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The Greatest Best Picture Oscar Winners of All Time

Moviefone presents the 30 greatest Best Picture Oscar winners of all time.

The 98th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, March 15th and by its conclusion a new film will be added to the exclusive list of Best Picture winners.

Over the previous 97 years, many classic movies have received this honor from ‘In the Heat of the Night‘ to ‘Titanic.’ But for every ‘Schindler’s List‘ or ‘Moonlight‘ there is a film like ‘Driving Miss Daisy‘ or ‘American Beauty‘ that has not aged well.
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And let’s not forget the all-time classic movies that were completely snubbed such as ‘Pulp Fiction‘ or ‘The Shawshank Redemption,’ and did not receive the Academy recognition they deserved.

In honor or the upcoming Oscar ceremony, we’ve decided to countdown the 30 greatest Best Picture winners of all-time.

Let’s begin!

Related Article: ‘Sinners’ and ‘One Battle After Another’ Lead The 2026 Oscar Nominees

30. ‘The Sting‘ (1973)

(L to R) Robert Redford and Paul Newman in ‘The Sting’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

A novice con man (Robert Redford) teams up with an acknowledged master (Paul Newman) to avenge the murder of a mutual friend by pulling off the ultimate big con and swindling a fortune from a big-time mobster (Robert Shaw).
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29. ‘The Sound of Music‘ (1965)

In the years before World War II, a tomboyish postulant (Julie Andrews) at an Austrian abbey is hired as a governess in the home of a widowed naval captain (Christopher Plummer) with seven children and brings a new love of life and music into the home.
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28. ‘Rain Man‘ (1988)

When car dealer Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise) learns that his estranged father has died, he returns home to Cincinnati, where he discovers that he has a savant older brother named Raymond (Dustin Hoffman) and that his father’s $3 million fortune is being left to the mental institution in which Raymond lives. Motivated by his father’s money, Charlie checks Raymond out of the facility in order to return with him to Los Angeles. The brothers’ cross-country trip ends up changing both their lives.
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27. ‘Parasite‘ (2019)

All unemployed, Ki-taek’s (Song Kang-ho) family takes peculiar interest in the wealthy and glamorous Parks for their livelihood until they get entangled in an unexpected incident.
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26. ‘Midnight Cowboy‘ (1969)

Joe Buck (Jon Voight) is a wide-eyed hustler from Texas hoping to score big with wealthy New York City women; he finds a companion in Enrico “Ratso” Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman), an ailing swindler with a bum leg and a quixotic fantasy of escaping to Florida.
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25. ‘The Departed’ (2006)

(L to R) Leonardo DiCaprio and Jack Nicholson in ‘The Departed’. Photo: Warner Bros.

To take down South Boston’s Irish Mafia, the police send in one of their own to infiltrate the underworld, not realizing the syndicate has done likewise. While an undercover cop (Leonardo DiCaprio) curries favor with the mob kingpin (Jack Nicholson), a career criminal (Matt Damon) rises through the police ranks. But both sides soon discover there’s a mole among them.
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24. ‘On the Waterfront‘ (1954)

A prizefighter-turned-longshoreman (Marlon Brando) with a conscience goes up against labor leaders to expose corruption, extortion, and murder among the union ranks.
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23. ‘The Hurt Locker‘ (2009)

During the Iraq War, a Sergeant recently assigned to an army bomb squad is put at odds with his squad mates due to his maverick way of handling his work.
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22. ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once‘ (2022)

Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, collectively known as Daniels, the film is a hilarious and big-hearted sci-fi action adventure about an exhausted Chinese American woman (Michelle Yeoh) who can’t seem to finish her taxes.
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21. ‘Platoon‘ (1987)

As a young and naive recruit in Vietnam, Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen) faces a moral crisis when confronted with the horrors of war and the duality of man.
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20. ‘Anora’ (2024)

(L to R) Mikey Madison as Ani and Mark Eydelshteyn as Ivan in ‘Anora’. Photo: Courtesy of NEON.

