essay on gladiator movie

Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors.

Now streaming on:

Maximus: I'm required to kill--so I kill. That's enough.

Proximo: That's enough for the provinces, but not for Rome.

A foolish choice in art direction casts a pall over Ridley Scott's "Gladiator" that no swordplay can cut through. The film looks muddy, fuzzy and indistinct. Its colors are mud tones at the drab end of the palette, and it seems to have been filmed on grim and overcast days. This darkness and a lack of detail in the long shots helps obscure shabby special effects (the Colosseum in Rome looks like a model from a computer game), and the characters bring no cheer: They're bitter, vengeful, depressed. By the end of this long film, I would have traded any given gladiatorial victory for just one shot of blue skies. (There are blue skies in the hero's dreams of long-ago happiness, but that proves the point.) The story line is " Rocky " on downers. The hero, a general from Spain named Maximus ( Russell Crowe ), is a favorite of the dying emperor Marcus Aurelius ( Richard Harris ). After Maximus defeats the barbarians, Marcus names him protector of Rome. But he is left for dead by Marcus' son, a bitter rival named Commodus (the name comes from the Latin for "convenient" and not what you're thinking).

After escaping and finding that his wife and son have been murdered, Maximus finds his way to the deserts of North Africa, where he is sold as a slave to Proximo (the late Oliver Reed ), a manager of gladiators. When Commodus lifts his late father's ban on gladiators in Rome, in an attempt to distract the people from hunger and plagues, Maximus slashes his way to the top, and the movie ends, of course, with the Big Fight.

This same story could have been rousing entertainment; I have just revisited the wonderful " Raiders of the Lost Ark ," which is just as dimwitted but 12 times more fun. But "Gladiator" lacks joy. It employs depression as a substitute for personality, and believes that if the characters are bitter and morose enough, we won't notice how dull they are.

Commodus ( Joaquin Phoenix ) is one of those spoiled, self-indulgent, petulant Roman emperors made famous in the age of great Roman epics, which ended with " Spartacus " (1960). Watching him in his snits, I recalled Peter Ustinov's great Nero in "Quo Vadis" (1951), collecting his tears for posterity in tiny crystal vials. Commodus has unusual vices even for a Caesar; he wants to become the lover of his older sister Lucilla ( Connie Nielsen ), whose son he is bringing up as his heir.

The moral backbone of the story is easily mastered. Commodus wants to be a dictator, but is opposed by the senate, led by Gracchus ( Derek Jacobi ). The senators want him to provide sewers for the city's Greek district, where the plague is raging, but Commodus decides instead on a season of games. Proximo arrives with his seasoned gladiators from Africa, who prove nearly invincible and threaten the emperor's popularity. The moral lesson: It is good when gladiators slaughter everyone in sight, and then turn over power to the politicians.

The Colosseum productions play like professional wrestling. Events are staged to re-create famous battles, and after the visitors wipe out the home team, a puzzled Commodus tells his aide, "My history's a little hazy--but shouldn't the barbarians lose the battle of Carthage?" Later, an announcer literally addresses the crowd in these words: "Caesar is pleased to bring you the only undefeated champion in Roman history--the legendary Titus!" The battle sequences are a pale shadow of the lucidly choreographed swordplay in " Rob Roy " (1995); instead of moves we can follow and strategy we can appreciate, Scott goes for muddled closeups of fearsome but indistinct events. The crowd cheers, although those in the cheaper seats are impossible to see because of the murky special effects.

When Maximus wins his first big fight, it's up to Commodus to decide whether he will live or die. "Live! Live!" the fans chant, and Commodus, bowing to their will, signals with a "thumbs up." This demonstrates that Commodus was not paying attention in Caesar School, since the practice at the Colosseum at that time was to close the thumb in the fist to signal life; an extended thumb meant death. Luckily, no one else in the Colosseum knows this, either.

Crowe is efficient as Maximus: bearded, taciturn, brooding. His closest friend among the gladiators is played by Djimon Hounsou , who played the passionate slave in " Amistad ." Since protocol requires him to speak less than Maximus, he mostly looks ferocious, effectively.

Nielsen shows the film's most depth, as the sister. Phoenix is passable as Commodus, but a quirkier actor could have had more fun in the role. Old pros Harris, Jacobi and Reed are reliable; Scott does some fancy editing and a little digital work to fill the gaps left when Reed died during the production.

"Gladiator" is being hailed by those with short memories as the equal of "Spartacus" and "Ben-Hur." This is more like "Spartacus Lite." Or dark. It's only necessary to think back a few months, to Julie Taymor's " Titus ," for a film set in ancient Rome that's immeasurably better to look at. The visual accomplishment of "Titus" shames "Gladiator," and its story is a whole heck of a lot better than the "Gladiator" screenplay, even if Shakespeare didn't make his Titus the only undefeated champion in Roman history.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

Now playing

Monica Castillo

The Last Rider

Craig d. lindsey.

Tomris Laffly

Clint Worthington

The Beach Boys

Brian tallerico, film credits.

Gladiator (2000)

Rated R For Intense Graphic Combat

150 minutes

Russell Crowe as Maximus

Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus

Oliver Reed as Proximo

Connie Nielsen as Lucilla

Richard Harris as Marcus Aurelius

• William Nicholson
• David Franzoni

Directed by

• Ridley Scott

Latest blog posts

Black Writers Week 2024: Table of Contents

The LightReel Film Festival Finishes Strong

How Women of Color Are Shifting the Narrative

It's Physical Work: Barry Jenkins on The Underground Railroad

Screen Rant

7 ways gladiator was historically accurate (& 9 ways it wasn’t).

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Gladiator True Story & Historical Accuracy: How Much Really Happened

I am 100% not ready for robert pattinson's upcoming cult favorite horror remake, horizon risks repeating kevin costner's 30-year-old western nightmare (but this will be even worse).

• Gladiator , the Oscar-winning 2000 movie from Ridley Scott, takes creative license with the factual events of Ancient Rome, but some aspects reflect real historical truths such as the process of granting freedom to gladiators.
• The character of Marcus Aurelius in Gladiator is fairly historically accurate, depicting him as a competent and fair ruler who co-ruled alongside Lucius Verus.
• While Gladiator suggests that gladiators achieved celebrity status, they were actually seen as lowly and their purpose was to fight and die. However, it is true that gladiators included product placement in their routines.

Movies based on real life are never completely accurate, and the Gladiator historical accuracy has been hotly debated since the Oscar-winning movie came out in 2000. There are several things that this movie fictionalizes, including the main character, the fate of the villain, and even the events that happened in the military and gladiatorial battles of Ancient Rome. While Gladiator had a team onboard to ensure its historical accuracy in many areas, there were several things that bothered even these crew members, as Ridley Scott took some serious creative license with the factual events of the Roman Empire at the time.

While many moments in Gladiator are not accurate compared to real life , there are also several moments in the movie that reflect what really happened in Ancient Rome. While Maximus might not have been based on a real historical figure, he was based on many historical accounts of real gladiators and the lives they led. There are also some genuine historical truths Scott left out because he thought no one would believe it was true. One example is the real gladiators of Rome promoting products before and after fights, which really happened, but Russell Crowe said was " not going to ring right to a modern audience " (via Variety ).

Ridley Scott's Gladiator is based in the history of ancient Rome, but while the movie is accurate in some areas, it take poetic license in others.

How Gladiator Was Historically Accurate

1: the symbol of freedom.

One of the more interesting characters in the film was Proximo, the former gladiator who opened his own arena in Rome after gaining his freedom. His description of the process by which a gladiator would be given his freedom is historically accurate. Once a gladiator had survived to reach retirement or had earned his freedom, he was given a wooden sword, or 'rudis', as a symbol. Although Proximo was freed by Emperor Marcus Aurelius, it was not necessary for every gladiator to receive that dispensation from the Emperor himself. Gladiator 2 will also feature an enslaved gladiator who won his freedom, further exploring this unique historical scenario.

