Gladiator

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Gladiator

R

2000

2h 34m

History

Drama

Adventure

Action

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Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

265 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) takes power and strips rank from Maximus (Russell Crowe), one of the favored generals of his predecessor and father, Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the great stoical philosopher. Maximus is then relegated to fighting to the death in the gladiator arenas.

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Critics Consensus

While not everyone will be entertained by Gladiator's glum revenge story, Russell Crowe thunderously wins the crowd with a star-making turn that provides Ridley Scott's opulent resurrection of Rome its bruised heart.

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Adam Nayman

The Ringer

Nov 21, 2024

The same sturdy conventionality that made Gladiator a hit means that it’s built to last without standing particularly tall. With apologies to Ridley Scott, it holds up fine without echoing into eternity.

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Stephen Hunter

Washington Post

Nov 2, 2022

It is an honorable movie, so are they all honorable movies. But that's not enough. It's not great. It's a disappointment. Caesar hates disappointment, so kill it swiftly and be done.

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Bill Muller

Arizona Republic

Nov 2, 2022

3/5

The new film has spectacular fight scenes in dazzling sets and a familiar story about honor and betrayal, courage and cowardice. It's the perfect vehicle for some old-fashioned sword-clanging fun.

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Matt Soergel

Florida Times-Union

Feb 18, 2026

3/4

Gladiator, a movie that has had action-starved salivating for months on the Internet, is here today. And it delivers.

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John Beifuss

Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

Feb 18, 2026

3/4

No matter how much the film may seem to condemn the life-wasting brutality of the arena, there's no denying that these grisly onscreen struggles offer moviegoers an approximation of the thrill the ancient Romans must have felt.

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Bob Campbell

Newark Star-Ledger

Feb 18, 2026

3/4

There's more show than substance, more noise than music, more circus than bread. Romans would understand.

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Charles

Jan 24, 2026

Fine cast of actors bring this epic movie to life and you feel you're an eye-witness to the intrigue of ancient Rome, the grand-scale battles in Germania, and of course gladiator fighting in the Roman coliseum. This movie is rich in action scenes, enhanced by the big screen cinema and powerful sound. Puts you right there. If you want the ultimate viewing experience, don't rent this movie, see it at the theatre. Gladiator won five Oscars in 2001 you won't be disappointed.

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Matt O

@RT02439265 2 days ago

Gladiator is one of those movies that sticks with you way after viewing it. You can't stop thinking about it and you just want to watch it again

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B P

@Bradster69 4 days ago

Definitely Recommend It

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Huntin P

@PaxVobiscum80 Sep 24, 2026

Masterful swords and sandals extravaganza, only slightly diminished by its belated sequel. Ridley, ffs, retire! And take Scorsese and Coppola and Woody with you when you do. Back in 2000, however, we were all over this movie. I'm willing to overlook some of the corny dialogue, and the overrated Joaquin Phoenix's OTT performance, so thrilling are the set-pieces, so magnetic El Crowe. I suppose, to be honest, deep down, the fights are everything, really, and the same could be said of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, which is far more beautiful than Gladiator. Makes you wonder what Ang Lee could have done with this. But the CGI Roman arena, and the wonderful supporting roles played by Oliver Reed and Derek Jacobi, they add gravitas, more gravitas in fact than Lee's film possesses (it tends to defy gravity, hehe). Suggest watching Gladitator on a double bill with A Good Year.

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Frans B

@FransB Sep 21, 2026

Brilliant. Epic Ridley Scott work. Stellar cast all excels in character. Moving storytelling and very memorable. Amazing cinematography makes it even more impactful and creates the perfect ambiance throughout. Filled with action, glory, defeat, emotion, twists, drama, suspense and intrigue. Impressive and captivating

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Shona H

@RT19899047 Sep 17, 2026

A memorable film that stays with you, yet it still hits hard when you rewatch it with the emotional parts you can't remember.

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Ridley Scott

Director

Russell Crowe

Maximus Decimus Meridius

Joaquin Phoenix

Commodus

Connie Nielsen

Lucilla

Oliver Reed

Proximo

Derek Jacobi

Gracchus

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Synopsis

Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) takes power and strips rank from Maximus (Russell Crowe), one of the favored generals of his predecessor and father, Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the great stoical philosopher. Maximus is then relegated to fighting to the death in the gladiator arenas.

Director: Ridley Scott
Producer: David Franzoni, Branko Lustig, Douglas Wick
Screenwriter: John Logan, William Nicholson
Distributor: Universal Pictures, DreamWorks SKG
Production Co: Scott Free Productions, Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, Universal Pictures
Rating: R (Intense Graphic Combat)
Genre: History, Drama, Adventure, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 5, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $187.7M
Runtime: 2h 34m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, DTS, SDDS, Dolby EX, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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