Mikey Madison captivates as Ani, a young sex worker from Brooklyn whose life takes an unexpected turn when she meets and impulsively marries Vanya (Mark Eydelshteyn), the impetuous son of a Russian billionaire. However, when Vanya’s parents catch wind of the union, they send their henchmen to annul the marriage, setting off a wild chase through the streets of New York.
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19. ‘Unforgiven’ (1992)

William Munny (Clint Eastwood) is a retired, once-ruthless killer turned gentle widower and hog farmer. To help support his two motherless children, he accepts one last bounty-hunter mission to find the men who brutalized a prostitute. Joined by his former partner (Morgan Freeman) and a cocky greenhorn, he takes on a corrupt sheriff (Gene Hackman).
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18. ‘Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)‘ (2014)

A fading actor (Michael Keaton) best known for his portrayal of a popular superhero attempts to mount a comeback by appearing in a Broadway play. As opening night approaches, his attempts to become more altruistic, rebuild his career, and reconnect with friends and family prove more difficult than expected. Also starring Edward Norton, Naomi Watts, and Emma Stone.
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17. ‘In the Heat of the Night‘ (1967)

African-American Philadelphia police detective Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier) is arrested on suspicion of murder by Bill Gillespie (Rod Steiger), the racist police chief of tiny Sparta, Mississippi. After Tibbs proves not only his own innocence but that of another man, he joins forces with Gillespie to track down the real killer. Their investigation takes them through every social level of the town, with Tibbs making enemies as well as unlikely friends as he hunts for the truth.
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16. ‘Casablanca‘ (1943)

In Casablanca, Morocco in December 1941, a cynical American expatriate (Humphrey Bogart) meets a former lover (Ingrid Bergman), with unforeseen complications.
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15. ‘Gladiator‘ (2000)

Russell Crowe in ‘Gladiator’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

After the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris), his devious son takes power and demotes Maximus (Russell Crowe), one of Rome’s most capable generals who Marcus preferred. Eventually, Maximus is forced to become a gladiator and battle to the death against other men for the amusement of paying audiences.
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14. ‘Titanic‘ (1997)

101-year-old Rose DeWitt Bukater (Gloria Stuart) tells the story of her life aboard the Titanic, 84 years later. A young Rose (Kate Winslet) boards the ship with her mother and fiancé. Meanwhile, Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Fabrizio De Rossi (Danny Nucci) win third-class tickets aboard the ship. Rose tells the whole story from Titanic’s departure through to its death—on its first and last voyage—on April 15, 1912.
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13. ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest‘ (1975)

A petty criminal (Jack Nicholson) fakes insanity to serve his sentence in a mental ward rather than prison. He soon finds himself as a leader to the other patients—and an enemy to the cruel, domineering nurse (Louise Fletcher) who runs the ward.
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12. ‘Argo’ (2012)

As the Iranian revolution reaches a boiling point, a CIA ‘exfiltration’ specialist (Ben Affleck) concocts a risky plan to free six Americans who have found shelter at the home of the Canadian ambassador. Also starring Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, and John Goodman.
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11. ‘Moonlight‘ (2016)

The tender, heartbreaking story of a young man’s struggle to find himself, told across three defining chapters in his life as he experiences the ecstasy, pain, and beauty of falling in love, while grappling with his own sexuality.
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10. ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ (2003)

Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn Elessar in director Peter Jackson’s ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.’ Photo: Warner Bros.

Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) is revealed as the heir to the ancient kings as he, Gandalf and the other members of the broken fellowship struggle to save Gondor from Sauron’s forces. Meanwhile, Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) take the ring closer to the heart of Mordor, the dark lord’s realm.
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9. ‘Rocky’ (1976)

When world heavyweight boxing champion, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) wants to give an unknown fighter a shot at the title as a publicity stunt, his handlers choose palooka Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) , an uneducated collector for a Philadelphia loan shark. Rocky teams up with trainer Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith) to make the most of this once in a lifetime break.
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8. ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1991)

Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) is a top student at the FBI’s training academy. Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn) wants Clarice to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), a brilliant psychiatrist who is also a violent psychopath, serving life behind bars for various acts of murder and cannibalism. Crawford believes that Lecter may have insight into a case and that Starling, as an attractive young woman, may be just the bait to draw him out.
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7. ‘Oppenheimer‘ (2023)

The story of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s (Cillian Murphy) role in the development of the atomic bomb during World War II.
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6. ‘Schindler’s List‘ (1994)

The true story of how businessman Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) saved over a thousand Jewish lives from the Nazis while they worked as slaves in his factory during World War II.
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5. ‘Spotlight’ (2015)

(L to R) Michael Keaton and Mark Ruffalo in ‘Spotlight.’ Photo: Open Road Films.

The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core. The movie stars Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, and Rachel McAdams.
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4. ‘The French Connection’ (1971)

Tough narcotics detective ‘Popeye’ Doyle (Gene Hackman) is in hot pursuit of a suave French drug dealer (Fernando Rey) who may be the key to a huge heroin-smuggling operation.
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3. ‘The Godfather Part II‘ (1974)

In the continuing saga of the Corleone crime family, a young Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) grows up in Sicily and in 1910s New York. In the 1950s, Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) attempts to expand the family business into Las Vegas, Hollywood and Cuba.
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2. ‘Lawrence of Arabia‘ (1962)

During World War I, English officer Thomas Edward ‘T.E.’ Lawrence (Peter O’Toole) sets out to unite and lead the diverse, often warring, Arab tribes to fight the Turks.
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1. ‘The Godfather’ (1972)

(L to R) James Caan, Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and John Cazale in ‘The Godfather’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Spanning the years 1945 to 1955, a chronicle of the fictional Italian-American Corleone crime family. When organized crime family patriarch, Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) barely survives an attempt on his life, his youngest son, Michael (Al Pacino) steps in to take care of the would-be killers, launching a campaign of bloody revenge.
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March 13, 2026
Every Ridley Scott Movie, Ranked

(L to R) Pedro Pascal, Director Ridley Scott and Paul Mescal on the set of ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Ridley Scott is one of the greatest directors of all time!

The Oscar-winning filmmaker’s resume includes some of the most popular movies of the last 40 years such as ‘Alien,’ ‘Blade Runner,’ ‘Thelma & Louise,’ ‘Gladiator,’ ‘Black Hawk Down,’ ‘American Gangster‘ and ‘The Martian.’

The director’s latest, ‘Gladiator II‘, opens in theaters on November 22nd and stars Paul Mescal in the title role. In honor of the new sequel, Moviefone is counting down every film Ridley Scott has ever made.

Let’s begin!

29. ‘The Duellists‘ (1977)

In 1800, as Napoleon Bonaparte rises to power in France, a rivalry erupts between Armand (Keith Carradine) and Gabriel (Harvey Keitel), two lieutenants in the French Army, over a perceived insult. For over a decade, they engage in a series of duels amidst larger conflicts, including the failed French invasion of Russia in 1812, and shifts in the political and social systems of Europe.
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28. ‘1492: Conquest of Paradise‘ (1992)

1492: Conquest of Paradise depicts Christopher Columbus’ (Gérard Depardieu) discovery of The New World and his effect on the indigenous people.
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27. ‘The Counselor‘ (2013)

A lawyer (Michael Fassbender) finds himself in far over his head when he attempts to get involved in drug trafficking.
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26. ‘All the Money in the World‘ (2017)

The story of the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III (Charlie Plummer) and the desperate attempt by his devoted mother (Michelle Williams) to convince his billionaire grandfather Jean Paul Getty (Christopher Plummer) to pay the ransom.
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25. ‘Alien: Covenant‘ (2017)

(L to R) Danny McBride and Katherine Waterston in ‘Alien: Covenant’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

Bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, the crew of the colony ship ‘Covenant’ discovers what is thought to be an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world—which has a sole inhabitant: the ‘synthetic’, David (Michael Fassbender), survivor of the doomed Prometheus expedition.
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24. ‘The Last Duel‘ (2021)

