Every Ridley Scott Sequel & Prequel, Ranked Worst To Best

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Ridley Scott

Ridley Scott is a living legend in the world of film, but the three sequels he's made to his past films highlight the range of quality that exists in his filmography. Making his feature debut with 1977's The Duellists, Scott has been a consistent presence on the big screen for nearly fifty years. His films have ranged from the tightly controlled sci-fi horror of Alien to grandiose historic epics like Napoleon. At the time of writing, Ridley Scott has directed 29 movies, with some of his most popular (like Gladiator, Thelma and Louise, and Blade Runner) becoming touchstones of pop-culture.

Notably, it took over thirty-five years for Ridley Scott to helm a sequel to any of his movies. Prometheus was a prequel to Alien, establishing more about the lore and origins of the Xenomorphs. Those story threads were expanded upon in Alien: Covenant, which bridged the gap between the heady sci-fi of Prometheus and the more grounded characters of Alien. Most recently, Ridley Scott returned to ancient Rome for Gladiator 2. Looking back, it's worth considering how each of these sequels compared to one another and the films that spawned them. Here's every Ridley Scott sequel and prequel, ranked.

3 Alien: Covenant

(2017)

Alien: Covenant, directed by Ridley Scott, follows the crew of the colony ship Covenant as they discover an uncharted planet. Initially seeming like a paradise, the planet soon reveals dark secrets. Katherine Waterston, Michael Fassbender, and Billy Crudup lead the cast in this science fiction horror film, which serves as a direct sequel to Prometheus and continues to explore the origins of the Alien species.

Runtime 123 Minutes

Cast Michael Fassbender , Katherine Waterston , Billy Crudup , Danny McBride , Demián Bichir , Carmen Ejogo , Jussie Smollett , Callie Hernandez , Amy Seimetz , Nathaniel Dean , Alexander England , Benjamin Rigby , Uli Latukefu , Tess Haubrich , Lorelei King , Goran D. Kleut , Andrew Crawford , Tom O'Sullivan , James Franco , Guy Pearce , Noomi Rapace

Studio(s) 20th Century

Alien: Covenant is the weakest of Ridley Scott's three films that directly build on one of his previous films. Alien: Covenant is unfortunately caught between a rock and a hard place creatively, as the plot feels torn between expanding the established lore and themes of Prometheus and alongside the more straightforward sci-fi action/horror of the Alien films. For all of Prometheus' faults, it at least remained consistent with the story and tone it was exploring. Alien: Covenant shifts uncomfortably between the two from scene to scene, dragging down the entire enterprise.

There are moments of Alien: Covenant that are enjoyable, and the human cast of characters have flashes of intriguing personalities. Daniels and Oram are compelling, while Tennessee brings some fun energy to the action. Michael Fassbender's David is the film's real stand-out, especially in scenes where his two variants of the same android interact. However, that shifting focus from heady sci-fi to blunt horror doesn't always work. There's a certain confidence to Scott's director that flows naturally from his immense talent and experience, but Alien: Covenant is too scattered to land properly.

2 Prometheus

(2012)

2012's Prometheus is the fifth installment in the Alien franchise and was directed by Ridley Scott. Starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba, and Guy Pearce, the film acts as a direct prequel to 1979's Alien.

Release Date June 8, 2012

Studio(s) 20th Century

A high-minded sci-fi film that doesn't let its connections to Alien distract from its intentions, Prometheus is an eaiser film to admire from afar than outright enjoy. The themes at play in Prometheus are interesting, reflecting on the creation of humanity and questions about the purpose of life. When the movie leans more heavily into those elements, such as David's dispassionate experiments or Peter Weyland's exhausted cries for answers, it becomes a compelling and oddly beautiful treatise on life. It's a shame that the film has to shoehorn an Alien film into the proceedings.

The actual crew of the Prometheus are a mixed bag of archetypes. Some, like Elizabeth Shaw and Janek, are compelling heroes who don't get the full attention they deserve. Others are frustratingly one-note, becoming more plot devices than characters. The grey color pallette quickly becomes repetitive, and bizarre character decisions sap potentially compelling figures like Meredith Vickers of any uniqueness or vitality. Prometheus is an intelligent movie that unfortunately fails to be consistent when it shifts gear to more overt entertainment. The result is a movie that would have probably worked better as a stand-alone sci-fi epic.

Collage of Paul Mescal in Gladiator II and Michael Fassbender in Prometheus

Gladiator 2 Exposes A Harsh Reality For Ridley Scott Movies

Gladiator 2's mixed reception proves that the best Ridley Scott sequels aren't directed by Ridley Scott. Scott's own sequels are a mixed bag.

1 Gladiator II

(2024)

Gladiator 2 is the follow-up to Ridley Scott's award-winning film Gladiator from 2000. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 had been stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.

Release Date November 22, 2024

Runtime 148 minutes

Cast Paul Mescal , Pedro Pascal , Denzel Washington , Connie Nielsen , Joseph Quinn , Fred Hechinger , Derek Jacobi , May Calamawy , Peter Mensah , Matt Lucas , Alexander Karim , Tim McInnerny , Lee Charles , Chidi Ajufo , Alfie Tempest , Riana Duce , Chi Lewis Parry , Paul Candelent , Hadrian Howard , Alexander Simkin , Mikhail Basmadjian , Matthew Charlery-Smith , Maxime Durand , Lior Raz

Studio(s) Paramount Pictures , Universal Pictures , Scott Free Productions , Red Wagon Entertainment

Although it can't quite match the blockbuster heights of Gladiator, Gladiator 2 is a worthy sequel and the best of Ridley Scott's direct follow-ups. Building off the events of the first Gladiator, Gladiator 2 brings back Lucius as a vengeful warrior seeking revenge against the Roman Empire he fled as a boy. Gladiator 2 has an impressive sense of scope, highlighting how Ridley Scott remains one of Hollywood's best epic directors. The cast give spirited performances throughout, with the stand-out being Denzel Washington as the deceptively campy, quietly dangerous, and endlessly entertaining Macrinus.

The biggest problem with Gladiator 2 is the script, which excells in scenes but can't quite bring everything together for an effective whole. The battles are impressive and small character confrontations are well-executed. However, the film's approach to drama can feel underwhelming, and the film lacks the self-aware spark that made Gladiator so entertaining over twenty years ago. Still, Gladiator 2 is a solid entry to Ridley Scott's cinematic resume, and holds together better than either of Scott's other follow-ups. While it may not be perfect, Gladiator 2 is still a solid Ridley Scott movie.

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