Ridley Scott’s 2000 Historical Epic With 87% RT Audience Score Becomes Streaming Hit
Last year, Scott released the divisive Napoleon, about the titular French emperor, a sprawling film with a number of standout battle sequences. Prior to that, Scott went even further back in time with The Last Duel (2021), which earned generally positive reviews but was a box office disappointment. Other notable historical epics he directed include Robin Hood (2010) and Kingdom of Heaven (2005), the latter of which has been critically appraised since the release of an improved director’s cut. Another film from 2000, however, arguably stands above the rest and is once again connecting with audiences.
Gladiator Becomes A Major Streaming Success 24 Years Later
Viewers Are Returning To Ridley Scott’s Historical Epic
Gladiator is experiencing renewed success on streaming as the sequel approaches. Featuring Russell Crowe in the starring role as Maximus, a Roman general betrayed by his emperor who must then fight as a slave, Gladiator was a massive hit back in 2000. The film, which currently sports an 80% critics’ score and 87% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, grossed over $465 million at the box office and was nominated for 12 Oscars, winning five, including Best Actor and Best Picture.
New data from Reelgoodnow reveals that Gladiator ranks as the tenth most popular movie on streaming in the U.S. for the week of November 7 – 13. The film, which is streaming on the Roku Channel, falls short of newer films like Poolman (2024), Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End (2024), Time Cut (2024), and Don’t Move (2024), with My Old Ass ultimately taking the number one spot. However, Scott’s film is the only movie on the list not released in 2024. Check out the full top 10 movies list below:
| Reelgood Top 10 Streaming Movies (Nov. 7 – 13) | |
|---|---|
| 1 | My Old Ass (2024) |
| 2 | The Substance (2024) |
| 3 | Trap (2024) |
| 4 | Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) |
| 5 | Woman of the Hour (2024) |
| 6 | Don’t Move (2024) |
| 7 | Time Cut (2024) |
| 8 | Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End (2024) |
| 9 | Poolman (2024) |
| 10 | Gladiator (2000) |
What Gladiator’s Streaming Success Means For The Sequel
Will Gladiator 2 Repeat The Original’s Success?
Gladiator‘s streaming success can undoubtedly be attributed to the sequel, which hits theaters on November 22 as the holiday blockbuster season kicks off in earnest. The renewed interest in the 2000 original could bode well for the follow-up, which follows Paul Mescal’s Lucius in a story set about two decades after Maximus’ death. While Crowe is not set to reprise his role as Lucius’ father, the star-studded cast of the movie includes Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Denzel Washington, and Connie Nielsen reprising her original role as Lucilla.
Ridley Scott has already revealed his intentions to make a third Gladiator film…
Early Gladiator 2 reviews have been positive from critics, earning the movie a Certified Fresh 75% score on Rotten Tomatoes, but it will be audience response that determines how well the film does at the box office. If the sequel ends up being a success, as its predecessor was, Ridley Scott has already revealed his intentions to make a third Gladiator film, highlighting how the director shows no signs of slowing down.
Our Take On Gladiator’s Streaming Success
The Best Picture Winner Is A Special Case
While it is not surprising that the impending sequel has spurred this streaming success, the fact that Gladiator is holding its own among a cavalcade of modern movies in the streaming Top 10 showcases the enduring appeal that the movie has for audiences. In fact, this has been proven by the fact that it is getting a sequel in the first place. It is the first Best Picture winner to receive a direct sequel since 1991’s The Silence of the Lambs, which was followed by 2001’s Hannibal, a title that was coincidentally also a Ridley Scott movie.
The 2003 Best Picture winner The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King has had follow-ups both on the big and small screens, but they have so far all been prequels.
One must go back even further to find a Best Picture winner with a sequel that wasn’t helmed by Ridley Scott. The most recent instance was the Rocky franchise being spawned by the 1976 Best Picture winner of the same name. While other earlier titles including The Sting, The Godfather, and In the Heat of the Night also got sequels, Gladiator being the first movie to earn this distinction in a quarter-century, combined with the impending follow-up’s opening weekend projections of $60 to $80 million (beating the original’s $34.8 million), showcase how it has remained a viewing staple for decades.
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