Opening Thoughts

Gladiator was a revelation when it came out in 2000. It was the breakthrough film of the year, launching Russell Crowe’s career. In my opinion, it has stood the test of time and improved over this period, with many critics agreeing and citing it as one of the best films of the 2000s – it’s widely considered the Magnum Opus of Ridley Scott’s incredible catalogue.

Obviously, we can’t weigh Gladiator 2 on the same scale and through the same prism as the original. But now that I’ve had time to digest the sequel and read what other people have had to say, will it be able to perform at the award ceremonies in the same ilk as the first film, or will it fall short?

A Changing Culture

One of the many obstacles that Sir Ridley Scott faced as he tried to make a film that lived up to the reputation of his first megahit was the sheer length of time between the films. Look at some of the greatest-ever sequels, such as The Godfather 2, Terminator 2, The Dark Knight, etc. All of these films were made within a few years of the first. The films were fresh, and audiences were still familiar with the originals, making it easier to market them and put them in the shop window.

Now that nearly a quarter of a century has passed between the films, much has changed about entertainment and media. Many more people now use the internet and streaming services to watch their movies, and the digital revolution has spread into every facet of the entertainment world.

Back when Gladiator came out, online casinos were only making a small dent in the gambling industry; now, they’re an industry worth over $100 billion. Poker games like Texas Hold’em, which many believed would not transpose to an online world without having the psychology and bluffing involved in land-based Texas Hold’em, have been able to transition online effortlessly. Online Texas Hold’em games have a different feel, as they rely more on the quality of the hand as opposed to psyching your opponent out. Ultimately, they have been able to overcome these initial concerns and stand out as a different but equally high-quality version of poker.

Still, they’ve proven to be a colossal success, just as movie streaming services now dominate the industry ahead of the traditional platforms that were the market leaders in 2000, such as terrestrial TV and cable.

The Legacy Of Gladiator

Any sequel faces the daunting task of being weighed up by a predecessor, and usually, by a general rule of thumb, if there’s a sequel, that’s because many people were impressed with the first film. Gladiator was no exception; it was a definitive movie of early 21st-century cinema, littered with everything you could want from an exceptional film:

• World-class cinematography.
• Globally successful director.
• Water-tight acting and script.
• Iconic individual quotes.
• Fantastic cast.
• Timeless soundtrack.
• Major rewatch value.

It’s a film still quoted by movie buffs nearly 25 years later. In fact, many critics and film fans were reluctant to see the sequel due to their love of the first film. I would put myself in that bracket. Initially, the reaction to the first trailer was mixed, and I was underwhelmed. It looked like a carbon copy of the first film, with a bucket of CGI thrown on top of it.

Gladiator 2 – Opinion

It’s hard to think of any sequel set so long after the original which can hold the fabric of the initial story together. I walked into the cinema with bated breath and was unimpressed with the film’s first 20 minutes or so.

Admittedly, it picks up dramatically from this point, with high points including Denzel Washington’s performance, the macabre creepiness of the new Roman leaders, and Mescal’s chiselled, stoic presence.

Other angles of the film are daft, though, including a scene with sharks in the Colosseum, one of several scenes that expert reviewers believe did not add up. It would never match the first’s quality, but they could’ve done a much worse job – I’d give it about a 7/10.

Final Thoughts

Oscars often depend on the strength of other films that year. It’s one of the main reasons Leonardo Di Caprio didn’t win an Oscar until 2016 – there was no disputing his resume, but each year he put in an outstanding performance, he was pipped to the prize by an actor who had just put in a career-best performance.

Early predictions for the 2025 Oscars seem to indicate that Gladiator 2 will at least receive some nominations—up to now. It’s not the most substantial selection of films, but it’d be a surprise to see Gladiator 2 tally up the 12 nominations and multiple wins that the first film did. It’s not a bad film, but it’s not a great one, and the critics seem to agree.

The most telling aspect for me is that I’ve watched Gladiator 1 multiple times and would happily sit down and watch it again. Gladiator 2 isn’t a film I would sit down and watch again in a hurry, but I didn’t leave the cinema in disgust like I suspected I might when I saw the slapdash trailer back in the summer.