Ridley Scott and Tom Hardy‘s acclaimed action war epic is targeting a new streaming home.
Now 24 years after it was originally released in theaters, the pair’s critically praised war movie has a new platform on streaming to call home. Scott’s best movies include a number of movies that feature real-world wars as important parts of the plot, from the French Revolution in Napoleon to the Third Crusade in Kingdom of Heaven. In addition, Hardy’s roles in movies have been more direct when associated with war, including a role in Christopher Nolan’s 2017 World War II movie Dunkirk.
Cinema · A Ridley Scott Production Ridley Scott Filmography Trivia
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01
Ridley Scott’s 1979 sci-fi horror masterpiece introduced audiences to one of cinema’s most terrifying creatures and launched a massive franchise. The film’s tagline was “In space, no one can hear you scream.” What is this iconic film?
✓ Correct! Alien (1979) redefined both the sci-fi and horror genres. Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley became one of cinema’s greatest heroines, and H.R. Giger’s nightmarish creature design created an icon of terror that has endured for over four decades.
✗ Even Ridley would call “Cut!” on that answer! The answer is Alien. Released in 1979, it combined claustrophobic horror with science fiction in a way never seen before. The film spawned multiple sequels, prequels, and crossovers, becoming one of the most successful franchises in movie history.
02
Ridley Scott’s 1982 neo-noir sci-fi film, initially a box office disappointment, went on to become one of the most influential films ever made. It explores the question of what it means to be human through artificial beings called replicants. What is this film?
✓ Correct! Blade Runner (1982) is now considered one of the greatest science fiction films ever made. Based on Philip K. Dick’s novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?,” it pioneered the cyberpunk aesthetic and raised profound philosophical questions about consciousness and identity.
✗ Even Ridley would call “Cut!” on that answer! The answer is Blade Runner. Despite underperforming at the box office in 1982, it became a cult classic and is now widely regarded as a masterpiece. Its rain-soaked neon cityscape and Rutger Hauer’s “tears in rain” monologue are etched into cinema history.
03
Ridley Scott directed a 2000 epic historical drama starring Russell Crowe as a Roman general betrayed by the emperor’s son and forced to fight as a gladiator. The film won five Academy Awards including Best Picture. What is this film?
✓ Correct! Gladiator (2000) revived the sword-and-sandal epic genre and earned Russell Crowe the Academy Award for Best Actor. The film’s iconic line “Are you not entertained?” and Hans Zimmer’s thunderous score cemented it as one of the greatest historical epics ever made.
✗ Even Ridley would call “Cut!” on that answer! The answer is Gladiator. Russell Crowe’s portrayal of Maximus Decimus Meridius is legendary. The film won five Oscars and single-handedly revived the historical epic genre, inspiring countless imitators in the years that followed.
04
In 1991, Ridley Scott directed a groundbreaking road thriller starring Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis as two women on the run after a tragic incident. The film became a cultural landmark for its feminist themes. What is this film?
✓ Correct! Thelma & Louise (1991) was a cultural phenomenon that challenged Hollywood conventions. Written by Callie Khouri, who won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, the film’s iconic final scene of the 1966 Thunderbird sailing over the Grand Canyon remains one of cinema’s most memorable images.
✗ Even Ridley would call “Cut!” on that answer! The answer is Thelma & Louise. This 1991 road thriller starred Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis and became a landmark of feminist cinema. It also featured a young Brad Pitt in a breakout role that helped launch his career.
05
Ridley Scott directed a 2001 war film based on the true story of a U.S. military operation in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993, where a mission to capture a warlord went catastrophically wrong. What is this film?
✓ Correct! Black Hawk Down (2001) is a visceral, unflinching portrayal of the Battle of Mogadishu. Based on Mark Bowden’s book, the film won two Academy Awards for Best Film Editing and Best Sound. Its intense, documentary-style combat sequences set a new standard for war films.
✗ Even Ridley would call “Cut!” on that answer! The answer is Black Hawk Down. This 2001 war film depicted the harrowing 1993 Battle of Mogadishu with unflinching realism. American Sniper was directed by Clint Eastwood, while The Kingdom and Body of Lies were directed by other filmmakers.
