Director Ridley Scott recently declared that the vast majority of modern cinema is “shit,” revealing that he now prefers watching his own filmography to endure the current landscape of industry mediocrity. The legendary filmmaker shared his candid assessment during a career retrospective at the BFI Southbank in London this past weekend.
A Drowning Industry of Mediocrity
Despite being one of the most prolific directors in Hollywood, consistently securing massive budgets for his projects, Scott expressed deep frustration with the current state of global film production. He estimated that millions of movies are being created today, but argued that the sheer volume has resulted in a flood of low-quality output.
Scott, known for classics like Blade Runner, criticized the industry’s over-reliance on digital post-production effects. He suggested that many contemporary filmmakers attempt to “save” poor scripts with flashy CGI rather than focusing on the strength of the storytelling foundation.
Comfort Viewing in His Own Back Catalog
When questioned about his personal comfort movies, Scott admitted to a practice he acknowledged might seem “horrible”: rewatching his own work. “I’m finding mediocrity–we’re drowning in mediocrity,” Scott stated. “And so what I do–it’s a horrible thing–but I’ve started watching my own movies, and actually they’re pretty good! And also, they don’t age.”
Reflecting on his past projects, he specifically highlighted Black Hawk Down as a point of personal pride. “I watched Black Hawk Down the other night and I thought, ‘How in the hell did I manage to do that?’” Scott noted, adding that encountering a genuinely high-quality film from another director feels like a rare relief in today’s market.
What’s Next for the Director?
While Scott did not specify which contemporary films he considers exceptions to his harsh critique, he continues to push forward with his own projects. Following his recent work on Gladiator II, the director is currently preparing his next feature, a post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller titled The Dog Stars, which is scheduled for release in March 2026.
