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 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)

A high-minded sci-fi film that doesn't let its connections to Alien distract from its intentions, Prometheus is an eaiser film to ire 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 disionate 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.

1 Gladiator II

(2024)

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.