2: Marcus Aurelius, The Man

The film takes a few liberties with the character of Marcus Aurelius, particularly when it comes to the nature of his rule. At the time, he co-ruled alongside Lucius Verus, his daughter's husband. Besides the small caveats, Aurelius was something of a celebrity during his 161–180 CE reign. He was considered a good ruler, both competent and sound of mind, fair and tempered. This certainly seems to translate well into the figure depicted on screen, and his depiction in Gladiator is fairly historically accurate.

3: The Social Status Of Gladiators In Rome

Gladiator attempts to add a bit of glamor to the life of a gladiatorial combatant by suggesting that the best of the best would achieve celebrity status. In reality, the combatants were lower than dirt in the eyes of many Roman people. They were there to fight and die, nothing more. That being said, the cost-prohibitive nature of bouts to the death meant that most gladiators yielded in combat, in order to fight another day. It is also interesting to note that the gladiators in real life included product placement in their routines, a historically accurate moment Ridley Scott chose to leave out of Gladiator .

4: The War In Germania

Gladiator had one of the most stunning and visceral openings to a classical epic ever filmed – a huge battle between the Roman army, and the Germanic hordes. Shot in a jarring and violent manner, the sequence puts the audience directly in the middle of the battle to feel the raw grit, dirt, and blood. Historically speaking, the suggestion that the Roman Empire was engaged in a prolonged war with Germanic tribes is accurate. Marcus Aurelius spent the latter part of his reign securing the northern frontier in an attempt to keep the Germanic tribes at bay.

5: Maximus' Character

The character of Maximus Decimus Meridius may be fictional, but his personality and characteristics were firmly steeped in Roman history. When Rome faced a dire external threat, the Senate would appoint one man to see it through, with the expectation they would relinquish power when the threat was vanquished. As the legend goes, the Senate approached Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus to subdue a hostile force. It took Cincinnatus 15 days to quell the threat, and once he did, he returned to his modest farming life. Maximus’ steadfast refusal to assume power in Rome mirrors that of the legendary Roman general Cincinnatus.

6: Enmity Between The Praetorian Guard & The Legion

The Praetorian Guard were the Roman Emperor’s personal bodyguards and intelligence gatherers, keeping him safe from physical and political threats. The life of a Praetorian Guardsman was different from that of a Legionnaire, as they got to stay in Rome in relative comfort and safety, while the legions fought on the outskirts of the Empire. This didn’t sit well with the average soldier, who looked at the Praetorians with disdain. The rivalry in Gladiator is historically accurate, portrayed perhaps most prevalently in the scene where Maximus escapes his execution in the North, calling one of his would-be executioners “Praetorian” in a derisive way, before dispatching him.

7: Loyalty Of The Legion

Maximus told Gracchus, “ Let my men see me alive, and you shall see where their loyalties lie. ” Roman armies were extremely loyal to their generals, something Gladiator got right about Roman history. The strong sense of loyalty and camaraderie from Legionnaires who fought and bled together for the Empire is recounted in many historical accounts from the time. Also, Roman generals were responsible for securing retirement packages for their troops in the form of land, pensions, or the promise of spoils from war. Generals who ate with their soldiers, slept in the same barracks, fought side-by-side with them, and guaranteed a comfortable retirement were idolized and fought for till death.

The Historical Inaccuracies In Gladiator

1: maximus' existence.

Russell Crowe's portrayal of Maximus sets the narrative tone. His tribulations, losses, and victories are all born from a system that once held him aloft, only to send him into the abyss when it was convenient. As effective as the story of Maximus is, the character didn’t exist. He's a complete fabrication created solely for the film and has no mention in history whatsoever. Hollywood films often do this in order to create a recognizable anchor for the audience to follow along. In Maximus' case, he's there to sell big moments, such as a vengeful speech delivered unto his blood enemy Commodus in one of the most iconic quotes Gladiator has to offer .

2: The Presence Of Christianity In Gladiator

The film insinuates that Christianity is an influential religion during the time period in which the story takes place. Hints of this are strewn about, particularly during a conversation between Lucilla and Maximus where she mentions praying in a manner that suggests it's a private matter. The prevalence of Christianity during this point of the Roman Empire was historically inaccurate in Gladiator . Lucilla would never have gone against the Roman religion of the time, and Christianity would not hold sway over the Empire until much later in 380 CE. It creates a sense of gravitas by adding Christianity as an anchor for the audience, but it's a false assumption.

3: Weapons Of War During The Time Period

Historical movies tend to fictionalize the little things, but those who know said history can spot them a mile away. Weapons are one of the things that suffer the most in adaptations, as filmmakers sometimes yank items out of an arsenal from an entirely different time period. Gladiator features massive dart launchers and catapults to sell the excitement of the opening scene in Germania, one of the most epic opening battles in cinematic history. Unfortunately, these were siege weapons in use at the time as a means of stationary defense, as opposed to moving platforms fighting in a forested environment. It just doesn't pan out.

4: Marcus Aurelius Banned Gladiator Battles

In Gladiator , Marcus Aurelius banned gladiator games, according to Antonius Proximo. He called Marcus wise for making this decision. While the ruler was benevolent, this was a historically inaccurate Gladiator moment. The real Marcus was indeed against the bloodlust of gladiator games, he kept them going because of their overwhelming popularity. However, he did everything he could to make them safer for the enslaved involved in these battles. He took away blades and made the gladiators use blunted weapons, making it more of an athletic competition than a fight to the death. This ended up helping the nation as Marcus used gladiators in the first Marcomannic War.

5: Thumbs Up/Down

Historical battle scenes like the ones depicted in Gladiator rely a great deal on intense drama and exciting themes to draw the audience in. One of the ways the film does this is by featuring several scenes where the fate of the arena combatants is decided with a thumbs-up or down gesture by Joaquin Phoenix's terrifying Commodus. However, there is little-to-no evidence that these precise gestures were used. The erroneous belief comes from a painting of Roman gladiators by Jean-Léon Gérôme named Pollice Verso , which shows the audience using the thumbs-down sign to call for the death of the defeated gladiator.

6: Lucilla & Commodus

Lucilla was presented as an upstanding woman in Gladiator who was concerned with the state of the Roman Empire. Her tempestuous relationship with her cruel brother Commodus is a main theme in the movie. Although it’s true that Lucilla did organize a botched assassination attempt on Commodus, there’s no evidence that he ever harbored any erotic feelings toward her. It’s probable that Rome’s reputation as an opulent, corrupt, and depraved empire may have inspired the film’s screenwriters to include such a salacious plot point in the script, but it has no basis in historical fact.

7: Roman Democracy

Audiences may have thought the Roman Empire more progressive than originally perceived when Gracchus states that “ ...the Senate is the people, sire. Chosen from among the people. To speak for the people ,” envisioning a state similar to modern forms of representative democracy. Gracchus’ statement in Gladiator is historically inaccurate, however, as the Roman Senate’s composition was made up of representatives from Rome’s oldest leading families. Eventually, the nouveau-riche and provincials gained entry as well, but the interests of the Senate were usually selfish in nature, looking to increase personal and familial stature, and rarely looking out for the common folk.

8: Commodus, The Man

Commodus was depicted as something of an unhinged villain in Gladiator , but his real-life persona was far more outlandish. In fact, the film touches only lightly on the depths of his depravity. Once in power, he literally renamed Rome "the Colony of Commodus" in an obvious example of megalomania run wild. He was more like Caligula in many respects, with massive indulgences being something of a staple of his weekly schedule. Unfortunately, his legacy would suffer at the hands of historians who did not take pity on him as they recounted his deeds. Likewise, despite its Oscar status, Gladiator is one Best Picture that hasn't aged well , either.

9: The Deaths Of Marcus Aurelius & Commodus

Marcus Aurelius was one of the greatest Emperors of Rome, the last of the 'Five Good Emperors' of the Antonine Dynasty, and historically renowned as a platonic philosopher-king for his works in Stoic philosophy. Although it makes for a compelling drama to have him smothered by his son Commodus the murder scene in Gladiator didn't actually happen. The real Marcus Aurelius died of natural causes. As for Commodus, his fate was far less extravagant than the one seen in the film. He was actually assassinated by his sparring partner, a wrestler by the name of Narcissus, who had been bribed in a plot to replace the mad Emperor.

