You've probably heard the roar. Twenty-four years later, Ridley Scott finally dragged us back to the Colosseum. But honestly, as the dust settles on its 2024-2025 theatrical run and its massive splash on streaming, one question keeps popping up in group chats and around dinner tables: is Gladiator 2 any good, or are we just suckers for nostalgia?
It depends on what you want.
If you're looking for a masterpiece that redefined cinema like the original did back in 2000, you’re going to be disappointed. Period. The first Gladiator was lightning in a bottle. Russell Crowe’s Maximus was a man of "strength and honor," a grounded, grieving father. Paul Mescal’s Lucius? He's a different beast entirely.
The Elephant (and Rhino) in the Room
Let's get into it. Ridley Scott didn't just make a sequel; he made an "action extravaganza" that borders on the absurd.
We’re talking about sharks in a flooded Colosseum. We’re talking about baboons that look like they crawled out of a fever dream and a gladiator riding a rhino into battle. It's campy. It's weird. It’s definitely not the self-serious, moody drama of the first film.
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Some critics, like those at The Guardian, called it "pure camp." They aren't wrong. The movie feels less like a historical epic and more like a high-budget, sword-and-sandal version of Game of Thrones. There's scheming. There's treachery. There's a lot of Denzel Washington being absolutely electric while everyone else struggles to keep up.
Basically, it's a "Saturday-night epic of tony escapism," as Owen Gleiberman put it.
Denzel Washington is the Real Reason to Watch
Forget the rhinos for a second. If you’re asking is Gladiator 2 any good, the answer is "yes" primarily because of Denzel Washington.
He plays Macrinus, a former slave who has clawed his way into a position of power. He’s devious. He’s wearing gold rings like an "opulent fidget-spinner," and he’s clearly having the time of his life. Every scene he's in, the movie levels up. He's playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers, and honestly, the film could have just been about him.
His performance is a reminder of why he’s a legend. Even when the script gets a little clunky—and it does—Denzel sells it with a smirk.
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Paul Mescal vs. The Shadow of Maximus
Paul Mescal is a phenomenal actor. If you saw him in Aftersun or Normal People, you know he has range.
But here’s the problem: the script by David Scarpa tries to make him a "cut-and-paste version" of Maximus. He loses his wife. He becomes a slave. He fights for revenge. It’s the same arc we saw 24 years ago.
While Mescal brings a "wincing, grimacing base note of despair," he doesn't have that same "scorching glower" that Russell Crowe brought to the screen. Some viewers felt he was miscast, but it’s more likely he was just trapped by a script that was too afraid to let Lucius be his own man.
Why the Movie is Divisive
The internet is split. You've got people on Reddit calling it "absolute rubbish" and others saying it's the "best popcorn film of the year."
- The Spectacle: The visuals are undeniably grand. The opening siege on Numidia is massive. It makes the first movie's opening battle look small by comparison.
- The Tone: It's "sillier and weirder." If you like Ridley Scott in his "big, bold, and bordering on the unbelievable" mode (think Napoleon but with more stabbing), you'll love this.
- The Emperors: Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger play the twin emperors Geta and Caracalla. They are deliciously unhinged caricatures with "brain rot" and pet monkeys. They are a far cry from Joaquin Phoenix’s nuanced, creepy Commodus.
The Financial Reality
Is it a success? That's tricky.
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The movie grossed about $462 million worldwide. Against a budget that some reports put as high as $310 million, that's technically a "financial disappointment." It needed to hit closer to $600 million to really be in the black for the studio.
However, it has become a massive hit on streaming platforms like Paramount+. It seems people who skipped the theater are more than happy to watch the "operatic mayhem" from their couches.
Is Gladiator 2 Any Good? The Verdict
If you go in expecting a remake of the first film, you’ll probably find it "hollow" or "derivative."
But if you want to see Denzel Washington chew scenery while people get eaten by sharks in a Roman arena, it is a blast. It’s a movie that prizes entertainment above all else. It doesn’t have the soul of the original, but it has plenty of blood, sand, and "movie-star ease."
What to do next:
- Watch the first one first. If it’s been a while, re-watch the 2000 Gladiator. The sequel relies heavily on callbacks and even uses footage from the original.
- Manage your expectations. Think of this as a "spiritual successor" or a high-octane Roman action movie rather than a direct competitor to the original’s legacy.
- See it on the biggest screen possible. Even if you’re watching at home, the production design and scale are the film’s biggest strengths.
- Pay attention to Macrinus. Watch how Denzel moves and talks—it's a masterclass in how to elevate a block-buster script.
Ultimately, the "dream of Rome" might be a bit tattered in this sequel, but the arena is still a hell of a place to spend two and a half hours.