There’s nothing more uplifting than a sweeping historical epic to get the heart racing. When Gladiator thudded onto screens in 2000, it didn’t just win Oscars—but revived Hollywood’s enthusiasm for swords, sandals, and revenge thrillers. And with the sequel Gladiator II rampaging into cinemas, it’s a great time to take a nostalgic glance at the very best of the genre. Here are ten definite must-sees for any fan who fell in love with Maximus in the arena.
10. The Last Duel (2021)
Ridley Scott just can’t resist the lure of history, and frankly, we’re lucky for it. The Last Duel is a medieval drama told from three different points of view, peeling back layers of honor, betrayal, and survival. Matt Damon and Adam Driver face off as rival knights, while Jodie Comer delivers a powerhouse performance at the story’s center. The different perspectives build suspense until it all crashes together in one of the most raw and unflinching fight scenes to be put on film.
9. The Last Samurai (2003)
Tom Cruise leaves the fighter jets behind and sports a katana in this 19th-century Japanese saga. He plays a disillusioned American soldier who discovers new meaning in the company of samurai, and Ken Watanabe excels in the central role as Katsumoto. It’s half redemption story, half culture clash, all gussied up in gorgeous scenery and gore-and-guts combat. The film’s code of honor and obedience makes it a spiritual cousin to Gladiator.
8. Centurion (2010)
For a darker take on Roman warfare, Centurion delivers the gore and the mire in equal measure. Michael Fassbender leads a group of soldiers stranded in a foreign country, hunted across the wilderness of Britain by unforgiving Pict warriors. It’s spare, unflinching, and remorseless—less political thriller than survival thriller, yet just as bracing.
7. Alexander (2004)
Oliver Stone’s grand remaking of Alexander the Great’s campaigns goes for the home run with Colin Farrell as the legendary king. Though the reception for the movie was divided, the scope is undeniably huge, and the Battle of Gaugamela is still a breathtaking high point for its focus on strategy. Subsequent edits of the movie offer a tighter, more effective vision—well worth seeing again for those who appreciate expansive, larger-than-life epicography.
6. 300 (2006)
Few movies seared themselves into popular culture as Zack Snyder’s over-the-top visual rendering of the Spartans at Thermopylae. Gerard Butler roars, Persians drop in slow motion, and the imagery drives history into myth. It’s not the best representation, but as a spectacle, 300 is a contemporary classic of cinematic swagger.
5. The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
Before Daniel Day-Lewis became famous for disappearing into the acting method, he played Hawkeye in this epic American frontier drama. Based on the French and Indian War, the film combines romance, adventure, and tragedy with rousing action sequences and an unforgettable score. A reminder that epic filmmaking need not be swords and sandals.
4. Braveheart (1995)
Mel Gibson’s retelling of the Scottish insurrection is as incoherent with the truth as it is powerful with feeling. William Wallace’s fight for liberty is replete with legend—rousing harangues, grand battle spectacles, and the unforgettable blue war paint. It’s a movie that helped establish the benchmark for the genre among contemporary audiences, and one that remains hard-hitting in spite of its inaccuracies concerning history.
3. Spartacus (1960)
Stanley Kubrick’s Spartacus is the model for all gladiator flicks post-Spartacus. Kirk Douglas spearheads a slave uprising against Rome, and the film delivers spectacle, tragedy, and that immortal “I am Spartacus” line. Sixty years later, it still holds up, proof that great storytelling trumps even the most grand production.
2. Ben-Hur (1959)
If you’re looking for the ultimate old-school Hollywood epic, this is it. Charlton Heston’s Judah Ben-Hur endures betrayal, slavery, and a quest for revenge, all building to the legendary chariot race sequence that still hasn’t been topped. Clocking in at four hours, it’s long—but every frame is monumental.
1. Gladiator (2000) & Gladiator II (2024)
Of course, no list like this could end any other way. Ridley Scott’s Gladiator redefined what a historical epic could be, with Russell Crowe’s Maximus delivering both raw emotion and unforgettable action. Now, Gladiator II picks up the legacy with Paul Mescal’s Lucius stepping into the arena, Denzel Washington adding gravitas, and Scott once again orchestrating colossal battles—including some wild twists (yes, even sharks). Together, the films stand as the genre’s crown jewels.
So sit down with your popcorn, metaphorically put on that sword, and get in. These epics show that just because history is in the past, the excitement of watching it play out on screen never gets old.