Is Gladiator 2 Set To Be Historically Accurate?

Gladiator 2 will be even less historically accurate than the first Gladiator movie. This is because the movie plans to tell a fictionalized tale about a real historical figure, with things that never actually happened in real life. The sequel will pick up 20 years after the end of the first Gladiator movie with Lucius Verus II and is also referred to as a revenge tale. There are two real-life emperors in the movie — Caracalla (Joseph Quinn) and Geta (Fred Hechinger). Geta granted citizenship to all free men in real life, so there is the idea that Lucius will help set this plan into motion, adding a fictional story to an important historical event.

The problem with Gladiator 2 lies in the fact that Lucius Verus II died at a very young age in real life. While he was a young boy in the first movie (played by Spencer Treat Clark), the real Lucius died very young. Almost all of Lucilla's children died at a young age, mostly from unknown cases. If Lucius had lived, he would have been in line for the throne, but he died. Furthermore, Lucilla was banished and executed for a failed assassination attempt on Commodus in real life. This resulted in the actual challengers for Commodus' throne being contested by five men, most of whom had nothing to do with the original Gladiator movie story.

Sorry, Haters: Gladiator Is One of the Greatest Best Picture Winners Since 2000

As the Ridley Scott epic celebrates its 20th anniversary, naysayers have been eager to take it down. But the Oscar winner remains a grand cinematic achievement.

Sometimes a collective groupthink—fueled by critics, Twitter, and critics on Twitter—brings forth an Official Position about a movie, book, television show, or album. But beneath that layer of loud voices vying for RT glory, there exists a population of rational thinkers who quietly disagree. These are dispatches from that population. Sorry, haters.

Earlier this week, Ridley Scott’s 2000 Best Picture-winning sword-and-sandal spectacular, Gladiator , celebrated its 20th anniversary. But it turns out there wasn’t a whole lot of celebrating. That two-headed assassin of the 20th century—hindsight and Twitter—wouldn’t allow it.

One of the more depressing (and disposable) trends in pop-culture journalism on the internet recently is how big, round-number anniversaries of beloved TV shows, once-zeitgeisty albums, and movies that resonated at the box office have become occasions for knee-jerk, contrarian, scorched-earth hot takes that no one asked for but everyone feels compelled to click on.

The format is pretty predictable. The writer will gas on with lip-smacking revisionist cynicism about why that thing that you once loved—and perhaps still do—was never worth its place in your heart to begin with. In fact, you were a fool and a philistine for liking said show, album, or movie in the first place because it’s obviously now a flawed relic. A flawed relic that the SEO gods insist that it’s time to dogpile on and crap all over. Two decades, it turns out, is a remarkably easy perch for a sniper to shoot from. Which brings me to Gladiator .

Twenty years ago, I was assigned to write a long-lead cover story about Scott’s film for another publication. I flew out to Los Angeles to get an early look at the film the day before I was scheduled to interview a slightly surly Crowe at a touristy Tex-Mex saloon on the Sunset Strip with a mechanical bull next to the bar. I was the only person sitting in the cavernous screening room on DreamWorks’ Glendale lot and I’m not ashamed to admit that my expectations were decidedly low.

It had been a while since Scott had made a film that approached the visionary greatness of Alien and Blade Runner . Not to mention that gladiator films were so far out of fashion that you couldn’t think of them without wincing at the oiled-up beefcake memories of Victor Mature and Steve Reeves sucking in their guts in loincloths. But as the lights went down, I was swept up in the movie’s spell. A hair under three hours later, I had to scoop my jaw up from lap. I was transported by every single second of it: Scott’s slick, art-directed world building; the bread-and-circus coliseum action set pieces; Crowe’s tragic and sentimental macho heroism; and Joaquin Phoenix’s sniveling, pasty villainy. Even the slow-motion hand-trailing-through-fields-of-wheat ending felt note-perfect despite the fact that it left no room for the possibility of a sequel.

When it came out, Gladiator got pretty decent reviews ( Variety , Time , and Entertainment Weekly all raved), but it seemed to resonate on a primal tentpole level with moviegoers who turned it into a $460-million hit at the worldwide box-office. So, coming just three years after Titanic , it wasn’t a huge shock when it was eventually nominated for 12 Oscars, including Best Picture.

Esquire Subscribe to Esquire Magazine

Those who weren’t around at the time may not remember this, but Gladiator was the front-runner for the top award all season long. It wasn’t some sort of surprise, pearl-clutching win. Back then, there were only five films in the Best Picture category and each of the movies it was up against were seen as flawed in one way or another: Chocolat was so schmaltzy even Harvey Weinstein couldn’t bully the votes for it; Erin Brockovich and Traffic had the “misfortune” of both being directed by Steven Soderbergh and would thus likely split its votes; and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon , although breathtaking, was too ahead of its time—it would take another 19 years for a foreign film ( Parasite ) to get the Academy’s ultimate benediction. In other words, no one was surprised when Gladiator won. Or disappointed. Because of the nominees, it really was the Best Picture.

As for whether or not Gladiator was a “weak” Best Picture winner, that’s where I really have to draw a line. The Oscars are fun to second guess, especially after the fact. It’s whatever the movie-nerd version of Monday Morning Quarterbacking is, I suppose. Through our current cultural lens, maybe what hasn’t aged so well about the film—and this would be a hot take that I’d actually be interested in reading—is its glorification of a classic white male hero. That seems like a very 2020 idea to slap onto a 2000 film. Would we say the same thing about other past Best Picture winners such as Casablanca , On the Waterfront , or Lawrence of Arabia ? Arguing that Gladiator is somehow a “weak” Best Picture winner goes beyond subjectivity and into the realm of objective absurdity.

Of the 19 movies that have won Best Picture since Gladiator , I’d have to really stretch to find more than three that were better ( No Country for Old Men , Moonlight , maybe Parasite ? Maybe.) Compared to most of the others—an actually weak bunch that includes such flyweights as A Beautiful Mind , Chicago , Crash, Slumdog Millionaire , The King’s Speech , The Artist , and Green Book— Scott’s film feels like one of the most solid selections the Academy has made in the past two decades.

You may disagree about some of these movies. In fact, I’m sure you do. They all won, so they must have their partisans. But singling out Gladiator to dogpile on strikes me as the most craven form of clickbait mongering. Actually, I’d argue that it’s one of the rare popular blockbusters of the past 20 years that also happens to be capital-A Art. Then again, I may be biased. Since that first lonely viewing of the movie in that DreamWorks screening room two decades ago, I’ve probably rewatched Gladiator a dozen times. And while I now kind of find the whole slo-mo hand-through-the-wheat thing a bit hokey, yes, I am still very much entertained.

@media(max-width: 73.75rem){.css-1ktbcds:before{margin-right:0.4375rem;color:#FF3A30;content:'_';display:inline-block;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1ktbcds:before{margin-right:0.5625rem;color:#FF3A30;content:'_';display:inline-block;}} Movies

How to Watch the ‘Resident Evil’ Movies in Order

Check Out Daniel Craig’s New Look for Benoit Blanc

Paul Mescal Is Getting Swole for 'Gladiator 2'

The 50 Best LGBTQ Movies Ever Made

The 25 Sexiest Horror Movies of All Time

The Best Sci-Fi Films of 2024 (So Far)

The Best Book-to-Film Adaptations of 2024 (So Far)

The Best True-Story Movies of 2024 (So Far)

The Best Netflix Original Movies of 2024 (So Far)

I Know Exactly What ‘Hit Man 2’ Should Look Like

Every Richard Linklater Movie, Ranked

• Science & Math
• Sociology & Philosophy
• Law & Politics
• Gladiator (2000): Movie Summary
• Media & Art

In the movie, many things portrayed are the same as what really happened in Roman history. Some things though, are a little different in the actual history of Rome than in the movie. Scenes were changed in the movie too, to make the plot more interesting.

