Ridley Scott Says ‘Gladiator II’ Is The “Best Film I’ve Ever Made”

Filmmaker Ridley Scott is famously gruff, speaks his unvarnished mind, and is DGAF, but generally, he isn’t one lacking from a big ego. So perhaps it’s in keeping with his style that the filmmaker has claimed that his “Gladiator II” sequel is one of his greatest films.

In a recent interview with Empire Magazine, he wasn’t shy about how good his new ‘Gladiator’ sequel is in his mind. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever made,” Scott said, then backtracked a little bit, conceding that he has made several other classics. “One of the best things. I’ve made a few good ’uns.”

“It’s full-bore, brutal action,” the 86-year-old filmmaker added.

“Gladiator II” picks up twenty years after the first film’s events. Starring the Academy Award-nominated Paul Mescal (“Aftersun”), the film’s stacked cast includes Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn, and Fred Hechinger.

The story follows Lucius (Mescal), the former heir to the Roman Empire, who becomes a gladiator after his home is invaded by the Roman army, led by General Marcus Acacius (Pascal), during the reign of the co-emperors Caracalla and Geta.

Scott is known for some all-time bangers, for sure, “Blade Runner,” “Alien,” “Thelma & Louise,” the first “Gladiator,” and more (modern classics may include “The Martian,” and “Prometheus” based on your taste). But out of the nearly 30 feature films he’s directed in his lifetime, one could argue— in the aggregate—his overall batting average is kind of low.