King Charles VI (Alex Lawther) declares that Knight Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) settle his dispute with his squire, Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver), by challenging him to a duel.
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23. ‘Body of Lies‘ (2008)

The CIA’s hunt is on for the mastermind of a wave of terrorist attacks. Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio) is the agency’s man on the ground, moving from place to place, scrambling to stay ahead of ever-shifting events. An eye in the sky – a satellite link – watches Ferris. At the other end of that real-time link is the CIA’s Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe), strategizing events from thousands of miles away. And as Ferris nears the target, he discovers trust can be just as dangerous as it is necessary for survival.
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22. ‘Legend‘ (1986)

Set in a timeless mythical forest inhabited by fairies, goblins, unicorns and mortals, this fantastic story follows a mystical forest dweller (Tom Cruise), chosen by fate, to undertake a heroic quest. He must save the beautiful Princess Lili (Mia Sara) and defeat the demonic Lord of Darkness (Tim Curry), or the world will be plunged into a never-ending ice age.
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21. ‘Prometheus‘ (2012)

A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.
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20. ‘A Good Year‘ (2006)

Russell Crowe in ‘A Good Year’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

Failed London banker Max Skinner (Russell Crowe) inherits his uncle’s (Albert Finney) vineyard in Provence, where he spent many childhood holidays. Upon his arrival, he meets a woman from California (Abbie Cornish) who tells Max she is his long-lost cousin and that the property is hers.
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19. ‘Robin Hood‘ (2010)

When soldier Robin (Russell Crowe) happens upon the dying Robert of Loxley (Douglas Hodge), he promises to return the man’s sword to his family in Nottingham. There, he assumes Robert’s identity; romances his widow, Marion (Cate Blanchett); and draws the ire of the town’s sheriff (Matthew Macfadyen) and King John’s henchman, Godfrey (Mark Strong).
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18. ‘Exodus: Gods and Kings‘ (2014)

The defiant leader Moses (Christian Bale) rises up against the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses (Joel Edgerton), setting 400,000 slaves on a monumental journey of escape from Egypt and its terrifying cycle of deadly plagues.
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17. ‘Hannibal‘ (2001)

After having successfully eluded the authorities for years, Hannibal (Anthony Hopkins) peacefully lives in Italy in disguise as an art scholar. Trouble strikes again when he’s discovered leaving a deserving few dead in the process. He returns to America to make contact with now disgraced Agent Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore), who is suffering the wrath of a malicious FBI rival (Ray Liotta) as well as the media.
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16. ‘House of Gucci‘ (2021)

When Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga), an outsider from humble beginnings, marries into the Gucci family, her unbridled ambition begins to unravel the family legacy and triggers a reckless spiral of betrayal, decadence, revenge, and ultimately… murder.
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15. ‘Kingdom of Heaven‘ (2005)

Orlando Bloom in ‘Kingdom in Heaven’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

After his wife dies, a blacksmith named Balian (Orlando Bloom) is thrust into royalty, political intrigue and bloody holy wars during the Crusades.
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14. ‘Matchstick Men‘ (2003)

A phobic con artist (Nicolas Cage) and his protege (Sam Rockwell) are on the verge of pulling off a lucrative swindle when the con artist’s teenage daughter (Alison Lohman) arrives unexpectedly.
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13. ‘White Squall‘ (1996)

In 1960, a hardy group of prep school students boards an old-fashioned sailing ship. With Capt. Christopher Sheldon (Jeff Bridges) at the helm, the oceangoing voyage is intended to teach the boys fortitude and discipline. But the youthful crew are about to get some unexpected instruction in survival when they get caught in the clutches of a white squall storm.
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12. ‘Someone to Watch Over Me‘ (1987)

Claire Gregory (Mimi Rogers), an upper class New York personality, witnesses a murder in a luxurious nightclub. Detective Mike Keegan (Tom Berenger), recently promoted, is assigned to protect her.
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11. ‘Napoleon‘ (2023)