06
In 2015, Ridley Scott directed a survival sci-fi film starring Matt Damon as an astronaut stranded on Mars who must use his ingenuity to survive until rescue arrives. The film was based on Andy Weir’s novel. What is this film?
✓ Correct! The Martian (2015) was a critical and commercial triumph, earning over $630 million worldwide. Matt Damon’s charismatic performance as botanist Mark Watney, who “sciences the **** out of” his survival on Mars, earned the film seven Oscar nominations including Best Picture.
✗ Even Ridley would call “Cut!” on that answer! The answer is The Martian. While Interstellar was directed by Christopher Nolan, Gravity by Alfonso Cuarón, and Ad Astra by James Gray, it was Ridley Scott who brought Andy Weir’s beloved novel about a stranded astronaut to spectacular life on screen.
07
Ridley Scott returned to the Alien franchise in 2012 with a prequel film that explored the origins of humanity and the mysterious Engineers who created the xenomorphs. What is the name of this prequel?
✓ Correct! Prometheus (2012) marked Ridley Scott’s return to the universe he created over three decades earlier. The film expanded the Alien mythology by exploring the Engineers, an ancient race responsible for creating human life, and introduced new questions about the origins of the deadly xenomorphs.
✗ Even Ridley would call “Cut!” on that answer! The answer is Prometheus. Alien: Covenant (2017) was actually the sequel to Prometheus. Aliens (1986) was directed by James Cameron, and Alien: Resurrection (1997) was directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Prometheus was Scott’s grand return to the franchise.
08
Ridley Scott has directed over 25 feature films across multiple decades and genres. Despite his immense influence on cinema, he has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director multiple times but has never won. For which film did he receive his first Best Director Oscar nomination?
✓ Correct! Ridley Scott received his first Best Director Oscar nomination for Thelma & Louise (1991). He was nominated again for Gladiator (2000) and Black Hawk Down (2001), but has never won. Despite this, he received a knighthood in 2003 and remains one of cinema’s most respected and prolific directors.
✗ Even Ridley would call “Cut!” on that answer! The answer is Thelma & Louise. While many assume it was Gladiator, Scott’s first Best Director nomination actually came for the 1991 road thriller. He was subsequently nominated for Gladiator and Black Hawk Down, but the Oscar has remained elusive throughout his legendary career.
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Are you a Ridley Scott scholar — or still watching the director’s commentary?
However, Scott and Hardy collaborated once on a war movie that went on to become an award-winning classic in the genre. This movie is Black Hawk Down, a 2002 war epic based on a non-fiction book by journalist Mark Bowden. The movie follows the crew of a Black Hawk helicopter who are shot down during the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993. While the movie stars the likes of Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, and Tom Sizemore, it features an ensemble cast of dozens of actors. This includes Hardy as SPC Lance Twombly, his first ever feature film role.
Now, it’s been confirmed that Black Hawk Down has a new streaming home in Peacock, and is available to watch on the platform right now. The war movie’s availability on the platform makes it all the more easily accessible to audiences, whose only other options included renting or buying the film. Its availability on Peacock makes it easier for potential audiences to watch the movie and see how its ensemble cast brought the events of that harrowing mission to life. It’s also a chance to see Hardy perform in his first ever big-screen role.
Considered one of the most unforgettable war movies of all time, Black Hawk Down was a critical success upon its release. As of writing, the movie holds a Certified Fresh 77% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as an 88% from audiences. The movie earned praise for Scott’s directing and the performances of its cast members, while also maintaining realism in the way it depicts the combat of war. Although the film was criticized for some historical inaccuracies, it went on to earn $173 million at the box office against a $92 million budget.
In addition to its critical and financial success, Black Hawk Down won a number of awards following its release. This includes wins for Best Editing and Best Sound at the Academy Awards, alongside nominations for Best Director and Best Cinematography. It also earned two Saturn Award nominations for Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film and Best DVD Special Edition Release. The movie has since become a classic war movie that takes the stress of a mission gone wrong and turns it into an action-heavy rescue mission with plenty of moving parts.
Because it’s not available on Peacock, potential viewers can watch Black Hawk Down more easily than they’ve ever been able to before. It’s also significant because it’s Hardy‘s first ever role on the big screen, making it perfect for those intrigued by the beginnings of his career. As a war movie amid Scott’s film catalog, it performs well as one of the most memorable in the genre.
