Gladiator II

The sword-and-sandals sequel plays it safe by retelling the same story

When it comes to sequels, Hollywood often seems afraid to take stories forward, opting instead for safe, pseudo-remakes. This was the case with Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015) and Creed (2015), which, while satisfying, were essentially reworkings of Star Wars (1977) and Rocky (1976), respectively. Now, another beloved classic has received similar treatment: Gladiator (2000), one of my personal favorites.

Set 16 years after the events of the original film, Gladiator II (2024) follows Lucius (Paul Mescal), heir to the Roman throne, who has been living in hiding in North Africa. His world is shattered when his town is razed and his wife (Yuval Gonen) is killed by the reluctant Roman general Acacius (Pedro Pascal). Captured and sold into slavery, Lucius is eventually purchased by the cunning aristocrat Macrinus (Denzel Washington), who trains him as a gladiator for the Colosseum. Meanwhile, the Roman Empire has once again fallen into tyranny under the rule of twin emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger), whom Acacius and Lucius’ estranged mother, Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), are plotting to overthrow in hopes of restoring the republic.

Sir Ridley Scott returns to the director’s chair after his seminal Gladiator reignited the sword-and-sandals genre in the early 2000s (Troy (2004), Alexander (2004), 300 (2006)). With Gladiator II, he retains the grand scale befitting a story of Roman emperors. The film impresses with its mix of practical sets, on-location shooting, and masterfully staged battle sequences. However, Scott also treads familiar ground from the first film, from the opening battle to various Colosseum fights and warnings about populist tyranny overtaking democracy. Screenwriter David Scarpa (All the Money in the World (2017), Napoleon (2023)) introduces slight modifications, such as multiple villains and varied Colosseum battles—including a historical reenactment of naval warfare—but these elements serve more as distractions than meaningful additions to the story or character development.

A major issue with Gladiator II lies in its character motivations. The original Gladiator had a simple, powerful revenge arc: Maximus (Russell Crowe) avenging his murdered wife and son. Here, Lucius’ wife’s death is staged in a predictable and clichéd manner, failing to evoke the same visceral anger or emotional investment. Additionally, the increased political intrigue muddies the clarity of the revenge-driven narrative. The film introduces too many shifting antagonists, making it difficult to pinpoint a singular enemy for Lucius to face in the grand finale, thus weakening the buildup. As a result, Lucius lacks the commanding presence and compelling drive that made Maximus such a riveting protagonist.

By closely mirroring the structure of the original, Gladiator II benefits from a proven formula but also suffers from inevitable comparisons. On one hand, the film remains an entertaining epic with impressive production values and thrilling action. On the other, it invites direct contrast to a Best Picture winner—setting itself up to fall short.

Adding to the sense of repetition, Gladiator II leans into modern blockbuster tendencies, at times resembling a superhero origin story. Maximus’ armor and weapons now seem like ceremonial garb meant to be passed on to the next hero. However, if Gladiator II wants to lean into legacy, it misses a crucial opportunity: its music. The original Gladiator boasts one of the greatest soundtracks in cinematic history, composed by Hans Zimmer. While Zimmer does not return, his replacement, Harry Gregson-Williams, uses the original themes only sparingly—briefly teasing them in two scenes and fully incorporating them only in the end credits. This proves to be a frustrating missed opportunity; with such an iconic musical foundation at its disposal, the film’s decision to sideline it is baffling.

Gladiator II assembles a stellar cast, though none reach the heights of the original’s performances. The standout is Washington, who both enlivens and distracts the film. His signature delivery—long pauses between words that make audiences lean in—creates an engaging presence. However, his performance occasionally veers into self-parody, clashing with the more grounded portrayals from the rest of the cast.

Ultimately, Gladiator II is a solid action epic, standing above most modern attempts at historical spectacle. However, there is a reason it took 24 years to make a sequel: there was never a compelling continuation to justify it. Instead, the filmmakers opted to rehash the same story, and while imitation of great art can still yield an enjoyable film, it inevitably pales in comparison to the original.

6.7/10