Exodus: Gods and Kings - The Oldest Movie in Netflix's Top 10

Exodus: Gods and Kings - A Biblical Epic

Exodus: Gods and Kings, directed by Ridley Scott, is a 2014 biblical epic that follows the story of Moses. The movie boasts an ensemble cast that includes Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, John Turturro, Aaron Paul, Ben Mendelsohn, Sigourney Weaver, and Ben Kingsley. Despite widespread accusations of whitewashing, the movie garnered a dismal 31% Rotten Tomatoes score and struggled financially, earning only $268.2 million against an estimated budget of $200 million.

Joel Edgerton as Ramses II in Exodus Gods and Kings

Netflix recently announced their global Top 10 list of the most-watched English-language movies for the week of January 1 through January 7, and Exodus: Gods and Kings made its mark at No. 4. The movie attracted 7.4 million viewers, accumulating a total of 18.6 million hours viewed. It is noteworthy that Exodus: Gods and Kings is the oldest title on the list, which also includes contemporary Netflix hits such as Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire, Leave the World Behind, and Leo.

Ridley Scott's Post-Exodus Career

Following the setback of Exodus: Gods and Kings, Ridley Scott quickly turned his prospects around with the big-budget science fiction adaptation, The Martian, starring Matt Damon and a star-studded ensemble cast. The movie became the tenth highest-grossing movie of 2015 worldwide and was nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture. The success of The Martian marked a significant comeback for Scott, pulling his career back from the brink caused by Exodus, which is his second worst-rated directorial feature on Rotten Tomatoes.

In the years that followed, Scott continued to achieve critical and commercial success with a variety of movies, including the 2017 Alien franchise entry Alien: Covenant and the 2021 duo The Last Duel and House of Gucci. His most recent movie, the historical epic Napoleon, also became the 24th highest-grossing movie of 2023. The streaming success of Exodus: Gods and Kings may have contributed to the change in public reception of Ridley Scott, which bodes well for the reception of his future projects, including Gladiator 2 and the action-thriller BOMB.

Conclusion

Exodus: Gods and Kings has made its mark as the oldest movie in Netflix's Top 10, showcasing the enduring appeal of Ridley Scott's biblical epic. Despite its initial challenges, the success of Exodus has been instrumental in reshaping the public reception of the director and setting the stage for the success of his subsequent projects. As Ridley Scott continues to captivate audiences with his cinematic endeavors, the legacy of Exodus: Gods and Kings serves as a testament to the resilience and evolution of a visionary filmmaker.