An epic that details the checkered rise and fall of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (Joaquin Phoenix) and his relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine (Vanessa Kirby).
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10. ‘Gladiator II‘ (2024)

Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus (Russell Crowe) at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.
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9. ‘G.I. Jane‘ (1997)

In response to political pressure from Senator Lillian DeHaven (Anne Bancroft), the U.S. Navy begins a program that would allow for the eventual integration of women into its services. The program begins with a single trial candidate, Lieutenant Jordan O’Neil (Demi Moore), who is chosen specifically for her femininity. O’Neil enters the grueling training program under the command of John James Urgayle (Viggo Mortensen), who unfairly pushes O’Neil until her determination wins his respect.
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8. ‘Black Rain‘ (1989)

Two New York cops (Michael Douglas and Andy Garcia) get involved in a gang war between members of the Yakuza, the Japanese Mafia. They arrest one of their killers and are ordered to escort him back to Japan. However, in Japan he manages to escape, and as they try to track him down, they get deeper and deeper into the Japanese Mafia scene and they have to learn that they can only win by playing the game—the Japanese way.
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7. ‘American Gangster‘ (2007)

Following the death of his employer and mentor, Bumpy Johnson (Clarence Williams III), Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) establishes himself as the number one importer of heroin in the Harlem district of Manhattan. He does so by buying heroin directly from the source in South East Asia and he comes up with a unique way of importing the drugs into the United States. Partly based on a true story.
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6. ‘The Martian‘ (2015)

During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.
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5. ‘Blade Runner‘ (1982)

1982’s ‘Blade Runner’ Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

In the smog-choked dystopian Los Angeles of 2019, blade runner Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) is called out of retirement to terminate a quartet of replicants who have escaped to Earth seeking their creator for a way to extend their short life spans.
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4. ‘Thelma & Louise‘ (1991)

Whilst on a short weekend getaway, Louise (Susan Sarandon) shoots a man who had tried to rape Thelma (Geena Davis). Due to the incriminating circumstances, they make a run for it and thus a cross country chase ensues for the two fugitives. Along the way, both women rediscover the strength of their friendship and surprising aspects of their personalities and self-strengths in the trying times.
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3. ‘Black Hawk Down‘ (2001)

When U.S. Rangers and an elite Delta Force team attempt to kidnap two underlings of a Somali warlord, their Black Hawk helicopters are shot down, and the Americans suffer heavy casualties, facing intense fighting from the militia on the ground.
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2. ‘Alien‘ (1979)

During its return to the earth, commercial spaceship Nostromo intercepts a distress signal from a distant planet. When a three-member team of the crew discovers a chamber containing thousands of eggs on the planet, a creature inside one of the eggs attacks an explorer. The entire crew is unaware of the impending nightmare set to descend upon them when the alien parasite planted inside its unfortunate host is birthed.
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1. ‘Gladiator‘ (2000)

Russell Crowe in ‘Gladiator’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

In the year 180, the death of emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) throws the Roman Empire into chaos. Maximus (Russell Crowe) is one of the Roman army’s most capable and trusted generals and a key advisor to the emperor. As Marcus’ devious son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) ascends to the throne, Maximus is set to be executed. He escapes, but is captured by slave traders. Renamed Spaniard and forced to become a gladiator, Maximus must battle to the death with other men for the amusement of paying audiences.
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November 19, 2024
Ridley Scott Re-Teaming with Paul Mescal for ‘The Dog Stars’
Director Ridley Scott and Paul Mescal on the set of ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Preview:
- ‘Gladiator II’ director Ridley Scott is re-teaming with that film’s star Paul Mescal for a new movie.
- Mescal will star in ‘The Dog Stars.’
- It’s the story of a man on a mission in a dangerous near-future world.
Ridley Scott and his ‘Gladiator II’ star Paul Mescal clearly enjoyed a solid collaboration on the incoming Roman epic sequel.

