Director Ridley Scott recently expressed his views on modern cinema. He said the averageness of current Hollywood films has forced him to watch his old films.

During a talk at the British Film Institute on Sunday, Ridley Scott said he believes most modern films are “crap”. Speaking in conversation with his son Luke Scott, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker explained Metro: “The amount of films that are made today, literally globally – millions. Thousands, not millions. And most of it is crap.”

“I think a lot of movies today are saved and overpriced with digital effects, because what they haven’t got is a big deal on paper first. Get it on paper,” he said.

Later in the discussion, when asked if he had a “comfort film” he would like to see again, the director responded: “Well, actually, right now, I’m getting mediocrity – we’re drowning in mediocrity.”

“And so what I do — it’s a terrible thing — but I started watching my movies, and actually they’re great! What’s more, they don’t age,” Scott said. He admitted that he recently rewatched his 2001 war film ‘Black Hawk Down’ and wondered, “How did I manage to do that?”

Of films made by other people, Scott said: “I guess every once in a while there would be a good one, (and) it’s kind of a relief that there’s someone out there who’s doing a good movie.” The director – who last year released ‘Gladiator II’ featuring actor Paul Mescal – said retirement would be “impossible” for him.

He confirmed that he has completed production with Jacob Elordi on his next project, the post-apocalyptic sci-fi film “The Dog Stars”, and has begun writing the third ‘Gladiator’. “He’s around, and he’s technically the emperor of Rome,” Scott said of Paul Mescal’s character, “and so I have a footprint that I think it should be.” But, he added: “I’m not going to tell you when you stole it!”

Apart from ‘Gladiator’, Scott is also known to direct ‘Napoleon’ (2023), starring Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby and others in lead roles.