Gladiator

Maximus is a seasoned Roman general who has earned the emperor's trust and the loyalty of his men. When the emperor's unexpected death hands power to a self-serving son, Maximus is stripped of rank and forced into slavery. He ends up in brutal arena fights, where survival depends on skill, showmanship, and luck. As he makes a name for himself in the gladiatorial schools, he eyes the man who now sits on the throne, and the public spectacles that once entertained Rome become the setting for a personal reckoning. The film follows his rise from commander to combatant without revealing how their conflict resolves.

Directed by Ridley Scott, Gladiator hit theaters in 2000. The screenplay credits go to David Franzoni, William Nicholson, and John Logan, and the cast features Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, and Richard Harris.

The film won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe, and it received numerous other nominations at the Oscars and major guild ceremonies.

Several lines and images stuck in popular culture, like "Are you not entertained?" and "What we do in life echoes in eternity." The Colosseum battles, the armor and production design, and the film's visuals helped renew mainstream interest in large scale historical epics and showed that old-fashioned spectacle could still draw modern audiences.

Critics praised the performances, especially Crowe's, and Ridley Scott's ability to stage large action sequences alongside quieter character moments. Viewers have echoed that enthusiasm, giving it a vote average of 8.221/10 from 20,352 votes. The movie raises questions about power, legacy, and honor, and it balances action with scenes that focus on loyalty, political corruption, and the cost of ambition.