Maximus was the general of Rome and a really good general at that. He led Rome to many victories. He was so great and loyal that in the movie, Marcus Aurelius actually asked him to succeed him on the throne. When Commodus heard this from his father, he killed him and sentenced Maximus to death.

When Maximus escaped, he was picked up by a group of men and sold as a slave to become a gladiator. As a gladiator, he fought many different types of gladiators. Quicker ones had nets with tridents and slower ones had curved swords with shields.

There were some gladiators that even had chariots. In the actual history of Rome, there really were different types of gladiators. The gladiators with the net and trident were called the Retiarius. The gladiator with the curved sword and shield was called the Samnite. 

There’s a scene in the movie where it’s a one on one battle between Maximus and a champion gladiator. Maximus is barely armed and protected. The other man has two swords, a mask for protection, and heavy armor. This shows how each type of gladiator was to fight a different kind of gladiator so the match would be even and fair.

In the movie, Commodus is very sneaky and vengeful. He uses murder in his politics also. He killed his father, tried to kill Maximus, and even wanted to get rid of the senate in order for him to become a “true emperor.” He thinks the Senate is unneeded and believes himself to be more of a people’s person than the actual senators. In history, there was much murder in the government also. The Gracchi were murdered as well as Caesar. Commodus tries to assassinate and kill Maximus since Maximus is supposed to be the successor to the throne after Marcus Aurelius. In Roman History, the Romans never developed a formal policy of succession. Although many emperors named their successors, the Roman army often refused to accept the new emperors and assassinated them. This is what Commodus tried to do with Maximus in order for himself to become emperor and rule.

Gracchus wants the citizens of Rome to be happy in the movie and makes sure the emperor hears the problems and needs of the people when he councils with him. He even suggests possible solutions to the problems. He seems to be a people’s person very much and knows how some of the senators can be crooked. In Roman history, there were actually two Gracchis who were actually both murdered because they were disliked by crooked senators who used violence to get ahead. The real Gracchis wanted to help the citizens out also. They even used public funds to purchase grain to be sold to the poor at low prices so they can afford it. They also improved the political status of the equities (business and landowning people.)

Lucillia, the sister of Commodus, has a son named Lucius. Her son was named after his father who died in 169 A.D. His name was Lucius Veras. In the movie, she is portrayed as a widow, but, in real history, she remarries Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus Quintianus of Antioch. In the movie, she joins the plot for the good of the Roman people but she really participated in this plot because she lusted after power. She also supports her brother in the movie but was actually involved in a plot with her cousin to assassinate Commodus and raise her husband up as emperor. The plan was figured out and she was banished to the island of Capri. In the movie, it shows her as out-living her brother but she is actually executed at the island because he changed his mind.

Related Posts

• Braveheart (1995): Movie Summary & Review
• The Truman Show: Movie Summary & Review
• Falling Down (1993): Movie & Summary
• East is East Movie: Summary & Relationships
• Camila (1984): Movie & Summary

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Post comment

Improving writing skills since 2002

(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Gladiator movie.

• Word Count: 1340
• Approx Pages: 5
• View my Saved Essays
• Downloads: 37
• Grade level: High School
• Problems? Flag this paper!

             Gladiator is about the victorious and admired Roman General, Maximus Decimus Meridias. His only desire is to return home from battle to his wife and son. He has been away for over two years. But sadly, things are not that easy for Maximus. The Emperor of Rome, Marcus Aurelius sits on his death bed and tells that he would like Maximus to insure that Rome returns to public rule. This means taking temporary control of the Empire until the Roman Senate can get it together enough to take over. Maximus at first refuses, but ultimately agrees to wield the power when the emperor dies. .              The Emperor then tells his actual son Commodus about how he wishes his empire to be run, and that he would like Maximus to do it. Commodus becomes angry and hurt and then strangles his own father. Then proclaims himself the new Emperor. Maximus refuses to serve under the new emperor which sentences him and his family to death. Maximus kills the guards sent to kill him without struggle but finds he is too late to prevent the death of his wife and son.              Maximus is found in poor condition and taken as a slave for Proximo. Maximus and other slaves are trained to fight as a Gladiators. At first Maximus refuses but eventually learns that he must fight or die. Maximus becomes known as "Spaniard" by the slaves and crowds at the arenas. Because he has been at battle, unlike the others, he becomes an amazing gladiator. He fights his way to fame with new identity. .              Proximo's troupe is called to Rome to participate in a marathon of gladiator games held at the request of the new emperor Commodus. He has no idea that Maximus is a gladiator in this marathon, he believes he is dead. Maximus and the rest of the troupe get placed in a game that is sure death for them all, but Maximus takes on the leader position and they survive. The whole crowd is amazed, including the new Emperor Commodus. He insists on meeting the brave Spaniard.

• Page 1 of 4

Essays Related to Gladiator Movie

1. gladiator.

Gladiator Essay The movie Gladiator is a story about the Roman Empire back in 160 A.D. The movie contains some factual information. ... Back in the Roman empire gladiators were real. ... This was true in both the Gladiator movie and Roman history. ... In the movie Gladiator the decisions were made ' mostly by the Emperor. ...

• Word Count: 696
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

2. Gladiator

Determine if the movie "Gladiator" succeeded in depicting Roman and things Roman. "Gladiator" (DreamWorks) is arguably eh greatest movie depicting most precisely Rome and things Roman. ... This fact was depicted very obviously in the movie "Gladiator" when old Emperor Marcus Arelius was dying and going to give his throne to one successor. ... Not only depicting the political aspect, the movie "Gladiator" also illustrated cultural facet of the Roman world vividly. ... The best part of the movie about Roman culture was about the gladiators. ...

• Word Count: 577
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. Gladiator

The movie Gladiator is an epic tale of a Roman general who is betrayed by the Roman government who kills his family under the leadership by a corrupt Roman prince who is turned king, the roman general comes back as a gladiator to seek revenge on the prince turned king. ... Maximus escapes, only to be captured by slave traders who train him as a gladiator. ... In the movie there really wasn't any specific kids if economy except for when the king said he would collect taxes from the people to sponsor the gladiator event. ... The slave who became a gladiator. The gladiator who defie...

• Word Count: 964
• Approx Pages: 4

4. The Gladiator

Maximus (Russell Crowe) plays an important role in the movie. ... At the beginning of the movie, Maximus wins the victory of the battle. ... Based on the historical background and scenarios, this movie is authentic to me. ... There are certain techniques in the movie that I especially admire. ... Furthermore, the fights that appear in this movie are very authentic with the special affects....

• Word Count: 1635
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography

5. Movie Review - Gladiator

Gladiator is loosely based on real events that occurred within the Roman Empire in 180 AD. ... The movie's plot is simple. ... Another fascinating aspect of the movie is how Ridley treats the theme of democracy and afterlife. ... Another must-watch aspect of the movie is the powerful performances of the characters. ... Gladiator, in my opinion, deserves a 5-Star rating mainly because of its simple plot that encompasses a moving story of loss and revenge. ...

• Word Count: 875

6. Gladiator

The movie that I chose to watch that had a strong social theme was Gladiator. The movie was written and directed by Ridley Scott. Gladiator tells the story of Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius, played by Russell Crowe. ... Gladiator shows a man that has succeeded at a young age. ... Gladiator shows different forms of character. ...

• Word Count: 695

7. gladiator

Russell Crowe, who plays Maximus the Gladiator performed remarkably. ... As a slave Maximus is ordered to be a prizefighter, later to be known as the Gladiator. ... As the movie progressed the movie became more suspenseful, which made the two and a half-hour length feel as if time had quickly past by. Although everything about the movie was remarkable, the movie's storyline took a lot from Braveheart with Mel Gibson. ... It just made me feel as though Gladiator was using a little too much of Braveheart's scenes. ...

