Overview
A young warrior rises from the ashes of a fallen empire to reclaim his legacy and restore honor to Rome.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- epic
- propulsive
- bloody
- action movie night
- historical epic marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the action spectacle, visual grandeur, direction, and performances—especially Denzel Washington—while finding the sequel less emotionally powerful and too similar to its predecessor.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Lucius is tied to Rome's past and must draw on his family legacy while fighting for the city's future.
The Colosseum, gladiatorial combat, Roman rulers, and monumental battles define the film's central viewing experience.
Ridley Scott's direction foregrounds elaborate battle sequences, arena set pieces, and epic production design.
Lucius seeks to resist the emperors who conquered his home and return Rome's glory to its people.
Films like Gladiator II, and why
Gladiator
shared ancient-world setting, sword and sandal spectacle, political rivalry, and a fallen hero seeking liberation
Spartacus
shared historical epic scale, brutal arena combat, imperial politics, and themes of resistance against tyranny
The Last Days of Pompeii
shared Roman antiquity, widescreen battle spectacle, revenge-driven drama, and political intrigue
Kingdom of Heaven
shared large-scale historical action, charismatic antiheroes, and conflict between personal loyalty and imperial power
Movie Details
- Director
- Ridley Scott
- Release Date
- 2024-11-13
- Runtime
- 148 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (4771)
Cast
- Paul Mescal
- Denzel Washington
- Pedro Pascal
- Connie Nielsen
- Joseph Quinn
- Fred Hechinger
- Lior Raz
- Derek Jacobi
- Peter Mensah
- Matt Lucas
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Philo, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, MGM Plus, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Gladiator II about?
- A conquered heir enters Rome’s bloody arena and turns gladiatorial survival into a rebellion against imperial tyranny.
- What is Gladiator II like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Gladiator II as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Gladiator II violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Gladiator II as graphic.
- What did critics think of Gladiator II?
- Critics broadly praised the action spectacle, visual grandeur, direction, and performances—especially Denzel Washington—while finding the sequel less emotionally powerful and too similar to its predecessor.
- Which films are like Gladiator II?
- Films with a similar feel include Gladiator, Spartacus, The Last Days of Pompeii, and Kingdom of Heaven.
- How long is Gladiator II?
- Gladiator II runs 148 minutes.
- Where can I watch Gladiator II?
- In United States, Gladiator II streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Philo, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, MGM Plus, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
