Welcome to the week of Ridley Scott. The 86-year-old filmmaker’s next movie is Gladiator II, the 29th feature film in his illustrious five-decade career. The sequel to the Oscar-winning Gladiator, Gladiator II stars Paul Mescal as Lucius, the former heir to the throne and son of Maximus (Russell Crowe) and Lucilla (Connie Nielsen). After Roman forces kill his wife and force him into slavery, Lucius trains to be a gladiator and sets his sights on exacting his vengeance against the Empire.
Gladiator II will definitely be an awesome theatrical experience. After seeing Gladiator II, why not revisit more projects in Scott’s filmography? FAST services are hosting several of Scott’s movies, including Gladiator, for free. Our suggestions include a traumatic war film, a groundbreaking road trip adventure, and an espionage thriller.
We also have guides to the best new movies to stream, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
Black Hawk Down (2001)
Scott’s technical prowess was on full display in Black Hawk Down, one of the best war movies of the 21st century. To aid Somalia in establishing peace during a civil war, the U.S. sends forces via Black Hawk helicopters into Mogadishu to capture a warlord. While deploying soldiers from the air to the ground, two helicopters are shot down, leading to several injuries and casualties.
The surviving U.S. soldiers are now stranded without an extraction plan. They must survive the night and wait for reinforcements, all while dealing with heavy gunfire and explosions at every turn. Black Hawk Down is not a movie to watch if you’re looking for accuracy since several liberties were taken in making the film. However, it succeeds as a chilling war film with harrowing action and superb sound effects.
Stream Black Hawk Down for free on Tubi.
Thelma & Louise (1991)
Before 1991, Scott was best known for his work in sci-fi and neo-noir. Then Thelma & Louise showcased Scott’s full arsenal of skills, especially in comedy. Friends Thelma Dickinson (Geena Davis) and Louise Sawyer (Susan Sarandon) set out for a weekend getaway from their monotonous lives in Arkansas. One night, Thelma is nearly raped outside of a bar before Louise intervenes and kills her assailant.
Without evidence, the duo fears the police won’t believe their story, so they embark on a trip to Mexico. When a sympathetic detective (Harvey Keitel) attempts to track them down, Thelma and Louise must ponder their future and decide if they plan to live the rest of their lives as outlaws. Backed by an Oscar-winning script and an iconic final scene, Thelma & Louise is one of the best road trip movies and remains an important entry for feminist cinema.
Stream Thelma & Louise for free on Pluto TV.
Body of Lies (2008)
Leonardo DiCaprio doesn’t always make thought-provoking dramas with Martin Scorsese. In 2008, DiCaprio collaborated with Scott on Body of Lies, an action thriller set in the world of international espionage. In the Middle East, CIA officer Roger Ferris (DiCaprio) is tracking a notorious terrorist leader, Al-Saleem (Alon Abutbul), who might be behind recent bombings.
With the help of his boss Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe), Ferris devises a plan to lure Al-Saleem out of hiding. However, Hani Salaam (Mark Strong), the director of the Jordanian General Intelligence Directorate, disagrees with Ferris’ tactics and forbids him from enacting his plan. That’s not good enough for Ferris, who goes rogue and heads down a dangerous path. Body of Lies is an effective spy thriller from Scott that’s set in the technological world. It also doesn’t hurt to have DiCaprio and Crowe at the top of their games.
Stream Body of Lies for free on Pluto TV.
