Summary SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT Ridley Scott's 2023 historical epic Napoleon was a critical and commercial disappointment for the filmmaker, yet its failure was already presaged by a classic movie made nearly a century earlier. Starring Joaquin Phoenix in the title role, Napoleon was met with a mixed response by critics and bombed at the box office making a comparatively meager $221 million during its run.
Related Napoleon Ending Explained Ridley Scott's Napoleon highlights the titular subject's life. From military campaigns to personal tidbits, we break down the biopic's ending. Abel Gance's Napoleon Proves Scott's Movie Was Doomed One of the most singular and extraordinary cinematic achievements of all time, Abel Gance's 1927 epic Napoléon provides the clearest evidence that Ridley Scott's Napoleon movie was never going to work.
Even Napoleon's Director's Cut Wouldn't Save Scott's Movie Close Whatever the merits of Scott's movie, Gance's project proves that even a completely unviable runtime is insufficient to tell Napoleon's full story. As seen in Scott's final product, the consequence of cramming Napoleon's many achievements and highlights into such a limited period is that the movie feels rushed and insubstantial.