Spartacus

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Spartacus

PG-13

Released Oct 7, 1960

3h 4m

History

Drama

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

63 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

The rebellious Thracian Spartacus, born and raised a slave, is sold to Gladiator trainer Batiatus. After weeks of being trained to kill for the arena, Spartacus turns on his owners and leads the other slaves in rebellion. As the rebels move from town to town, their numbers swell as escaped slaves join their ranks. Under the leadership of Spartacus, they make their way to southern Italy, where they will cross the sea and return to their homes.

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Critics Consensus

Featuring terrific performances and epic action, Kubrick's restored swords-and-sandals epic is a true classic.

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Peter John Dyer

Sight & Sound

The result, to all intents and purposes, is pre-ordained.

Feb 10, 2020

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David Stratton

At the Movies (Australia)

There have been other versions of the Spartacus story, including a silent epic and a more recent TV series, but Kubrick's film can't be beaten.

Oct 23, 2014

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: A-

Sep 7, 2011

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

A hell of a thrilling spectacle, with battle scenes that seem to contain the entire world population.

Rated: A-

Nov 29, 2022

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

...the performances might be its most compelling element.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jun 28, 2022

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

A magnificent picture that packs a rarely equaled emotional wallop with its impassioned camaraderie and paralyzing conclusion.

Rated: 10/10

Aug 27, 2020

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Jim P

What a great story, a good movie for Xmas. But it's very long - best watched in small instalments. It's even based on a "true" story. See Wiki for further info.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/28/24

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Laurie S

I am Spartacus. One of the all-time greats.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/21/24

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Robert R

"Spartacus" finds a lot of (what we'd later discover were) Kubrick's trademarked abilities stymied by the last gasps of the studio era, but it's still fascinating to see how the man navigated through such daunting material in such a notoriously limiting period of film history. In many ways, I could see the argument of this being the biggest film he's made in terms of scope, storytelling and just how much effort went into everything in front of the camera. With regard to my enjoyment of the picture, though, I'm of two minds. The actual "Spartacus" stuff is magnificent. The character himself is just a blast to watch. Kirk Douglas is in top charismatic form here and all the battles are intoxicating as well, representing some of the only times we get a clear glimpse at an unmistakable Kubrick at work. The palace intrigue stuff was a bit more difficult for me to get into, ultimately leaving me thirsting for more swashbuckling. Still, it's hard to find the epic feel given off here in pretty much anything coming out in theaters these days and that made this worth the watch alone.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/26/24

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Average P

For me this is Kubricks best Movie. Head and shoulders above Ridley Scott's "Gladiator"

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/23/24

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Alex P

Truly iconic film which became the benchmark for historical epics, most not living up to its standards.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/01/24

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Aender S

One of the best if not the best monumental films of that era.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/11/24

Full Review

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Stanley Kubrick

Director

Kirk Douglas

Spartacus

Laurence Olivier

Marcus Licinius Crassus

Jean Simmons

Varinia

Tony Curtis

Antoninus

Charles Laughton

Sempronius Gracchus

Spartacus: Official Clip - I'm Spartacus

1:46

Spartacus: Official Clip - Crassus Identifies Spartacus

2:21

Spartacus: Official Clip - Fight to the Death

2:11

Spartacus: Official Clip - Breaking Glabrus' Power

2:43

Spartacus: Official Clip - Death Is the Only Freedom

3:00

Spartacus: Official Clip - I Want to Know

2:58

Spartacus: Official Clip - Gladiator Training

2:45

Spartacus: Official Clip - I'm Not an Animal

2:12

Spartacus: Official Clip - Spartacus Is Sold

3:00

Spartacus: Official Clip - Goodbye My Life

2:12

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Synopsis

The rebellious Thracian Spartacus, born and raised a slave, is sold to Gladiator trainer Batiatus. After weeks of being trained to kill for the arena, Spartacus turns on his owners and leads the other slaves in rebellion. As the rebels move from town to town, their numbers swell as escaped slaves join their ranks. Under the leadership of Spartacus, they make their way to southern Italy, where they will cross the sea and return to their homes.

Director: Stanley Kubrick
Producer: Edward Lewis
Screenwriter: Howard Fast, Dalton Trumbo, Calder Willingham
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Bryna Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: History, Drama, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 7, 1960, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Apr 28, 1991
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 18, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.7M
Runtime: 3h 4m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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