"So Brilliant": This 1981 Fantasy Movie That Ridley Scott Loves Is On Prime Video & It's A Must Watch

Summary

  • One of Ridley Scott’s favorite movies, Quest For Fire, is a brilliant prehistoric fantasy.
  • Quest For Fire combines originality with emotional and thrilling moments in the starkly ancient setting.
  • The movie’s influence is evident in Hollywood, impacting films like Planet of the Apes and Ridley Scott’s own work.



One of Ridley Scott‘s favorite movies is a great fantasy film currently available on Amazon Prime. Blade Runner and Alien director Ridley Scott is one of cinemaโ€™s titans, a formative part of the sci-fi genre in the 21st century. Scott produced the new Alien movie Alien: Romulus, released in August 2024, remaining a key driver in the franchise and participating in the marketing campaign. Scott’swork has influenced countless filmmakers over the years, which is why it is fascinating to learn about which movies inspired him.

Ridley Scott spoke to Letterboxd about his favorite movies, citing one of his own, the seminal sci-fi movie Blade Runner, which is fair enough considering that it is one of the best sci-fi movies ever made. Scott said that Blad Runner โ€œjust set the pace for many things,โ€ – the movie had a huge impact on his career and wider Hollywood. Scott also mentioned 2001: A Space Odyssey as one of his favorite movies, along with a lesser-known science fantasy movie now streaming on Prime.



Quest For Fire Is One Of Ridley Scott’s Favorite Movies – What It’s About

The Adventure Movie Follows Warring Prehistoric Tribes

Ridley Scott loves the 1981 movie Quest For Fire, claiming that it was โ€œso clever and so brilliant.โ€ One of Scottโ€™s favorites, this movie is available to stream on Amazon Prime and is well worth a watch not just for fantasy fans. The Canadian-French co-production is a prehistoric fantasy adventure based on the 1911 Belgian novel Quest for Fire. Set 80,000 years ago, the movie follows Noah on his mission to obtain fire as a vital resource for his tribe after it was stolen.

Quest for Fire
was directed by French director Jean-Jacques Annaud.


Why Quest For Fire Is A Great Fantasy Adventure Movie

Quest For Fire Is One Of A Kind

One of the movies about ancient history with more of a fantasy angle than most, Quest for Fire is still starkly original. Quest for Fireโ€™s warring tribes were based on reality but were also heavily invested in their look, using a completely invented language. The lack of recognizable dialogue in the movie puts a sharp focus on the sheer anthropological imagination of the tribes. The Ulam grunted and lurched their way through the movie in a way that seemed alien and remote but strangely familiar. Itโ€™s a disturbing and gripping adventure that doesnโ€™t have many equivalents.


Although dated in some aspects, this movie still offers awe-inspiring moments. Winning a BAFTA for best make-up, Quest For Fireโ€™s Neanderthals and Homo sapiens evince an evocative imagining of humanityโ€™s ancient ancestors. On Noahโ€™s adventure through plains, marshes, and woods, his encounters with other tribes make up a surprisingly emotional adventure. Watching Ridley Scott‘s favorite movies offers a guide to his inspirations, informing interpretation of his work, and it’s clear how Quest For Fire influenced the legendary filmmaker.