Gladiator

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Gladiator

R

1992

1h 42m

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

31%

Tomatometer

13 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

After whipping a rival in a brawl, Chicago teen Tommy Riley (James Marshall) is asked to box in the illegal fights organized by Jimmy Horn (Brian Dennehy). Tommy has bigger aspirations, but when Jimmy agrees to cover the betting debts his father (John Heard) incurred, Tommy agrees. He soon befriends Abraham Lincoln Haines (Cuba Gooding Jr.), a black boxer helping to support his family. When Jimmy realizes that the friends are his two top draws, he matches them in a bout neither wants.

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Time Out

Marshall makes a promising feature debut; and Herrington, pushing beyond the expected triumph-of-the-underdog clichés, underpins the crowd-pleasing Rocky-style fight action with some unobtrusive social comment and confident visual storytelling.

Jun 24, 2006

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Janet Maslin

New York Times

The mixture may be slightly unexpected, but it still manages to be predictable all the way.

Rated: 2/5

May 20, 2003

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Rita Kempley

Washington Post

The screenplay, contrived to suit the genre, is likewise replete with stock characters.

Jan 1, 2000

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Malcolm Johnson

Hartford Courant

Gladiator manages to raise a number of social questions in what might have been a simple teen-exploitation boxing film. Chief among the concerns of the film are the relationships between blacks and whites in the inner city.

Apr 25, 2018

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TV Guide

Gladiator is filmmaking by the numbers, if a particularly glossily executed package

Rated: 2/4

Sep 2, 2008

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Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

Rated: 2/5

Dec 29, 2006

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Frank P

I know the story line is pretty thin and some of the acting is mediocre. But Cuba’s unique style and energetic love-for-life persona fills the void and makes you love it. Brian D plays a good bad guy too and makes you believe he is really evil. It’s different than Rocky because our hero grew up on the right side of the tracks but wound up fighting for his life on the wrong side.He has to learn that not everyone treats you fairly when you are poor. Of course he triumphs with true grit and the underdog feeling just pulls you in and makes you feel like you could be a winner to. And we he turns around and knocks the ref out in one hit, you are hooked. Take that a…hole!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/16/25

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Lee H

An underrated obscure film, good story, lead actor's performance is questionable but as a whole it's a very decent film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/10/25

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Richard R

Was good with no one letting it down. I really enjoyed it and have watched more times than I can remember.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/08/24

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Lisseth A

This movie portays the root of capitalism. How the big boss plays God with his subordinates making them think they are allies when they and their dreams and problems are used against them. Remarkable values such as true friendship, tolerance, honesty, respect, and justice make me think this movie is one of the best ones I have seen of this type. Economic vulnerability is not only experienced by the minority and it is great how the metaphor of defeating the big boss will make you free. Sadly, this only occurs in movies not in real life but is is a really inspiring movie. Tommy's determination to keep his values intact make me think in the model of citizen we should be: a great friend, a good son, a responsible sportsman, a good worker, and a lovely significant other.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/07/23

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StephenPaul C

The greatest 01 hour: and 42 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring Cuba Gooding Jr. as a boxing legend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/04/23

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Glen M

A+ boxing movie looks and sounds top notch same old story but very well done

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/20/23

Full Review

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Rowdy Herrington

Director

Cuba Gooding Jr.

Abraham Lincoln Haines

James Marshall

Tommy Riley

Brian Dennehy

Jimmy Horn

Robert Loggia

Pappy Jack

Ossie Davis

Noah

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Synopsis

After whipping a rival in a brawl, Chicago teen Tommy Riley (James Marshall) is asked to box in the illegal fights organized by Jimmy Horn (Brian Dennehy). Tommy has bigger aspirations, but when Jimmy agrees to cover the betting debts his father (John Heard) incurred, Tommy agrees. He soon befriends Abraham Lincoln Haines (Cuba Gooding Jr.), a black boxer helping to support his family. When Jimmy realizes that the friends are his two top draws, he matches them in a bout neither wants.

Director: Rowdy Herrington
Producer: Frank Price, Stephen J. Roth
Screenwriter: Lyle Kessler, Robert Mark Kamen
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation, Price Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.1M
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Surround

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