made today, literally globally—millions. Not thousands, millions… and most of it is sh*t,” he declared, his voice dripping with the gravelly authority that’s defined decades of genre-defining hits.
This isn’t sour grapes from a legend sidelined by time; it’s a battle cry from a filmmaker who’s still charging forward. Scott, who’s wrapped production on the post-apocalyptic The Dog Stars and is scripting Gladiator III, sees the industry’s bloat as a symptom of deeper rot. “We’re drowning in mediocrity,” he groaned, pinpointing how studios pump out content without the foundational rigor that once built empires. No wonder retirement feels “impossible” for him—he’s too busy dodging the dreck.
Why Scott Prefers His Own Flicks: “They Don’t Age”
Pressed on what he turns to for a cozy rewatch, Scott dropped a gem of self-aware swagger: “What I do—it’s a horrible thing—but I’ve started watching my own movies, and actually they’re pretty good!” He recently revisited Black Hawk Down, his pulse-pounding 2001 Iraq War thriller, and marveled at its staying power. “How in the hell did I manage to do that?” he quipped, a mix of pride and disbelief in his tone.
It’s classic Scott: humble-brash, with a nod to craft over flash. His portfolio—from the xenomorph terror of Alien to the dystopian neon of Blade Runner 2049 (which he produced)—endures because it starts with story, not spectacle. Today’s flicks? Not so much.
The Real Culprit: No Script, All CGI “Sh*t”
Digging deeper, Scott zeroed in on the creative shortcuts killing quality. “I think a lot of films today are saved and made more expensive by digital effects, because what they haven’t got is a great thing on paper first. Get it on paper!” he urged, echoing lessons from his own meticulous process. Without that blueprint, even billion-dollar VFX can’t salvage a hollow core.
It’s a sentiment that’s rippled through Tinseltown before, but coming from Scott—whose Prometheus and The Martian balanced tech wizardry with taut narratives—it hits different.
Silver Linings in the Mediocrity Mess
For all his griping, Scott isn’t a total cynic. He conceded that brilliance persists, if sparsely: “I think occasionally a good one will happen, [and] it’s like a relief that there’s somebody out there who’s doing a good movie.” In a year stacked with sequels and reboots, those outliers—think indie darlings or the odd prestige smash—keep the flame alive.
As Scott eyes his next Roman rumble with Paul Mescal’s emperor-in-waiting, one can’t help but wonder: will Gladiator III be the antidote to the “sh*t” he so despises?
Scott’s BFI blast isn’t just tea-spilling; it’s a wake-up call for an industry at a crossroads. In an era of endless content slop, maybe it’s time we all hit rewind on the masters.
Hat Tips
Variety: Ridley Scott Says Most New Movies Are ‘S—’ So He Rewatches His Own: ‘We’re Drowning in Mediocrity’
Metro UK: Ridley Scott Slams ‘Sh*t’ Modern Movies at BFI Talk
The Guardian: Ridley Scott on Hollywood’s Flood of Mediocre Films
BBC News: Director Ridley Scott: ‘Millions of Sh*t Movies Being Made’
IndieWire: Ridley Scott Rewatches His Own Films Amid Cinema Drought