• Word Count: 391

8. Gladiator

A war film with the drama of love, virtues, and political ambitions, Gladiator is an epic movie that is not characterized by one genre but rather multiple ones. ... Ultimately, Maximus triumphs in the Coliseum and fulfills his destiny as "the general who became a slave, the slave who became a gladiator, and the gladiator who defied an emperor." ... The first ten minutes of the movie Maximus tells the Emperor that the men fought and died for "the glory of Rome," for Rome's imperialistic expansions. ... Throughout the movie Maximus proves to be a leader by gaining the peoples support not o...

• Word Count: 1374

9. Historical accuracy of The Gladiator

Essay There are many similarities and differences in the movie The Gladiator and in the real Ancient Rome civilization. ... The gladiator games that are portrayed in the movie existed in ancient Roman culture as well. ... The Gladiator games are also portrayed accurately. ... The brutality is accurately depicted in the movie. ... The emperor also did give the signal as to whether or not a gladiator was to be spared. ...

• Word Count: 333
• Approx Pages: 1

Russell Crowe Says He’s ‘Slightly Uncomfortable’ With ‘Gladiator 2’: ‘There’s Definitely a Tinge of Melancholy’ and ‘Jealousy’

By Ellise Shafer

Ellise Shafer

• Kate Middleton Announces First Public Appearance Since Cancer Diagnosis at Trooping the Colour Event: ‘I Am Making Good Progress’ 4 days ago
• ‘Interview With the Vampire’ Director on Casting Tom Cruise Over Daniel Day-Lewis and the Backlash That Followed: ‘The Entire World’ Said ‘You Are Miscast’ 4 days ago
• Russell Brand’s Alleged Inappropriate Behavior on Endemol Shows Was Tolerated as ‘Russell Being Russell’ and Not ‘Adequately Addressed,’ Banijay Report Finds 4 days ago

Russell Crowe has admitted that he’s “slightly uncomfortable” with the fact that Ridley Scott is making a sequel to “ Gladiator .”

Related Stories

Xbox dominated summer game fest — but game pass remains tricky bet, will smith thanks his supporters for sticking with him at 'bad boys 4' premiere: 'the fans are ride or die', popular on variety.

The 60-year-old actor — who after “Gladiator” went on to star in “Master and Commander,” Scott’s “Robin Hood” and “Les Misérables” — added that the forthcoming new installment has caused him to look back on his career.

“I reflect back on the age I was when I made that film and all the things that came after it and the doors that particular movie opened for me,” he said. “So there’s definitely a tinge — and this is just being purely honest — a tinge of melancholy, a tinge of jealousy. Because I remember when I had tendons.”

Despite his apparently decaying tendons, Crowe is in post-production on four films: horror movie “The Exorcism,” Marvel’s “Kraven the Hunter” starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, the biopic of painter Mark Rothko titled “Rothko” and historical drama “Nuremberg.”

Watch the full interview with Crowe here .

More from Variety

From post-apocalyptic wastelands to underground silos: composers for ‘fallout,’ ‘silo’ and more sci-fi series on taking cues from otherworldly settings, luminate streaming ratings: ‘hit man’ is the biggest title of the week with 1.5 billion minutes watched june 7-13, luminate streaming ratings: ‘eric’ and ‘dancing for the devil’ lead as ‘bridgerton’ slightly subsides may 31-june 6, the ad market is not ready for the imminent streaming sports boom, luminate streaming ratings: all three ‘bridgerton’ seasons were the most-watched titles may 17-23, more from our brands, what is walmart plus everything to know about walmart’s membership club, millionaires are expected to leave the u.k. in droves this year: report, judge pushes diamond sports, leagues to end disclosure fight, the best loofahs and body scrubbers, according to dermatologists, a knight of the seven kingdoms adds true detective, fargo actors to cast — plus: see first photo of dunk, verify it's you, please log in.

Home — Essay Samples — Entertainment — Movie Review — Historical Accuracy Of The Movie Gladiator

Historical Accuracy of The Movie Gladiator

• Categories: Movie Review

About this sample

Words: 559 |

Published: Mar 14, 2024

Words: 559 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr. Karlyna PhD

Verified writer

• Expert in: Entertainment

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

2 pages / 1073 words

2 pages / 843 words

2 pages / 699 words

3 pages / 1458 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Movie Review

As the saying goes, “Beauty is only skin deep.” Elle Woods, in the film Legally Blonde, fulfills the proverb beautifully. The film debuted in 2001 during a time when feminism was not as notable as it is today; the early 2000s [...]

Exploring the intricate layers of societal interactions and human behavior, the analysis of societal dynamics in "Train to Busan" sheds light on the complex web of relationships that emerge in the face of adversity. This essay [...]

Psychological disorders are more commonly diagnosed in today’s society. Years ago, a psychological disorder was easily overlooked. In today’s society, it is easier to tell if someone has a psychological disorder because of all [...]

The Blind Side is a movie based on the true story of Michael Oher, who was once the offensive lineman of the Baltimore Ravens’. Michael Oher, a black teenager, grew up in an impoverished part of Memphis known as the “projects”. [...]

A heart-warming story about how a little hard work and friendship can change a life; The Ultimate Gift shows even the most stubborn can change. Through the ups and downs you follow Jason through the 12 quests that his late [...]

“Man of Steel” by director Zack Snyder is a Hollywood blockbuster released in 2013 that tells a story of one of the most famous superheroes ever: Superman. This movie was filmed as a re-launch of the DC Comics franchise, and [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

• Cast & crew

Gladiator 2

Follows Lucius, the son of Maximus's love Lucilla, after Maximus's death. Follows Lucius, the son of Maximus's love Lucilla, after Maximus's death. Follows Lucius, the son of Maximus's love Lucilla, after Maximus's death.

• Ridley Scott
• David Scarpa
• Denzel Washington
• Pedro Pascal
• Connie Nielsen

• Emperor Geta

• Emperor Caracalla

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

New and Upcoming Action Movies & Series

More like this

Technical specs

• Dolby Atmos
• Dolby Digital
• 12-Track Digital Sound
• Dolby Surround 7.1
• IMAX 6-Track

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• See more gaps
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed.

site categories

Mike flanagan ‘exorcist’ movie gets release date via universal, breaking news.

Russell Crowe Says He’s “Slightly Uncomfortable” With ‘Gladiator’ Sequel: “A Couple Of Things I’ve Heard I’m Like – No, No, No”

By Armando Tinoco

Armando Tinoco

Night & Weekend Editor

More Stories By Armando

• ‘Homicide: Life On The Street’ Coming To Streaming, David Simon Says
• Hannah Berner’s ‘We Ride At Dawn’ Comedy Special Gets Premiere Date On Netflix
• Jonathan Groff Breaks Down In Tears After Tony Awards Win, Tells Daniel Radcliffe & Lindsay Mendez: “You Are More Than Old Friends, You Are Soulmates”

Russell Crowe is sharing his thoughts on the Gladiator sequel, which will drop in theaters later this year.

The actor starred in the 2000 Ridley Scott film but is not part of the sequel as his character, the Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius, died. Crowe doesn’t seem particularly thrilled that the film is getting a sequel 24 years later.

Related Stories

Ridley Scott Has Been Editing 90 Minutes Of ‘Gladiator 2’ Amid Strikes, Footage Includes A Baboon Fight Scene

Russell Crowe Comments On ‘Gladiator’ Sequel & Says He’s “Slightly Jealous”

He continued, “It does, in a funny way — I reflect back: the age I was when I made that film and all the things that came after it, the doors that particular movie opened for me. This is just me being purely honest: there’s definitely a tinge of melancholy, a tinge of jealousy.” He then quipped, “I remember when I had tendons.”

This is not the first time that Crowe weighs in on Gladiator 2 . In an interview in 2023, he said he was “slightly jealous” he was not part of the sequel.

