Few films have shaped the modern blockbuster quite like Ridley Scott's Gladiator. Released in May 2000, it brought the sword-and-sandal epic roaring back to life, turned Russell Crowe into a global leading man and walked away with five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. More than a quarter of a century on, and with a sequel having arrived in cinemas in November 2024, the story of Maximus still has fans on their feet.
In this Icon Profile we look back at the film, the cast, the remarkable production and the awards haul, with a few fan favourites from our Movies collection along the way.
Gladiator Fact File
| Release | 5 May 2000 (US), 12 May 2000 (UK) |
|---|---|
| Director | Ridley Scott |
| Screenplay | David Franzoni, John Logan and William Nicholson |
| Studios | DreamWorks Pictures and Universal Pictures, with Scott Free and Red Wagon Entertainment |
| Main cast | Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, Richard Harris |
| Running time | 155 minutes |
| Music | Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard |
| Setting | The Roman Empire, AD 180 |
| Sequel | Gladiator II (2024) |
Key Films
| Year | Release | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Gladiator | Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius; Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus |
| 2001 | Awards season | Five Oscars, four BAFTAs and two Golden Globes |
| 2024 | Gladiator II | Paul Mescal as Lucius; Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi return |
The original film earned 12 Academy Award nominations in total. Gladiator II opened in UK cinemas on 15 November 2024 and in the US a week later, and picked up one Oscar nomination, for Best Costume Design.
A General Becomes a Gladiator
Set in AD 180, the film follows Maximus, a loyal Roman general betrayed when the ambitious Commodus seizes power from his father, the emperor Marcus Aurelius. Stripped of everything, Maximus is sold into slavery and fights his way through the arenas towards Rome, and a reckoning with the new emperor. Crowe's grounded, brooding performance earned him the Oscar for Best Actor, while Phoenix's unsettling Commodus became one of the great screen villains.
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Building Rome From Scratch
Scott's team spread the shoot across three countries. The thunderous opening battle in Germania was filmed at Bourne Wood in Surrey, the slave caravans and gladiator school scenes were shot around Ouarzazate in Morocco, and Malta stood in for ancient Rome itself. Rather than build an entire Colosseum, the crew constructed around a third of it full-size and completed the rest digitally, a blend of real sets and visual effects that helped the film win the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.
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Remembering Oliver Reed
The production was shaken in 1999 when Oliver Reed, who played the gladiator trainer Proximo, died of a heart attack in Malta before completing his scenes. Rather than recast, the filmmakers adjusted the story, used a stand-in and digitally added Reed's face to finish his remaining moments. The film is dedicated to his memory, and his gruff, big-hearted Proximo remains one of its most loved characters.
Celebrate it with our Gladiator Movie Icon Frame Men's Hoodie.
The Legacy Continues: Gladiator II
Twenty-four years after the original, Ridley Scott returned to the arena with Gladiator II. Paul Mescal stars as Lucius, the grandson of Marcus Aurelius and son of Lucilla, alongside Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger, with Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi reprising their roles. It premiered in Sydney in October 2024 before opening worldwide that November.
Awards
Academy Awards
- Best Picture
- Best Actor (Russell Crowe)
- Best Costume Design (Janty Yates)
- Best Sound
- Best Visual Effects
BAFTA Awards
- Best Film
- Best Cinematography (John Mathieson)
- Best Editing (Pietro Scalia)
- Best Production Design (Arthur Max)
Golden Globe Awards
- Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Best Original Score (Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard)
Behind the Scenes
The haunting score was composed by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard, whose collaboration won the Golden Globe for Best Original Score. Phoenix and Scott also earned Golden Globe nominations. The screenplay went through several hands, with David Franzoni, John Logan and William Nicholson all credited.
FAQs
When did Gladiator come out?
Gladiator was released in the US on 5 May 2000 and in the UK on 12 May 2000.
How many Oscars did Gladiator win?
It won five Academy Awards from 12 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe.
Who directed Gladiator?
Ridley Scott directed both Gladiator and its 2024 sequel, Gladiator II.
Where was Gladiator filmed?
Filming took place at Bourne Wood in Surrey, around Ouarzazate in Morocco and in Malta, which stood in for Rome.
Who played Commodus in Gladiator?
Joaquin Phoenix played the emperor Commodus.
Who stars in Gladiator II?
Paul Mescal leads as Lucius, with Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi.
Shop the Gladiator Collection
Strength and honour: wear your love of the film with these tribute designs.
Gladiator Men's Hoodie
£39.99
Explore more cinema classics in our Movies collection, or make it personal with our Custom Name Men's Hoodie.
Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: The Godfather: The Trilogy, the Cast and the Oscars and Rocky: The Story of the Films, the Cast and the Oscars.
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