Gladiator
Seen it?2000 | 155 min | Action, Drama, Adventure
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
Audiences adore it (8.2 out of 10), it won 5 Oscars, people are still talking about it and it made about 5 times its budget. Make plans for this one.
Our take: Revived the sword-and-sandals epic with a simple revenge story and big emotion. Best Picture winner.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for action fans. Audiences love it more than critics do: a crowd-pleaser first.
- The mood
- Exciting.
- The pace
- Epic and sweeping, at 2 hr 35 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: meant for adults.
- It's long: 2 hr 35 min.
- Critics were cooler on it than audiences.
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.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsSolid
80% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesVery strong
8.2 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 5 Oscars: Academy Awards: Best Picture, Academy Awards: Best Actor, Academy Awards: Best Costume Design, Academy Awards: Best Sound and 1 more. Won 2 Golden Globes: Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture – Drama, Golden Globe Awards: Best Original Score. Won 4 BAFTAs: BAFTA Awards: Best Film, BAFTA Awards: Best Cinematography, BAFTA Awards: Best Production Design, BAFTA Awards: Best Editing. Won 6 Critics' Choice Awards: Critics' Choice Awards: Best Picture, Critics' Choice Awards: Best Actor, Critics' Choice Awards: Best Supporting Actor, Critics' Choice Awards: Best Cinematography and 2 more. Won 1 DGA Award: Art Directors Guild Awards: Excellence in Production Design Award — Period Feature Film. Won 1 PGA Award: Producers Guild of America Awards: Best Theatrical Motion Picture. Also nominated for 7 more Oscars, 3 more Golden Globes and 10 more BAFTAs. Plus 1 other award.
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$466 million worldwide on a $103 million budget
- Buzz & cultural impactVery strong
About 1.6 million people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Ridley Scott
- Russell CroweMaximus
- Joaquin PhoenixCommodus
- Connie NielsenLucilla
- Oliver ReedProximo
- Richard HarrisMarcus Aurelius
- Derek JacobiGracchus
- Djimon HounsouJuba
- David SchofieldFalco
- John ShrapnelGaius
- Tomas AranaQuintus