RELATED: ‘Gladiator II’ First Look Gets Thumbs Up & Loud Cheers From Exhibs At CinemaCon

“The only thing that I really feel about it is slightly jealous, you know? Because I was a much younger man, obviously, and it was a huge experience in my life,” he told Collider . “It’s something that changed my life, really. It changed the way people regarded me and what I do for a living, and, you know, I’ve been very lucky to be involved in lots of big movies, but the legs on that film are incredible.”

Crowe said the film “holds a special place in my heart” as it has had “longevity,” something that not every film has.

The  Gladiator  sequel is set years after the original film and has Mescal taking over the role of Lucius that Spencer Treat Clark portrayed in the 2000 movie. In the follow-up, Mescal plays the role of Lucius, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and the nephew of Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix).

Must Read Stories

‘merrily we roll along’ being filmed by same company that did ‘hamilton’ pic.

Scores Pixar’s 2nd-Best Monday & Eyes $70M Frame; List Of Broken Records

‘brats’ docu has carl kurlander thinking again about ‘st. elmo’s fire’, discovery pauses ‘naked & afraid xl’ filming for “creative refresh”.

Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy.

Read More About:

Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

• Stranger Things Season 5
• Deadpool and Wolverine
• The Batman 2
• Spider-Man 4
• Yellowstone Season 6
• Fallout Season 2
• The Last of Us Season 2
• Entertainment

Gladiator 2: release date, cast, plot, trailer, and more

In 2000, director Ridley Scott introduced Maximus Decimus Meridius to the world in Gladiator . The historical epic starred Russell Crowe as Maximus, a Roman general sold into slavery after being betrayed by Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the Emperor’s power-hungry son. Maximus becomes a gladiator and vows to exact his revenge on Commodus for killing his family. Gladiator  was the second-highest-grossing film of 2000 and won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe.

• When is Gladiator 2’s release date?

Who is in the Gladiator 2 cast?

Who does denzel washington play in gladiator 2, what is gladiator 2 about, who is writing and directing gladiator 2, are russell crowe and joaquin phoenix involved in gladiator 2, is there a trailer for gladiator 2.

• Early Gladiator 2 footage has ‘blown execs away’
• Gladiator 2’s budget reportedly exceeds $300 million

Can you stream Gladiator 2?

Will there be a sequel to gladiator 2, gladiator 2 at cinemacon 2024, early word on gladiator 2 after test screening is good, new images from reshoots.

Twenty-four years later, Scott returns to the arena of blood and sand with his long-awaited sequel, Gladiator 2 . The film will follow an adult Lucius Verus, son of Lucilla and nephew of Commodus. Gladiator 2 is one of the most anticipated films on the 2024 calendar. Below, we explore everything you need to know about Gladiator 2, including the release date, cast, synopsis, and trailer.

When is Gladiator 2’s release date?

Gladiator 2  is scheduled to be released theatrically on November 22, 2024 . Paramount Pictures will distribute the film in the U.S., while Universal Pictures will handle international distribution. Filming wrapped in January 2024, so Gladiator 2  should make its November 2024 release date.

• Everything you need to know about Severance season 2
• The Batman 2: release date, plot, cast, trailer
• Everything you need to know about The Night Agent season 2

Paul Mescal headlines Gladiator 2  as Lucius Verus, a character originated by Spencer Treat Clark in Gladiator . Initial reports stated Mescal would be playing Lucius. However, the first CinemaCon trailer did not confirm that Mescal’s character was Lucius. Instead, Variety described the character as a ” nobleman who renounced his privilege.” We’ll have to wait for further confirmation to see the name of Mescal’s character.

Mescal is best known for his Emmy-nominated role of Connell Waldron in Normal People  and his Oscar-nominated role of Calum Paterson in Aftersun . Predominantly known for starring in independent features,  Gladiator 2 is the biggest film of Mescal’s young career.

Scott mentioned how Mescal’s breakout role in Normal People  convinced him to cast the Irish actor in his Gladiator sequel.

“Can I see Paul Mescal being as big as Russell Crowe? For sure,” Scott told Total Film in October 2023. “I watched Normal People . It’s not my kind of show, but I saw four episodes in a row – boom, boom, boom. I was thinking, ‘Who the hell is this Paul Mescal?’ And then I watched the whole series. And then, suddenly, Gladiator 2 came up because the script was working pretty well. And I kept thinking about Paul. And that was it.”

Exclusive: Ridley Scott tells Total Film that he couldn’t stop thinking about Paul Mescal after watching Normal People, so he cast him in Gladiator 2 https://t.co/zFWLl0OTnV — Total Film (@totalfilm) October 6, 2023

Denzel Washington will star alongside Mescal as a former gladiator who earned his freedom and became a wealthy arms and commodities dealer. However, Washington’s character still holds a grudge against the emperors. Additional cast members include Joseph Quinn as co-emperor Caracalla, Fred Hechinger as co-emperor Geta, Pedro Pascal, May Calamawy, Lior Raz, Peter Mensah, and Matt Lucas. Hechinger’s role originally belonged to Barry Keoghan, but the Saltburn   actor dropped out because of scheduling issues.

Two actors reprising their roles from Gladiator  in the sequel are Connie Nielsen as Lucilla, Lucius’s mother, and Derek Jacobi as Senator Gracchus, an ally of Lucilla and Maximus. Djimon Hounsou was set to return for the sequel as Juba but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts.

Although Mescal is the movie’s lead, there has been a huge amount of interest about who Washington might be playing in the film, in large part because of his incredible career in Hollywood. Although most details of Washington’s character have been kept under wraps, Ridley Scott revealed a few things when discussing him with  Total Film .

He plays a former slave who has become a wealthy arms dealer, but still harbors a grudge against the Roman Empire. “There were businesses of gladiators who could indeed earn their freedom if they stayed alive,” Scott said. “That was the deal. So we went right into that, in-depth. Where did he come from? How was he taken? He was branded with marks and registered with a brand on his chest as a slave. So that’s how he comes into the story. He’s a rich guy who’s still carrying a grudge.”

Ridley Scott gives us an inside scoop on Paul Mescal's role as Lucius in #Gladiator2 . pic.twitter.com/iWIKDY73gl — Rotten Tomatoes (@RottenTomatoes) November 26, 2023

Gladiator 2  will follow an older Lucius about 15 years after Gladiator . Most of the plot details have been kept under wraps; however, Scott explained to Rotten Tomatoes what Lucius has been up to since  Gladiator .

“[Lucius] has been out in the wilderness for … let’s see, we last saw him when he was 12,” Scott said. “It’s about 12, 15 years later, he’s been out in the wilderness, having lost touch with his mother. His mother lost touch with him. She doesn’t know where he is. She thinks he might be dead.”

Paul Mescal was reticent to offer any additional details but added that he was excited about the project.

“I can’t tell you how stressed I am talking about that film in particular because it’s definitely the biggest one I’ve done,” he explained. “I feel really excited, but it’s difficult to get away from the legacy of the film a bit… I think it’s really well written and it pays homage to the first one, but it’s very much something that I think I can step into and make comfortably my own.”

Ridley Scott says ‘GLADIATOR 2’ will feature Paul Mescal’s character fighting a pack of baboons after he became haunted by a video showing a real baboon attack in South Africa: “Can you hang from that roof for two hours by your left leg? No! A baboon can.”… pic.twitter.com/oeRKNNafQL — Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) November 8, 2023

In a profile with The New Yorker , Scott revealed that  Gladiator 2  will feature a scene where Mescal’s character fights a group of vicious baboons.

The profile reads: “In the meantime, he’d [Scott] been polishing the 90 minutes he had, including a scene in which the hero fights a pack of baboons; he’d been haunted, he said, by a video of baboons attacking tourists in Johannesburg: ‘Baboons are carnivores. Can you hang from that roof for two hours by your left leg? No! A baboon can.’”

Gladiator 2  is directed by Scott from a screenplay by David Scarpa. Scott and Scarpa previously teamed on 2017’s All the Money in the World and 2023’s Napoleon . Scott will produce  Gladiator 2  alongside Michael Pruss, Douglas Wick, Lucy Fisher, and David Franzoni. Scott received an Oscar nomination for Best Director for Gladiator .

