Movies Ridley Scott says a Blade Runner review 'destroyed' him, so he framed it in his office The "Gladiator II" director says he learned "never believe your own press" from the ordeal. By Lauren Huff Lauren Huff Lauren Huff is a writer at Entertainment Weekly with over a decade of experience covering all facets of the entertainment industry. After graduating with honors from the University of Texas at Austin (Hook 'em, Horns!), Lauren wrote about film, television, awards season, music, and more for the likes of The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline Hollywood, Us Weekly, Awards Circuit, and others before landing at EW in May 2019. EW's editorial guidelines Published on November 20, 2024 09:30AM EST Comments Some people frame awards or diplomas. Then there's director Ridley Scott, who has a 42-year-old review framed in his office that he says "destroyed" him. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly about his latest epic, Gladiator II, Scott mentioned the artifact while discussing the sky-high expectations for the sequel to 2000's Best Picture-winning Gladiator. "Well, you may not agree, but at the end of the day, as a director, my state [and] age level, I haven't honestly read press since Pauline Kael destroyed me on Blade Runner," he says from a conference room in his LA office. "Pauline Kael destroyed Blade Runner. That's 42 years ago to the extent I was so dismayed, I think is the word, I framed the four pages [of the review] in The New Yorker. It's in my office now, which reminds me to never believe your own press, good or bad. So I don't read it." Director Ridley Scott (L) and star Paul Mescal on the set of 'Gladiator II'. Paramount Pictures Gladiator II review: Ridley Scott sequel is epic old-fashioned movie-making with a star turn from Paul Mescal Kael had many criticisms of the 1982 sci-fi film in her review. Though she praised its distinctive vision, she ultimately (harshly) concluded: "Blade Runner has nothing to give the audience — not even a second of sorrow for Sebastian. It hasn’t been thought out in human terms. If anybody comes around with a test to detect humanoids, maybe Ridley Scott and his associates should hide. With all the smoke in this movie, you feel as if everyone connected with it needs to have his flue cleaned." Scott's decision to frame the piece and swear off reading reviews has served him well. Blade Runner would go on to be considered among the helmer's best films, and in the years since, he's been nominated for four Academy Awards. As such, he's learned to trust his instincts. "In my job, I've got constant doubting Thomases driving me f---ing crazy. But when you've done the Formula 1 car around the track so many times, I do know how to take those bends," he says. Want more movie news? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more. Ridley Scott clarifies comments about Gladiator III plans: 'Have we got it yet? Not really' Just don't suggest his experience gives him the right to do anything he wants with his films. "Don't say I get to do what I want to do. That feels like a misquote," he says, adding, "I really deeply respect people who will give me money to fulfill a dream, but every film I do in a funny kind of way is a dream." So, with Gladiator II finally hitting theaters this weekend, was it everything he dreamed it would be? "I think beyond — it went better than I expected," he says. Gladiator II — starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn, and Fred Hechinger — is now playing in theaters. Read more on the film in EW's Gladiator II cover story.