Gladiator dropped in 2000 — that’s over two decades ago. Ridley Scott directed the film, and Russell Crowe went full beast ...

From 180 to 192 C.E., Emperor Commodus ruled ancient Rome with an insatiable lust for power that brought an end to the fabled Pax Romana.

The original film follows Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius, a Roman general betrayed by Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the son of the emperor, who kills Meridius' wife and child.

The movie depicted Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) murdered by his son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), which is not what happened in real life.

The Ridley Scott sequel Gladiator II weaves in and out of the historical record. Here’s what really happened to Lucius Verus, Lucilla, Macrinus, the twin emperors, and more.

What is “Gladiator 2” about? The second film in Scott’s Roman Empire saga picks up 16 years after Lucius (Paul Mescal) watched his uncle Maximus kill Commodus in the first film.

The Discovery of a Roman Gladiator School Brings the Famed Fighters Back to Life Located in Austria, the archaeological site is providing rich new details about the lives and deaths of the arena ...

Another real-life Roman emperor, Commodus, the demented son of the esteemed Marcus Aurelius, was portrayed by Christopher Plummer in 1964’s The Fall of the Roman Empire and, more famously, by ...

Ridley Scott has a specific reason as to why his Roman leaders in both 'Gladiator' and 'Gladiator II' were unhinged: No wonder they were f--king crazy.

Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook The story of Gladiator kicks off in 180 AD. In the opening scene, the Roman Empire reaches its ...