Gladiator
Movie, 2000, The 2000s, Set in Now We Are Free
Gladiator is #8 of 25 in release order and #8 of 25 in chronological order in the Hans Zimmer.
The story
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.
Gladiator recap
Gladiator (2000) follows Maximus, a Roman general betrayed by the new emperor, who fights his way back to Rome as a gladiator to take revenge. Ridley Scott directs. In 180 AD, after a victory in Germania, the dying Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) tells Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) he wants him to rule until power can return to the Senate. His son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) smothers him, takes the throne, and orders Maximus executed and his wife and son killed. Maximus escapes, finds his family dead, and is sold to Proximo (Oliver Reed), a gladiator trainer in North Africa. Winning crowds with the African fighter Juba (Djimon Hounsou), he reaches the Colosseum, where he reveals himself to Commodus after a staged battle. Commodus's sister Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), once Maximus's love, plots with the senator Gracchus (Derek Jacobi) to free him to lead his old army. Commodus uncovers the plot, threatening Lucilla's son. "Now We Are Free", sung by co-composer Lisa Gerrard, carries Maximus home to the fields of the afterlife.
Gladiator ending explained
Gladiator ends with Maximus killing Commodus in the arena and dying of a wound Commodus gave him beforehand. Commodus stabs the chained Maximus so the duel will be unequal, but Maximus still wins. Dying, he asks that his men be freed and that Rome become a republic again. He walks to his family in the afterlife, and Juba buries his figurines in the Colosseum sand. A sequel, Gladiator II (2024), follows Lucilla's son Lucius.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Gladiator
Gladiator is streaming on Paramount+, Kanopy, Hoopla, and YouTube TV in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 8.5/10, Rotten Tomatoes 80%
Where it fits
- Release order: after The Thin Red Line, before Black Hawk Down.
- Chronological order: after The Thin Red Line, before Black Hawk Down.
Cast
- Russell Crowe as Maximus
- Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus
- Connie Nielsen as Lucilla
- Oliver Reed as Proximo
- Richard Harris as Marcus Aurelius
- Derek Jacobi as Gracchus
- Djimon Hounsou as Juba
- David Schofield as Falco
- John Shrapnel as Gaius
- Tomas Arana as Quintus
- Ralf Moeller as Hagen
- Spencer Treat Clark as Lucius
Directed by Ridley Scott.