Crowe and Phoenix are not expected to reprise their roles of Maximus and Commodus for the sequel because both men die at the end of Gladiator . Maximus kills Commodus in a duel at the Coliseum. However, Maximus succumbs to his wounds shortly after. Maximus and Commodus could appear in archival footage. Also, Crowe or Phoenix could have filmed a secret cameo for a flashback sequence, but there have been no reports of their involvement.

At one point, there were plans to resurrect Maximus for a potential sequel, but those plans now seem to be off the table. The original version of Gladiator 2 would have seen Maximus coming back from the River Styx, but the script has evolved since then, and is apparently now much more grounded.

“I said, ‘We can bring him back this way,'” Scott explained on the ReelBlend podcast. “‘And what I want to do is start the film in Styx, on the edge of the ocean , and you see him, this warrior, wandering in armor. Then, it’s Maximus wandering, looking for where he’s going to go next. That’s Scene One.’”

As of January 2024, there is no trailer for  Gladiator 2 . With a November 2024 release, expect a  Gladiator 2  trailer to premiere this spring or summer. It might be a good idea to monitor A Quiet Place: Day One,  one of the most anticipated horror movies of 2024 , which hits theaters on June 28.

Studios love to run trailers from their upcoming projects in front of their own films. Gladiator 2  and  A Quiet Place: Day One are both from Paramount movies, so do not be surprised if a trailer for the Gladiator  sequel premieres in June.

Early Gladiator 2 footage has ‘blown execs away’

Gladiator 2 first reactions: ‘Blown away’ by Ridley Scott sequel starring Paul Mescal https://t.co/hG4jsKTLpw #gladiator2 #paulmescal pic.twitter.com/g9Je0mFZEc — Daily Express (@Daily_Express) February 22, 2024

Gladiator 2 wrapped production earlier this year. While no images or trailers have surfaced online, Paramount executives have seen some early footage. In February 2024, Deadline reported that Scott had signed on to direct a Bee Gees movie for Paramount. The report included a small but promising update about Gladiator 2 .

Justin Kroll of Deadline wrote, “Scott recently wrapped production on the sequel to his smash hit Gladiator  and, according to sources, early footage has blown execs away.”

Gladiator 2’s budget reportedly exceeds $300 million

Rambling Roundup: Ridley Scott’s Very Expensive Roman Holiday https://t.co/NLIHc0AZDO — The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 23, 2024

Due to the size and scale of the project, Gladiator  2 was always going to be expensive. However, The Hollywood Reporter revealed Scott’s sequel went “wildly over budget.” Initially priced at $165 million, the report states Gladiator 2’s  budget “ballooned to something closer to $310 million.” However, Paramount insiders “insist” that the net cost of the shoot was under $250 million. Reasons behind the high budget include claims of animal abuse, delays caused by the Hollywood strikes, and on-set accidents.

Gladiator 2  will be released theatrically in November 2024. It will not be a day-and-date release on a streaming service. When  Gladiator 2 does hit streaming, it will wind up on  Paramount+ .

There are no plans for a Gladiator 3 as of March 2024. Considering it will be 24 years between the two films, Paramount will likely want to see how Gladiator 2  does at the box office before determining the franchise’s future.

CinemaCon is an annual convention where the year’s big movies are shown to exhibitors. This year, Gladiator 2 is expected to have a presence, and the promo signs below show that the movie will be one of the highlights of this convention.

#Gladiator2 sets up at Caesars Palace ahead of #CinemaCon2024 . https://t.co/ACpJB0JMZy pic.twitter.com/lAfzgpfXps — Variety (@Variety) April 8, 2024

"What we do in life echoes in eternity" 11.22.24 #Gladiator2 #CinemaCon2024 #CinemaCon #Vegas #Caesars pic.twitter.com/aW26QAu53m — Malco Theatres (@malcotheatres) April 9, 2024

On April 11, Paramount showed the first footage of  Gladiator 2  to audience members at CinemaCon. Mescal’s character is a nobleman who renounces his privilege and fights as a gladiator. The action-packed trailer features Mescal fighting a rhino and a horde of baboons. Mescal also squares off with Pascal’s character. Lurking in the shadows through the video is Washington’s character, who looks to use Mescal’s warrior as a catalyst for the fall of the Roman Empire.

The first footage from #Gladiator2 is shown by Paramount at #CinemaCon : "I remember that day. I never forgot it. That a slave could take revenge against an emperor," says Paul Mescal's character. A boat battle is seen taking place in the Colosseum. Paul Mescal and other… pic.twitter.com/XXc4UGjjBb — The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) April 11, 2024

Ridley Scott's GLADIATOR II test-screened in Vegas. The cut shown was 2 hours 40 minutes and was described as "thrilling" and "Oscar-worthy". Connie Nielsen, Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington are said to be the standouts. https://t.co/147WHvWiv2 pic.twitter.com/Kjvdscm0iu — Reel Updates (@worldofreel) April 25, 2024

According to World of Reel’s Jordan Ruimy,   Gladiator 2 screened in Las Vegas on April 24. Early word on the 2-hour-and-40-minute cut was “good,” with Washington and Nielson cited as the two breakout performances. Ruimy’s report also states that Pascal plays Mescal’s stepfather. When Pascal’s character is sent to battle, the wife and mother of Mescal’s character are murdered.

“The new characters are strong. Mescal’s performance is said to be subdued, but effective,” Ruimy wrote. “The standouts seems to be Connie Nielsen who does a ‘great job,’ very emotional and beautiful work on her part, and, according to an attendee, she could potentially get Oscar-nominated for her work here. Washington, as the shadowy operator, manipulating everything, is deviously brilliant. Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger ( The White Lotus ) are said to be entertaining standouts as well — chewing up the scenery in their spoiled-rich kid roles.”

Ruimy’s source relayed that the film looks “nearly done” with only a few edits left. The gladiator scenes were “very entertaining,” similar to the terrific fight sequences in  Gladiator .

Gladiator 2 is still filming! That’s right, the production resumed activity to fit in several weeks of reshoots, so, of course, several photographers captured the on-location activity.

Roman legionary extras at Devil's Dyke, Brighton in Sussex for the Gladiator II reshoots this weekend: #Gladiator2 #PaulMescal pic.twitter.com/KpuH8vekE3 — The Ridley Scott Archives (@RidleyScottArch) June 11, 2024

In the images above, the scene appears to be a massive battle involving Roman soldiers. The last image of the man riding away on a horse appears to be Denzel Washington’s character, although nothing has been confirmed as of yet.

Paul Mescal on the set of Ridley Scott’s ‘GLADIATOR 2’ pic.twitter.com/At0IOLEOsS — best of paul mescal (@bestofmescal) June 11, 2024

The other images showcase Mescal’s Lucius Verus character in full Roman costume, complete with dirt and blood from a head wound. This is the first time we’ve seen a good image of Mescal in full costume, and to be honest, it closely resembles the look and feel of Russell Crowe in the original Gladiator . This is a good thing, and makes the sequel even more of a hotly anticipated movie later in 2024.

Editors' Recommendations

• Venom 3: release date, plot, cast, trailer, and more
• Everything you need to know about Andor season 2
• Everything you need to know about Hobbs & Shaw 2
• Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga: release date, plot, cast, trailer, and more

Kevin Costner recently unveiled the first look at his upcoming multipart Western Horizon: An American Saga. However, for the vast majority of Yellowstone fans, the only saga they want is the conclusion of the Dutton family's story and a glimpse of what comes next. Costner reinvigorated his career by headlining Yellowstone as John Dutton, but his clashes with Paramount Network and showrunner Taylor Sheridan have left Costner's future with the franchise in question.

Although we're still several months away from the return of the series, we're sharing everything we know about Yellowstone season 5, part 2. And we'll keep updating this post when anything newsworthy comes up. Will Kevin Costner return for Yellowstone season 5, part 2?

