Overview
A Thracian slave rises against the might of Rome in a battle for freedom.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- stirring
- serious
- romantic
- classic film night
- historical epic marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard Spartacus as an impressive, humane, star-filled historical spectacle whose technical scale and performances outweigh its occasional unevenness and romanticized history.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film moves between Spartacus's personal relationships and expansive slave-revolt battles, Roman interiors, and marching legions.
Spartacus's escape from enslavement develops into a peninsula-wide uprising against Roman power.
Its slavery-and-freedom narrative and Dalton Trumbo screenplay carry strong associations with the film's Cold War-era Hollywood production context.
The story intercuts the slave army's search for escape with senate maneuvering and Crassus's campaign to restore Roman control.
Films like Spartacus, and why
The Fall of the Roman Empire
shared ancient-world setting, large-scale rebellion narrative, political intrigue, and sword-and-sandal spectacle
Gladiator
shared historical epic scale, enslaved protagonists, romance, and conflict against an oppressive empire
Quo Vadis
shared classical setting, slave revolt themes, romantic melodrama, and lavish period spectacle
Braveheart
shared anti-authoritarian themes, massed armies, historical fiction, and emotionally charged epic action
Movie Details
- Director
- Stanley Kubrick
- Release Date
- 1960-10-13
- Runtime
- 197 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (2463)
Cast
- Kirk Douglas
- Laurence Olivier
- Jean Simmons
- Charles Laughton
- Peter Ustinov
- John Gavin
- Tony Curtis
- Nina Foch
- John Ireland
- Herbert Lom
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- 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 Spartacus about?
- A Thracian gladiator transforms a desperate escape from slavery into a vast revolt that confronts the military and political might of Rome.
- What is Spartacus like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Spartacus as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Spartacus violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Spartacus as brutal.
- What did critics think of Spartacus?
- Critics broadly regard Spartacus as an impressive, humane, star-filled historical spectacle whose technical scale and performances outweigh its occasional unevenness and romanticized history.
- Which films are like Spartacus?
- Films with a similar feel include The Fall of the Roman Empire, Gladiator, Quo Vadis, and Braveheart.
- How long is Spartacus?
- Spartacus runs 197 minutes.
- Where can I watch Spartacus?
- In United States, Spartacus is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
