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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

Gladiator (2000 film)

Gladiator is a 2000 historical epic film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe as Maximus, a Roman general turned gladiator.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Gladiator is a 2000 historical epic directed by Ridley Scott, starring Russell Crowe as a betrayed Roman general turned gladiator. The film won five Academy Awards including Best Picture and became a defining entry in the genre.

What it is

Set in ancient Rome, Gladiator follows Maximus Decimus Meridius after Emperor Marcus Aurelius is murdered by his son Commodus. Betrayed and forced into slavery, Maximus rises as a gladiator to seek revenge. The story is fictional but loosely inspired by real Roman figures and events.

Why it matters

Gladiator revived the historical epic genre and was a major critical and commercial success. It won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe. In Canada, the film was widely released and remains a well-known Hollywood classic among audiences.

Key details

The cast includes Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, and Richard Harris. The score by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard is iconic. A sequel, Gladiator II, was released in 2024, also directed by Ridley Scott, focusing on Lucius, son of Maximus.

In short

  • Directed by Ridley Scott
  • Russell Crowe stars as Maximus
  • Won five Academy Awards including Best Picture
  • Sequel Gladiator II released in 2024
Canadian angle

Gladiator was widely released in Canada and remains a well-known Hollywood historical epic among Canadian audiences.

Quick questions

Who directed Gladiator?
Gladiator was directed by Ridley Scott.
Is Gladiator based on a true story?
No. It is a fictional story loosely based on historical figures and events from ancient Rome.
Who played Maximus in Gladiator?
Russell Crowe played Maximus Decimus Meridius.

Sources

  1. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172495/
    Supports: Director, writers, release year, and general film identification.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladiator_(2000_film)
    Supports: Director, cast, music, and sequel details.
  3. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Gladiator-film-by-Scott
    Supports: Director, cast, historical basis, awards, and sequel.
  4. Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladiator_(film,_2000)
    Supports: Music composers, cast, runtime, and release year.
  5. Letterboxd — https://www.letterboxd.com/film/gladiator-2000/
    Supports: Basic plot identification and director attribution.