The trend of blockbuster movies getting sequels is common and ongoing. However, after over 20 years, not many people were expecting a sequel to the visually spectacular movie Gladiator. For the past few months, Gladiator fans have ordered tickets to their nearest theaters or bought popcorn for their homes to get a look at this new movie. Having been shown in theaters and on streaming services such as Prime Video and Paramount+, Gladiator II hoped to deliver a movie just as amazing and unforgettable as the first one.
David Franzoni and John Logan, who wrote the mind-blowing 2001 movie, decided to return as screenwriters for Gladiator II. The movie takes place in Rome, sixteen years after the first film, starring Marcus Aurelius’ son, Lucius (Paul Mescal)
, who is forced to fight in the Colosseum. Director Ridley Scott returns to bring ancient Rome back to life with stunning visuals and elaborate battle sequences. The film also features Denzel Washington as a former gladiator who becomes a key figure in Lucius’ journey, and Pedro Pascal as a powerful Roman commander. It is important to know that the making of a second movie was discussed as early as June 2001 and announced in 2018. This means that this movie is not just a lousy cash grab sequel like Coming 2 America or Toy Story 4.
Gladiator II has become a hit on streaming, making $460 million at the box office. The sequel is ranked as the seventh most popular movie on streaming in the U.S. and comes ahead of Mulholland Drive (2001), Back in Action (2025), and Twin Peaks, but falls short of other titles such as The Substance (2024), Silo, and Landman. In fact, when looking only at movies, the sequel fares even better, coming in at third place.
Gladiator II reviews have been generally positive from critics and audiences alike. However, it is important to note that fans are likely to be more critical of sequels, as they believe that sequels ruin the original by removing what made the movie good in the first place. Reviews from both critics and audiences reflect this reception: “I thought it was just okay. Definitely not as good as the first one, and Denzel kinda felt out of place, ya know? 7 out of 10,” Union Catholic High School Senior Chase Gonzales ’25 said. “It was good, but I liked the first one more,” stated Union Catholic High School Senior Corey Bartley ’25. These sentiments echo a common theme among viewers: while the sequel delivers impressive action and production value, it struggles to match the impact of its predecessor.
It is said that Gladiator II could be looking at a break-even point of $500 million but could be as high as $625 million. While this could be seen as impressive, the cost of the sequel, which was $250 million, means it can now be considered a financial disappointment. So, while Gladiator II‘s streaming numbers have been impressive, its critical and commercial reception tells a more complex story. Even with the impressive cast and epic action set pieces, just not enough people went to the theater to see it.