Peacemaker, the unexpected Max hit that premiered in early 2022 and surprised everyone with its irreverent humor and heartwarming approach, will return for a second season. Peacemaker (John Cena) is the breakout character from James Gunn's The Suicide Squad, and the show has taken the character to the next level and effectively turned what was a D-list DC villain into a bona fide star.

Although not much is known about Peacemaker season 2, one thing is for sure: Fans can expect more of the wacky, violent, and subversive humor that made the show's first season such a hit to begin with. Still, there have been a few tidbits about the show's status from Gunn, Cena, and others, so here's everything we know about the upcoming season of Peacemaker. Who is Peacemaker?

Summer is getting off to a slow start on Hulu, at least in regard to sci-fi movies. There just aren't that many fresh options to watch this month, and two of them are already on this list. Hulu's third science fiction addition in June, The Day After Tomorrow, just wasn't good as Roland Emmerich's other signature sci-fi disaster film, Independence Day. That said, we would have preferred to save Independence Day as one of our picks for the best movies to watch on the Fourth of July.

Our remaining choices for the three sci-fi movies on Hulu that you have to watch in June include an indie flick starring Karen Gillan -- twice! -- and a sci-fi/fantasy comedy from the '80s. Dual (2022)

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

A Chinese military buff inadvertently bought 4 books of military secrets for under $1

FILE - Military delegates chat before the closing session of the National People’s Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Monday, March 11, 2024. Chinese state media said Thursday, June 13, 2024, that a military history buff found a collection of confidential documents related to the country’s military in a pile of old papers he bought for under $1. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

A man past by a mural calling for Military Civilian Unity in Beijing, Thursday, June 13, 2024. Chinese state media say that a military history buff found a collection of confidential documents related to the country’s military in a pile of old papers he bought for under $1. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

A municipal worker collects scrap cardboard near a mural calling for Military and Civilian Unity in Beijing, Thursday, June 13, 2024. Chinese state media say that a military history buff found a collection of confidential documents related to the country’s military in a pile of old papers he bought for under $1. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

• Copy Link copied

BEIJING (AP) — A military history buff in China appears to have made an alarming discovery after picking up four discarded books for less than $1 at a neighborhood recycling station: They were confidential military documents.

The country’s Ministry of State Security told the story in a social media post on Thursday, praising the retired man for calling a hotline to report the incident. It identified him only by his family name, Zhang, and did not say what the documents were about.

“Mr. Zhang thought to himself that he had ‘bought’ the country’s military secrets and brought them home,” the post reads, “but if someone with ulterior motives were to buy them, the consequences would be unimaginable!”

The post, which was reposted on at least two popular Chinese news websites, was the latest in a series by the powerful state security agency that appears to be trying to draw in new audiences with dramatic stories. Some have been told in comic-book style.

The campaign seems designed to raise awareness of the importance of national security at a time when confrontation with the U.S. is rising and both countries are increasingly worried about the possible theft or transfer of confidential and secret information.

The post describes Zhang as a former employee of a state-owned company who likes to collect military newspapers and periodicals. It says he found two bags of new books at the recycling station and paid 6 yuan (about 85 cents) for four of them.

State security agents rushed to the station after Zhang reported what had happened, the post says. After an investigation, they found that two military employees charged with shredding more than 200 books instead got rid of them by selling them to a recycling center as paper waste — 30 kilograms (65 pounds) in all — for about 20 yuan ($2.75).

The agents seized the books and the military has closed loopholes in the handling of such material, the post says.

China’s opaque state security bodies and legal system often make it difficult to tell what is considered a state secret.

Chinese and foreign consultancies operating within the country have been placed under investigation for possessing or sharing information about the economy in an apparent broadening of the definition of a state secret in recent years.

Associated Press video producer Penny Wang in Bangkok and researcher Wanqing Chen in Beijing contributed.

Film Studies: Historical Relevance of the ‘Gladiator’ Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

The gladiator (2000) is a movie whose setting occurs in the 180 A.D. It instigated with General Maximus leading the fight with the Germans where they emerged victorious. The ruler of the empire named Marcus Aurelius who was ailing in turn offered him the position of a Caesar. The patriarch was well aware of Maximus kind and fair character as well as the ability to restore authority in the Senate.

In fact, Maximus was known for eradicating corruption in the kingdom. Conversely, Commodus his son possessed qualities exactly opposite to those of Maximus and would easily lead the empire astray. Aurelius intended to hand over the empire to Maximus against the traditions as the throne was perceived to be hereditary.

Commodus got wind of this and despite the utter rage kills of his father, he ordered for the execution of Maximus. However, Maximus was a trained fighter and as a result managed to fight off his intended assassins but arrived home too late to save his family. He is later secured as a slave and compelled to fight as a gladiator where he eventually became a force to reckon with. Using his political advantage, he arranged for Commodus overthrowing in a fight which served as the movie climax.

Although gladiator is a wonderful entertainment source of action for movie lovers, it is meant to shed light on the Roman Empire as it existed in 180 A.D. In this bold attempt it has accurately conveyed some aspects while others have been exaggerated. For instance, much of the general perceptions made such as the existence of gladiators and a hereditary empire were actually true.

However, the Roman Empire began as a monarchy before transforming into a republic. As portrayed in the movie, Emperor Marcus Aurelius was indeed the patriarch in 180 A.D and had a son named Commodus. There was no particular General known as Maximus although the possibility of the existence of such a character cannot be totally disputed. The movie asserts that Commodus killed his father but in reality the emperor materialized to have died of plague that befell the empire during that time.

While the emperor was not a friend of the Germans, there was no such great battle as depicted by the opining scene of the movie. In fact, the battle for the German conquest had been forfeited almost two centuries before the date implied in the movie. Some of the equipment used in this battle like the Onager helped in bringing down large buildings and not necessarily in the open fields as depicted in the movie. Thus, they might have been incorporated to create the loud explosions characterized by modern day movies. This was intended to attract more clients and increase returns.

Though Commodus had ill traits as depicted in the movie, he did not secure the throne forcefully from his father. As a matter of fact, Aurelius had named him Caesar when he was a small boy and proceeded to name him heir of the Roman throne while still a teenager. Commodus occasionally fought in the gladiators’ arena but was never slain in it. It is believed that he was strangled by Narcissus while bathing.

Even though Senator Gracchus purported the existence of a senate that represented the people in the Roman History, no such organization existed. What existed was a group of hereditary aristocrats who were mere puppets of the top administration. The gladiator is however accurate in depicting Aurelius reign as the only time when the Roman Empire was headed for success.

The movie was definitely appealing to the modern generations as it has five awards. Nevertheless, various alterations made changed the reason for the entire movie. Indeed, it speaks volumes about us than it does about the Romans.

• "The Fall of the Roman Empire" by Anthony Mann
• Circus Maximus in Rome
• Putting the Incompatible Elements Together: Avatar Meets Gladiator
• “Wondrous Oblivion” by Paul Morrison Film Study
• X-Men: Days of the Future Past
• "Let the Right One in" by Thomas Alfredson
• Jungian Archetypes in “The Enemy” Film Analysis
• “Godzilla” by Roland Emmerich Film Analysis
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2020, April 29). Film Studies: Historical Relevance of the ‘Gladiator’. https://ivypanda.com/essays/film-studies-historical-relevance-of-the-gladiator/

"Film Studies: Historical Relevance of the ‘Gladiator’." IvyPanda , 29 Apr. 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/film-studies-historical-relevance-of-the-gladiator/.

IvyPanda . (2020) 'Film Studies: Historical Relevance of the ‘Gladiator’'. 29 April.

IvyPanda . 2020. "Film Studies: Historical Relevance of the ‘Gladiator’." April 29, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/film-studies-historical-relevance-of-the-gladiator/.

1. IvyPanda . "Film Studies: Historical Relevance of the ‘Gladiator’." April 29, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/film-studies-historical-relevance-of-the-gladiator/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Film Studies: Historical Relevance of the ‘Gladiator’." April 29, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/film-studies-historical-relevance-of-the-gladiator/.