In the world of Hollywood sequels, Gladiator II faces the towering shadow of its predecessor. Directed once again by Ridley Scott, now 86 years old, this follow-up brings a new generation of vengeance to the Colosseum, aiming to recapture the fire and grit of Gladiator that hit cinemas in 2000.
The question is—can it recreate the alchemy that made the original an enduring classic?
Gone is Maximus, the loyal general-turned-gladiator played by Russell Crowe, whose tragic arc and iconic lines captivated audiences. In Gladiator II, the focus shifts to Lucius, now a young man forced into the blood-soaked sands of the arena after Rome’s armies, led by General Marcus Acacius, destroy his home and family. The setup is compelling, but can Paul Mescal as Lucius match the gravitas Crowe brought to Maximus? Mescal has some big sandals to fill.
With returning cast members Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi, alongside new additions Pascal and Denzel Washington, there’s undeniable talent behind the sequel. Yet, as many reviewers have noted, it faces a unique challenge: how to offer a fresh take on Rome’s brutal gladiatorial world without treading on the glory of the original. Gladiator II also promises a wider lens on the politics of the Roman Empire, weaving in the reign of the young, unstable co-emperors Caracalla and Geta. This shift from the personal revenge saga of Gladiator to a broader struggle for the empire’s future could expand the story’s scope but risks diluting the intimate, character-driven narrative that made Gladiator unforgettable.
Announced over two decades after the original film and delayed by Hollywood’s 2023 labor disputes, Gladiator II has arrived with high expectations and the burden of nostalgia. Its November 2024 release has been met with mixed reviews, with most comparing it to its predecessor. For a sample of what the critics have to say about Gladiator II, see below.
JUDGEMENT
“In the middle of all this bloody madness is Paul Mescal’s Lucius: the strong, still centre of the movie, around whom all hell is frequently let loose. Mescal effortlessly shifts into leading-man territory with this performance, imbuing the character with an innate dignity and steely determination as he rises to gladiatorial fame, although he isn’t above biting a chunk out of a baboon if need be. Like Crowe’s Maximus in the original film, Lucius doesn’t have much choice about becoming a gladiator; he’s bought by former slave-turned-ruthless Roman power-broker Macrinus (Denzel Washington), who’s keen to turn him into the star of his stable of beefy human fighting machines. Washington practically steals the whole film, by the way, palpably revelling in the chance to let rip as a smug, self-satisfied schemer of the highest order. Some of his line-readings are pure camp.” Boyd Hilton, Empire
“At some point, however, Scott and screenwriter David Scarpa seem to have twigged that this whole thing was one great big facsimile of the original slowing making its way out of the machine, more a reboot than a sequel. So they decided to mix things up, concluding the revenge arc and pivoting towards another oft-explored space—the old ‘who will lead Rome?’ chestnut. There’s a bizarre focus on animalia, Lucius’ preliminary foes including ferocious baboons, rendered in dodgy-looking CGI. Later he takes on a warrior riding a rhino and, most preposterously, engages in a naval battle in the Colosseum, the arena turned into a swimming pool filled with ravenous sharks.” Luke Buckmaster, Flicks
“In Gladiator II, the storyline gets muffled and side-tracked. Even at 148 minutes, the film feels rushed and incomplete, with Scott lurching happily into his battles but, as he did in last year’s Napoleon, leaving the connective tissue frayed and unfinished. In the lead, Mescal (Aftersun) is probably very good. But, cruelly, we have all seen Crowe play a near-identical role, in a better film. The real highlight here is Denzel Washington’s scheming Macrinus, another former slave who perhaps wants to be emperor himself one day, even if his motives are murky and contrived. Washington is so good, he eclipses everyone else on the screen. If Gladiator II had focused on telling Macrinus’ story – and found a better place for his arc to land – it could have been a far more entertaining and engaging film.” Graeme Tuckett, Stuff
“There are nice nods to the first film in an enhanced role for Neilson, and the reappearance of original cast members Derek Jacobi and Djimon Hounsou. And a couple of hat-tips to the cinematic genre that Scott single-handedly revived: there’s a direct homage to Spartacus’s most famous scene, while the pallid, wet-eyed actors playing Geta and Caracalla are surely channeling Malcolm McDowell in Caligula. The script, by David Scarpa, is highly efficient in the way it martials and concludes the original story, even if the dialogue feels somewhat emulative. The film has been criticised for historical inaccuracies, which surely misses the point. This is a fantasy of underdog retaliation against totalitarianism, where American and Irish accents mix, with a hero who bleeds but can take a metal-edged shield in the face without blinking.” Nick Curtis, The Standard
“The good news about the new film is that it’s every bit as eye-popping and outrageous as a Gladiator sequel should be. Indeed, it’s so stuffed with wildly grandiose set-pieces that the repeated sight of its star, Paul Mescal, trying to outdo the tiger-wrestling scene from the original almost qualifies as a running joke. Want to see him bite a chunk out of a bloodthirsty baboon, face down a hard-charging rhino, or battle a slew of Roman soldiers in the shark-infested waters of a flooded Colosseum? Well, Gladiator II has you covered.” Alistair Harkness, The Scotsman
“Gladiator II wouldn’t be the first sequel to become bogged down in its resemblance to its forebear, but the various superficial modifications made to characterizations and action sequences operate under faulty bigger-is-better sequel logic. The first film had a crazy emperor; the sequel has two crazy emperors — and another crazy opportunist for good measure! Gladiator had CGI tigers fighting against warriors in the arena. Well, Gladiator II has CGI rhinos and sharks! While Gladiator was sorely lacking in aquatic battles featuring hyper-digital-looking water, rest assured that Gladiator II makes up for it in spades.” Vikram Murthi, Indie Wire
