
Reviews — Gladiator II
Audience write-ups from TMDB
LuanBunyak
The narrative picks up where the initial film concluded, and while my expectations were low going in, I ended up being pleasantly surprised. It’s an enjoyable film that provides plenty of amusement. 7/10
FerdinandoLM
It's hard to believe $250 million resulted in something like this—essentially, monkeys gone wild. Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2 plays out more like a joke than anything else. The actor portraying Pascal's character seems completely superfluous; he’s just there to extend the movie's length without adding anything of substance or significance. Even D.W., who is clearly capable, finds himself stuck with a poorly developed …
RalphRahal
Going back to Gladiator felt like it could be a chance to build on what made the original so powerful. What we received, though, was more of a reworking that comes across as a disappointment rather than an exciting continuation. The beginning moves too quickly through familiar ground. A military leader, forged in battle, suffers loss and finds himself enslaved. Does this sound like you’ve heard it before? It mirro…
Chandler Danier
Denzel Washington is fantastic, and I’m a big fan of his work. He replicates a mannerism previously seen in Joaquin Phoenix’s character from the earlier film. Even that wasn't enough to redeem what ended up being a truly disappointing movie. The special effects are surprisingly poor, somehow inferior to those in the initial installment. While the depictions of historical conflicts have some appeal, they too failed…
Elif Duru Alaca
It's fantastic to see this film get a follow-up after all this time, and it truly lives up to expectations; I recommend seeing it on the big screen.
MovieGuys
It’s hard to get excited about this one. I wouldn't say it's terrible, but it felt like a budget version of Gladiator. Think of those generic store-brand underpants—they work fine, but they aren't as good as brands like Bendon or Jockey. This film follows in the footsteps of the original, but mostly feels like a stripped-down remake of a much better movie. The plot is fairly straightforward and resembles the 2000 …
GenerationofSwine
It shouldn’t be shocking that it pushes a progressive agenda. What did catch me off guard was the spoiler warnings people are issuing. It makes no sense. Like many sequels and remakes, this feels like a stripped-down version of Gladiator—all the cleverness and enjoyment has been removed. Essentially, it's the same film, just condensed. There are two emperors instead of one. Rome is crumbling, but not due to the us…
Chris Sawin
Gladiator II delivers some striking action moments. The battles unfolding within the Colosseum are exceptional, even if they take significant liberties with historical accuracy. A particular scene involving a monkey highlights Hanno’s (Paul Mescal) skill not just as a combatant but also in his interactions with others. There's also a rhino sequence that mirrors Bugs Bunny’s encounters with Toro the Bull from Chuck Jo…
DWP
It's hard to avoid drawing comparisons, and it’s unlikely that this sequel will reach the same legendary status as the original film from 2000. Nevertheless, it is quite enjoyable, boasting solid elements across the board, including exciting action sequences and a skillfully written story. The acting is commendable, with some performances proving particularly delightful.
CinemaSerf
It’s been sixteen years since "Maximus" (Russell Crowe) met his end, and now ancient Rome is ruled by twins "Geta" (Joseph Quinn) and "Caracalla" (Fred Hechinger), with their general "Acacias" (Pedro Pascal) still expanding the empire. Acacias leads an attack on the home of "Nanno" (Paul Mescal) and his wife, "Arishat" (Yuval Gonen), which doesn’t go according to plan; soon after, Arishat has died and Nanno is a slav…
r96sk
I thought *Gladiator II* was fantastic! It’s funny, I didn't see the first movie until about three years ago, but I’ve been looking forward to this one ever since I really liked Russell Crowe’s film. To be honest, I think I might have even enjoyed this sequel a bit more—at least it's just as good, in my opinion. It is noticeable that Crowe isn't around, but everyone involved does a great job of compensating for hi…
griggs79
_Gladiator II_ feels like a refined version of its predecessor, clearly demonstrating Ridley Scott’s skill as a filmmaker. Coming after his uneven _Napoleon_ last year—a project that didn’t quite live up to expectations—this new film manages to retain what made the first one special while adding fresh aspects, establishing it as a deserving continuation. Paul Mescal, taking over the part previously played by a yo…
Dean
It’s just another poorly made film pushed by Hollywood that feels manufactured to meet a specific agenda. The portrayal of historical figures is inaccurate; for instance, the depiction of Black rulers within the Roman Empire isn't supported by historical evidence. It comes across as blatant misinformation.
Manuel São Bento
While *Gladiator II* might not have quite the same revolutionary effect as its predecessor, it's still a remarkable moviegoing event, successfully immersing viewers in a sweeping story of considerable feeling and visual scale. Ridley Scott demonstrates his skill once more at combining storytelling, action sequences, and underlying ideas, creating a follow-up that’s notable for its excellent craftsmanship and stron…


