After the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, his devious son takes power and demotes Maximus, one of Rome's most capable generals who Marcus preferred. Eventually, Maximus is forced to become a gladiator and battle to the death against other men for the amusement of paying audiences.

Gladiator poster

Gladiator (2000)

What we do in life echoes in eternity.

★ 8.2/10 May 4, 2000 155 min

ActionAdventureDrama

Director: Ridley Scott  ·  Writers: David Franzoni, John Logan, William Nicholson

After the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, his devious son takes power and demotes Maximus, one of Rome's most capable generals who Marcus preferred. Eventually, Maximus is forced to become a gladiator and battle to the death against other men for the amusement of paying audiences.

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Trailer

Director

Ridley Scott Ridley Scott

Cast

Russell Crowe Russell Crowe Maximus Joaquin Phoenix Joaquin Phoenix Commodus Connie Nielsen Connie Nielsen Lucilla Oliver Reed Oliver Reed Proximo Richard Harris Richard Harris Marcus Aurelius Derek Jacobi Derek Jacobi Gracchus Djimon Hounsou Djimon Hounsou Juba David Schofield David Schofield Falco John Shrapnel John Shrapnel Gaius Tomas Arana Tomas Arana Quintus Ralf Moeller Ralf Moeller Hagen Spencer Treat Clark Spencer Treat Clark Lucius

User Reviews (6)

Eky
Eky July 13, 2012
★ 10/10

Gladiator has been my most favorite film of all time. It is an epic masterpiece in many ways and it really explains why despite the numerous viewings, Gladiator still amuses me with its powerful imageries and many other crucial aspects so that it won five Academy Awards. This film is very well written, the well-ensemble casts, the A-class acting (especially Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix), the stunning cinematography and definitely a strong character of Maximus (magnificently portrayed by Russell Crowe) whose life, struggle, disappointment and anger really move the audience, as if the world attention centers on him. Gladiator is not a historical film, because it only used the history of the ancient Roman Empire merely as the time setting. All other aspects namely those gorgeous shots, the great storyline/plot, the fantastic cinematography, the vividly lavish colors, detailed producti…

John Chard
John Chard August 10, 2014
★ 10/10

They said you were a giant. They said you can crush a man's skull with one hand. Ridley Scott's Gladiator is not a perfect film, I would think that the hardiest of fans, of which I'm firmly one, know this deep down. Yet just like Commodus in the film is keen to point out that he himself has other virtues that are worthy, so does Gladiator the film. Enough in fact to make it an everlasting favourite of genre fans and worthy of the Academy Award acknowledgements it received. In narrative terms the plot and story arc is simplicity supreme, something Scott and Russell Crowe have never shied away from. There has to my knowledge as well, never been a denial of the debt Gladiator owes to Anthony Mann's 1964 Epic, The Fall of the Roman Empire. Some folk seem very irritated by this, which is strange because the makers of Gladiator were not standing up bold as brass to proclaim they were uni…

Kowalczyk
Kowalczyk August 12, 2018
★ 8/10

Ridley Scott's Gladiator is a real masterpiece of its genre. With its unique battle scenes, cinematography, acting and directing. It's a real must-watch. Shame on you if you haven't watched this movie!

CinemaSerf
CinemaSerf April 18, 2023
★ 8/10

This has got just about everything from "Spartacus" (1960) to "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" (1964) via a bit of "Quo Vadis" (1951) to it - and Ridley Scott has managed to create a magnificent spectacle of a film. Russell Crowe is the eponymous soldier "Maximus". Commander of the Armies of the Rhine for Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) and his designated successor - until, that is, the emperor's son "Commodus" (Joaquin Phoenix) and his sister "Lucilla" (an efficient Connie Nielsen) arrive and suddenly it's all change at the top. Betrayed and left for dead, our hero must now make other shifts if he is to survive in his new world - controlled by slave-owning "Proximo" (Oliver Reed) and deliver him of vengeance on his new Imperial nemesis. The film looks great, the cast - including some some strong supporting efforts from Sir Derek Jacobi, John Shrapnel, Djimon Hounsou and T…

Prodank
Prodank September 20, 2023
★ 10/10

Deleted

kodkuce
kodkuce December 31, 2024
★ 10/10

An epic old movie, an absolute must watch. Even now, I can’t resist running my hands over tall plants whenever I pass by them