Gladiator II: Worth the 24 Year Wait?

Entering the Arena

It’s time to be entertained, as Ridley Scott has returned to Rome to tell another epic story! Gladiator II is the sequel to 2000’s Gladiator, a film which garnered monumental success at its release. Not only was the film a hit with critics and audiences, it was also the second highest-grossing film of that year–behind Mission: Impossible 2–and won five Academy Awards including Best Picture. 

Given the success of this movie, a sequel was all but inevitable. In fact, discussions for getting a follow-up off the ground go all the way back to 2001. The film lingered in production limbo as its fate seemed unclear due to several behind-the-scenes difficulties, including studio DreamWorks selling the franchise rights to Paramount Pictures in 2006. Alas, after years of an unknown fate, Gladiator II has finally shown up, ready for battle with Scott back in the director’s chair.

In a surprising turn of events, this film is eyeing success despite being released over two decades after the first and sporting a budget of around $250 million. Despite strong competition from other films like Wicked and Moana 2, the film has earned positive reception from critics and audiences, while grossing over $300 million in its first week alone, eyeing to be Scott’s most successful film since 2015’s The Martian.

I was cautiously optimistic going into this film, leaning more on the latter. I was not sure if this was a necessary sequel, especially given how the predecessor’s ending was quite conclusive. Yet, despite my worries, I was drawn in by the cast, synopsis, and Scott returning. I felt that if any director would know how to work with these characters and this world, it should be the person that gave them life in the first place. 

With all these factors in mind, I eagerly snatched my ticket and attended a screening at Reading Cinemas in Manville, New Jersey–my local theater back home–on Saturday, Nov. 23. 

Entering the theater and taking my seat, one question lingered in my mind: Could this movie rise up and overcome its challenges, or is it nothing more than a corporate cash-grab made 20 years too late?

Preparing for Battle

Set several years after the events of the first Gladiator, the sequel follows a man named Lucius Aurelius, who faces hardship after his home is overtaken by the tyrannical emperors of Rome. With nowhere to run, he must face his past and enter the Colosseum to bring glory back to the city. The film has an all-star cast, with names both old and new to the franchise, including Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, and Connie Nielsen, among others. 

I’m pleased to report that this film justifies itself as more than just another sequel made for a quick buck. Gladiator II is a strong follow-up that proves Scott knows what he’s doing with this series and is still capable of making great films. 

What I loved the most about the film was how it managed to tell an engaging story in an appropriate way. The plot is reminiscent of the first Gladiator, yet still manages to hold ground of its own. This movie tells an interesting story and develops its characters out quite well, with Aurelius in particular standing out as a strong successor to Russell Crowe’s Maximus from the predecessor. 

Granted, the movie does have a few issues with its script, which do tie back to it being reminiscent of the first film. Without giving too much away, it borrows a few of the same plot points from the previous film, to the point where it feels a little derivative. As such, many of the outcomes in the story are foreseeable, leading to a generally predictable final product. 

Even with this, though, it does not feel like a complete rehash of Gladiator. Like I said, the movie does come up with some new ideas of its own, which are implemented into the story quite well. It also lets the characters sell the movie through their interactions with each other and the environment. This, in turn, gives Gladiator II a high engagement level with a story that proves itself as a justifiable follow-up. 

Assembling an Army

Another aspect of the film I loved was its cast of characters, all played wonderfully by their respective performers. This movie sees the return of some performers from the first Gladiator, while introducing a new cast of its own. Everyone plays a strong role in the final product, with the new characters making the most of their screen time, adding to the engagement factor, while the familiar faces find themselves actively involved in the story rather than just standing off to the side.

This is especially the case with Nielsen’s performance as Lucilla. Nielsen returns to Rome to add more depth to her character, as she has some of the best dialogue and emotional bits of the entire cast. In a time when it is not uncommon for sequels to bring back big characters only to sideline them, this was a refreshing addition to the film as Neilsen made the most of the script and gave a strong performance in the end. 

Going back to the new cast, there are some big names that have now entered the arena, each with their own unique traits to help them shine. To start with, Pascal takes the mantle of General Acacius of the Roman army, who–without giving too much away–plays a significant role in kick-starting the movie’s plot. Pascal plays this role with a quiet yet intimidating approach, making him one of the film’s standout characters. 

This also applies to Washington’s portrayal of Macrinus, who acts as a powerful force and threat throughout the movie. As with most of his performances, Washington embraces the role as his own, letting the character’s personality flow opposed to playing it one-note. This, in turn, makes for one of the best performances of the film. 

But even with all of this fantastic talent, the standout for me was Mescal as the main protagonist, Aurelius. Mescal is still relatively new to the industry as an actor, having only recently broken out after the 2022 drama Aftersun garnered him several award nominations. This is Mescal’s first time going mainstream, and he does so with flying colors. Rather than just act as a rehash of Crowe’s Maximus, he adds a layer of depth to Aurelius, leading to fantastic motivation and emotional interactions for the character. Mescal also provides great fight choreography during the action sequences, which prove him as a force not to be messed with. 

Even with all of these fantastic talents, though, there were still two performances that took me a little aback. These came from none other than the Roman emperors, played by Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger. While these two are undoubtedly committed to their roles, they were also extremely over-the-top, especially Hechinger. In turn, the two come off as more cartoony than threatening on several occasions, with their line deliveries showcasing this in particular. While I can respect their level of commitment, it did lead to a few instances where I could not tell if I should feel threatened or amused. 

A Justifiable Match

This film also uses technological aspects, such as production design and music, to the best of its ability as well. This is a very visually pleasing movie, courtesy of its grand cinematography and varying locations. The film sells the Roman setting without coming off as too distracting or inconsistent, thus taking one of the best parts of its predecessor and adding more to it 24 years later. 

The music, composed by Harry Gregson-Williams, has a strong sense of variety to it, with tracks that range from somber to intense, all corresponding appropriately to their own respective scene. These factors make the film a treat for both the eyes and ears, matching perfectly with the matching onscreen events.

They especially shine during the action sequences, themselves boasting strong fight choreography from the cast that adds a tense layer to the picture. These scenes are both brutal and engaging, keeping viewers guessing about what might happen in the next fight. 

There is one nitpick I do have with the fights, however. Some action scenes make use of animals such as baboons, rhinos, and even sharks. While these are undeniably unique setpieces, this adds more to the over-the-top nature of the film that can sometimes get a little too ridiculous. What doesn’t help is that the visual effects on some of these creatures stick out more than an iron chestplate in a dessert, breaking the illusion slightly. 

Don’t get me wrong, these sequences are a lot of fun, but they can feel a bit too silly in the scheme of the tone, especially since the movie is typically more grounded and serious.

Are You Not Entertained?

Overall, despite some derivative plot points and over-the-top moments that disrupt the tone, Gladiator II is a strong sequel, bolstered by an engaging script, great characters, fantastic lead performances, exciting action sequences, and beautiful technical elements. 

It might not live up to its predecessor, but this is still a great movie overall that left me excited to see what Scott does next. If you are a fan of the first Gladiator or love big-budget action or history films, this is definitely one worth checking out. 

Gladiator II is now playing in theaters nationwide, including Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas, just minutes from Centenary University’s campus. If you want to be entertained, head on over to the air-conditioned Colosseum to see the show for yourself. 

Even 24 years after the first film, Scott has proved his worthiness in the director’s chair as his movie rose above its challenges, provided something for audiences to enjoy, and emerged victorious in the end.

My Rating: