Gladiator

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Gladiator

R

Released May 5, 2000

2h 34m

History

Drama

Adventure

Action

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Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

261 Reviews

87%

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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

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.

Nov 21, 2024

Full Review

Stephen Hunter

Washington Post

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.

Nov 2, 2022

Full Review

Bill Muller

Arizona Republic

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.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 2, 2022

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

One of the slighter films to ever win the Best Picture Oscar.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 11, 2025

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Greg MacArthur

Screen Rant

As iconic as Ridley Scott's Gladiator is, a better film would exist beneath its legendary dialogue and battle scenes in the form of a sharper script.

Rated: 8/10

Nov 14, 2024

Full Review

Casey Chong

Casey's Movie Mania

The enduring success of Gladiator lies in many factors, one of which is Scott’s modern sensibility in his direction that appeals even to contemporary audiences.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 11, 2024

Full Review

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Craig M

Best movie of all time!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/05/25

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Real O

This will always be a 5 star movie. Russell Crowe's best.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/01/25

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Michari N.

Crowe and Phoenix team up to make this masterpiece of a film from director Ridley Scott.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/25/25

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Jack L

This movie is spectacular and deserves more. I wish that Maximus hasn't died because he was an excellent character and could've been great in the second movie, but other than that it has a good story with good characters and an great villain. This movie is definitely one of the best movies out there.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/20/25

Full Review

Juju S

Je dois reconnaître que c’est un classique bien réalisé, avec une histoire poignante. Je ne suis cependant pas fan de l’univers des gladiateurs et de cette période historique qui est très sombre, j’ai donc mes réserves à ce niveau-là, bien le scénario apporte une certaine douceur.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/16/25

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David C.

Gladiator is a timeless epic that balances grandeur with raw emotion. Ridley Scott delivers a sweeping vision of ancient Rome, crafting battles that are both massive in scale and deeply personal. Russell Crowe gives one of his most iconic performances as Maximus, a tragic hero whose journey of vengeance and honor resonates just as powerfully today. Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus is equally unforgettable, bringing menace and fragility to the role of a desperate emperor. Hans Zimmer’s haunting score lingers long after the credits, amplifying both the spectacle and the sorrow. While the pacing occasionally slows, the film’s emotional weight and visual mastery more than make up for it. For some, it’s a near-perfect film, for others, an untouchable masterpiece. Either way, Gladiator stands as one of cinema’s greatest achievements a film that redefined the modern epic and continues to captivate audiences decades later.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/09/25

Full Review

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Ridley Scott

Director

Russell Crowe

Maximus Decimus Meridius

Joaquin Phoenix

Commodus

Connie Nielsen

Lucilla

Oliver Reed

Proximo

Derek Jacobi

Gracchus

Gladiator: Official Clip - Maximus' Dying Wish

2:51

Gladiator: Official Clip - Busy Little Bee

1:55

Gladiator: Official Clip - The Battle of Carthage

2:59

Gladiator: Official Clip - Maximus vs. Tigris of Gaul

2:59

Gladiator: Official Clip - Commodus Murders His Father

2:49

Gladiator: Official Clip - The Battle Against Germania

3:00

Gladiator: Official Clip - Are You Not Entertained?

2:05

Gladiator: Official Clip - My Name is Maximus

2:42

Gladiator: Official Clip - Maximus Kills Commodus

2:50

Gladiator: Official Clip - Maximus Kisses Lucilla

2:27

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Gladiator: Best Scenes

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Gladiator: Trailer 1

1:23

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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: David Franzoni, John Logan, William Nicholson, David Franzoni
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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