It might not be as good as the first movie, but Ridley Scott’s epic action sequel is still a global hit on streaming. Way back in the ancient year of 2000, Ridley Scott took audiences back even further in time to Ancient Rome. Russel Crowe led Gladiator as Maximus Decimus Meridius, (Commander of the Armies of the North, etcetera, etcetera). As Gladiator is widely considered to be one of the best movies of the 21st century, and easily one of the best historical action films, it’s no surprise that Hollywood (and fans) wanted a sequel. It took 24 years for that sequel to materialize, and, given Gladiator’s very definitive ending, Russel Crowe didn’t return for the second outing. In 2024, the sequel finally dropped and, two years on, it’s still one of the biggest movies on streaming.
Gladiator’s aptly titled sequel, Gladiator II, is currently streaming on Paramount+ (no surprises there, as the movie was distributed by Paramount), and it’s still one of the site’s most popular films. Gladiator II tends to bounce in and out of the streaming charts, and this week it has shot back into the top 10. But it’s not just in the US that the sequel is a hit; Gladiator II is currently one of the biggest movies on Paramount+ worldwide. At the time of writing, Ridley Scott’s historical action epic is the tenth most popular movie on Paramount+ globally. The underrated horror movie, Primate, is the most popular movie, while Top Gun: Maverick is in second, and World War Z sits in third.
With Maximus out of the picture, Ridley Scott needed a new protagonist for Gladiator II. Tying the film back to the original, that came in the form of Lucius, the son of Connie Nelson’s Lucilla. Lucius fled Rome after Maximus’ death and found refuge in Africa. But, when the Roman Empire expanded its territory into the southern continent, Lucius found himself enslaved by the Romans and taken to the Colosseum (sound familiar?). Under the thumb of politician and slave trader Macrinus (Denzel Washington), Lucius enacts his revenge against the Roman Empire while learning about his true heritage. Gladiator II also starred Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, and Peter Mensah.
‘Gladiator II’ Doesn’t Compare to the Original, But It’s Still a Great Action Movie
To call Gladiator a classic would be an understatement. The film inspired a new wave of sword and sandal action movies, eventually leading to Gladiator II. The story of the sequel doesn’t compare to the original film. But Paul Mescal gives a fantastic performance as Lucius, and, as is always the case with a Ridley Scott film, the action is fantastic.
The sequel scored decent reviews, earning a 70% Rotten Tomatoes score. Although audiences were even more impressed with the action (and who can say no to a movie set in Ancient Rome?), Gladiator II has a far better 80% audience score. Those decent reviews led to Gladiator II earning just over $462 million worldwide.
Why ‘Gladiator II’s Narrative Failed… According to Russel Crowe
Paramount Pictures
Russel Crowe didn’t return for Gladiator II, but he has strong opinions on the sequel. The actor’s main gripe was with Gladiator II’s biggest plot twist. “They failed because they didn’t understand why [the original movie] was successful — it had a moral core,” Crowe said. That moral core was Maximus seeking to avenge his murdered wife and child. So, when Gladiator II revealed that he had an affair with Lucilla and that Lucius was his son, it undermined that “moral core.”
Release Date
November 22, 2024
Runtime
148 minutes