Director Ridley Scott smiling on a red carpet event
TV & Film

Ridley Scott Reacts to Quentin Tarantino Calling 'Black Hawk Down' Century's Best Film: 'I Wonder What He Was On'

Ridley Scott laughed off Quentin Tarantino crowning his 2001 military epic as the greatest movie of the 21st century.

By Rae MitchellPublished Updated 1 min read

Ridley Scott is responding to Quentin Tarantino’s massive praise with a heavy dose of sharp humor. During a podcast discussion last year, the *Pulp Fiction* mastermind stunned film buffs by naming Scott’s 2001 war drama *Black Hawk Down* as the single greatest movie of the 21st century so far. Now, Scott is delivering his hilarious take on the flattering endorsement. While speaking with *The Times* to discuss his upcoming project *The Dog Stars*, the legendary director cracked jokes about Tarantino’s surprise hot take. Scott quipped that he wondered what substance Tarantino was using, adding that whatever it was, he wanted some for himself.

ridley scott black hawk down response When the interviewer pressed the veteran filmmaker on whether he genuinely agreed with Tarantino’s ranking, Scott offered a blunt, one-word response: "No!" Despite the movie earning two Academy Awards and delivering major box office success upon release, Scott clearly holds a more modest view of his own filmography. Tarantino raised eyebrows when he originally crowned the military epic, placing it above beloved modern classics like *Toy Story 3*, *Lost in Translation*, and *There Will Be Blood*. That same podcast chat sparked widespread internet debate when Tarantino openly criticized *There Will Be Blood* star Paul Dano, making his praise for Scott's action flick stand out even more.

Director Ridley Scott smiling on a red carpet event
Director Ridley Scott smiling on a red carpet event

why did quentin tarantino praise black hawk down Released in 2001, *Black Hawk Down* chronicles the harrowing true story of U.S. troops attempting to rescue survivors after two helicopters were downed during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia. The high-octane feature boasted a massive ensemble cast including Ewan McGregor, Josh Hartnett, and a young Tom Hardy in his feature film acting debut. While Scott confirmed he hasn't spoken to Tarantino personally about the flattering comments, he did share a sentimental connection between their families. Scott remembered that his late brother, filmmaker Tony Scott, shared a close admiration and fondness for Tarantino's cinematic work over the years.

More like this

Get the pop news brief

One daily email. The biggest celebrity, music and TV stories, no filler.

Reader reaction

Loading comments…

People also ask

What did Quentin Tarantino say about Black Hawk Down?
Tarantino named Ridley Scott's 2001 war drama Black Hawk Down as the single best movie of the 21st century during a podcast interview.
How did Ridley Scott react to Quentin Tarantino's praise?
Scott joked that he wondered what Tarantino was taking and bluntly stated he does not agree that Black Hawk Down is the best movie of the century.