25 Years Later, Ridley Scott’s “All-Time Great” Action Movie That’s “Cinema at Its Finest” Lands New Streaming Home

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Ridley Scott is a legendary director, and one of his most celebrated action films is coming to a new streaming service. From the suspense of Alien to the grand scale of Blade Runner and the unforgettable conclusion of Thelma & Louise, Scott consistently delivers compelling cinema. However, he truly excels at action, and Gladiator stands out as a prime example of his skill in this genre. Fans will be pleased to know it’s soon available to stream.

Gladiator will stream on Peacock from December 1. Ridley Scott’s ancient Roman epic is one of the most lauded and iconic action films of all time. Scott directed the film, which was penned by David Franzoni, John Logan, and William Nicholson. Gladiator starred none other than Russell Crowe as the iconic Maximus Decimus Meridius (Commander of the Armies of the North and General of the Felix Legions…), with Joaquin Phoenix as the despicable and layered Emperor Commodus. Alongside the two, the film also starred Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, Richard Harris, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, and David Schofield. Gladiator‘s plot should need little introduction, but for the four people who haven’t seen the film, the official synopsis reads:

As a huge fan of historical epics, I always feel for Maximus (Russell Crowe) in ‘Gladiator.’ It’s heartbreaking to watch how quickly things change when Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) seizes power. He basically punishes Maximus, one of his father – the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, a really fascinating stoic philosopher –’s most trusted generals, by stripping him of everything and forcing him to fight for his life as a gladiator. It’s a brutal fall from grace, and sets the whole story in motion.

I truly believe Gladiator is one of the best films of the 2010s, and I’m a little surprised its critic score on Rotten Tomatoes is only 80% – it feels like it deserves even more! Thankfully, most viewers clearly agree with me, giving it an impressive 87%. I saw one person online say exactly what I was thinking: it’s shocking this movie isn’t rated higher! It really is an all-time great, and another fan called it a masterpiece – pure cinema at its finest, and I couldn’t agree more.

‘Gladiator’ Will Soon Be a Trilogy


Paramount Pictures

Ridley Scott revisited the world of Ancient Rome in 2024 with Gladiator II, much to the excitement of fans of his original action film. With Maximus gone, Paul Mescall played Lucius, who initially escaped Rome after Maximus’s death. He later returned as a slave and gladiator, determined to avenge the attack on his homeland. While Gladiator II didn’t receive the same critical praise as the first film, it was a huge commercial success, earning approximately $462 million worldwide – exceeding the box office revenue of the original Gladiator.

Ridley Scott had plans for multiple Gladiator films even before the second one came out. Now that Gladiator II has been successful, those plans are moving forward, and a third film, Gladiator III, is currently being developed. While it’s in the works, it might be a while before it’s released, as Scott is currently focused on his next project, The Dog Stars.

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2025-11-24 18:33