Russell Crowe criticises Gladiator 2 for “not actually understanding” why the first movie worked

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As a huge fan of Gladiator, I was really surprised to hear Russell Crowe talk about the new sequel. He seemed pretty disappointed, saying that those involved didn’t quite ‘get’ what made the original film so great. He didn’t even need to mention the title – everyone knows he’s talking about Gladiator II starring Paul Mescal, and he thinks it misses the mark on what made the first one so special.

Russell Crowe, who received the Best Actor Oscar in 2001 for his role as Maximus in the movie Gladiator (2000), explained what resonated with him about the film: “It wasn’t about the spectacle, the setting, or the fight scenes. It was the strong ethical center of the story.”

As many remember from the original movie, Gladiator tells the story of Maximus (Russell Crowe), a respected Roman general who is betrayed by the ambitious Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). After a terrible tragedy leaves his wife and son dead, Maximus is captured and forced into slavery, eventually finding some hope under the guidance of gladiator trainer Proximo (Oliver Reed).

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Maximus is a highly skilled fighter who becomes famous throughout Rome by winning tournament after tournament. His ultimate goal is to reach the Colosseum and avenge the murder of his family.

Russell Crowe explained to Triple J that maintaining Maximus’s strong moral compass was a constant challenge during filming of the first movie. He remembers having to fight every day to ensure the character’s values remained consistent throughout the production.

They kept suggesting sexual scenes for Maximus, which felt like it diminished his character. It didn’t make sense that he’d be having an affair while also being shown as devoted to his wife – it just seemed illogical and over the top.

Crowe expressed frustration, saying he felt he deserved payment for constantly being asked about a movie he wasn’t involved in.

Honestly, that whole situation doesn’t really affect me. In that other world, my character is gone, completely dead. But I’ll be real, it does make me a little envious. It brings back memories of when I was starting out, and what gaming meant to me back then.

Both Gladiator and Gladiator II were directed by the renowned Sir Ridley Scott. However, despite being a commercial success, Gladiator II received a mixed reaction from critics. Forbes described it as a “dreadful, pointless sequel,” and our own review pointed out that it lacked emotional depth and strong character development.

Featuring Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, and Connie Nielsen – who returns from the original movie – Gladiator II tells the story of Lucius Verus Aurelius (Mescal), the son of the previous hero Maximus. He’s captured by the Roman army and forced to fight as a gladiator.

You can watch the original Gladiator on Disney+ and BBC iPlayer. The sequel, Gladiator II, is available on Paramount+ and NOW.

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2025-12-10 14:49