Gladiator
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.
May 4, 2000 · Directed by Ridley Scott
What's been said
Viewers and critics broadly embraced Gladiator as one of the great historical epics of the modern era, with most agreeing it revitalized an entire genre of Hollywood filmmaking. The most consistent praise centers on Russell Crowe's commanding, star-making performance as Maximus, Joaquin Phoenix's memorable turn as Commodus, the visceral arena sequences, and the iconic Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard score, all working together to create an immersive and emotionally gripping spectacle. The most recurring criticism is a weak and simplistic screenplay: critics and reviewers alike pointed to thin characterization, historical inaccuracies, and a straightforward good-vs.-evil scenario that the film's grand scale cannot fully obscure. A notable behind-the-scenes fact that became part of the film's legend is that actor Oliver Reed died of a heart attack mid-production during a drinking contest with sailors in Malta, forcing the filmmakers to complete his remaining scenes using a body double and pioneering CGI facial replacement at a cost of over three million dollars.
Will you actually like it?
Answer a few quick questions and we'll predict how much you'll like this movie, not whether critics did. Each one targets something this film specifically leans into, where viewers tend to split. We think these are the questions that will best help predict how well it will align with you.
Where to watch
Trailer