How else to explain the fact that they’re both clearing space in busy calendars to re-team on a new movie called ‘The Dog Stars’?
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With both Scott and Mescal out stumping for the ‘Gladiator’ sequel, Deadline reports that Scott has decided to next make the adaptation of Peter Heller’s 2012 post-apocalyptic novel.

Related Article: Director Ridley Scott Says He has Ideas For a Third ‘Gladiator’ Movie

What’s the story of ‘The Dog Stars’?

Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Adapted by ‘The Revenant’s Mark L. Smith, ‘The Dog Stars’ is set in a near future where an unnamed pandemic has decimated American society.

A civilian pilot lives a lonely life on an abandoned Colorado airbase with his dog and a tough ex-marine. The two men couldn’t be more mismatched but depend on each other to fend off roaming invaders.

When a random transmission beams through the radio of his 1956 Cessna, the voice ignites a hope deep inside the pilot that a better life exists outside their tightly controlled perimeter. Risking everything, he flies past his point of no return and follows its static-broken trail.

The new movie will squeeze into a potential spring filming spot for the director, who as always has been juggling a number of potential projects. It appears this will leapfrog ahead of his planned Bee Gees biopic.

Mescal, meanwhile, will be taking to the Broadway stage this winter, in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire.’ Mescal is reprising his turn as Stanley Kowalski from the praised London production.

Scott has also expressed an interest in reuniting with Mescal for another project, one even more closely linked to their new release –– a third ‘Gladiator’ outing, as reported recently.

What has happened with ‘Gladiator III’ so far?

Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

While a third ‘Gladiator’ movie is strictly at the discussion stage right now, Scott told France’s Premiere magazine that he’s considering ideas for it.

Here’s what Scott had to say:

“I’m already playing with the idea of ‘Gladiator III’ “No, seriously! I lit the fuse… The ending of ‘Gladiator II’ evokes that of ‘The Godfather,’ with Michael Corleone finding himself with a job he didn’t want and wondering, ‘And now, Father, What am I doing?’ So, the next film will be about a man who doesn’t want to be where he is.”

That concept points to a return for Paul Mescal, who plays main character Lucius.

In a follow-up interview with the magazine, the actor admitted that he’d spoken to Scott about a potential next outing.

This is what Mescal had to say:

“Yes, Ridley spoke to me about it, but only yesterday! So I’m waiting to see what will happen, but it interests me, of course. But we must not rush anything: the story must hold together.”

Whether it interests Mescal or not is only part of the issue here; ‘Gladiator II’ is a big, expensive bet by Paramount (to the tune of, according to different reports, of between $200 and $300 million), so it will need to make some serious profit to trigger spending on another sequel.

But let’s be honest here, if any director can wrangle studios to his will, it’s Scott.

‘Gladiator II’ battles its way into theaters on November 22nd.

(L to R) Director Ridley Scott and Paul Mescal on the set of ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Other Movies and TV Shows Similar to ‘Gladiator II’:
- ‘Spartacus‘ (1960)
- ‘Ben-Hur‘ (1969)
- ‘Gladiator‘ (2000)
- ‘Troy‘ (2004)
- ‘Kingdom of Heaven‘ (2005)
- ‘Rome‘ (2005 – 2007)
- ‘300‘ (2007)
- ‘Centurion‘ (2010)
- ‘The Eagle‘ (2011)
- ‘Pompeii‘ (2014)
- ‘Ben-Hur‘ (2016)
- ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth‘ (2021)
- ‘Those About to Die‘ (2024)
Buy Tickets: ‘Gladiator II’ Movie Showtimes

Buy ‘Gladiator’ Movies On Amazon
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November 11, 2024
Movie Review: ‘Gladiator II’
Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Opening in theaters on November 22nd, ‘Gladiator II’ marks Ridley Scott’s long-awaited return to the political machinations and violence-filled arena of his 2000 hit, which helped make Russell Crowe a star.

The new movie naturally doesn’t feature Crowe’s Maximus, but his legacy and imprint is all over the sequel much in the way that ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ called back to its own original film.

Related Article: Director Ridley Scott Says He has Ideas For a Third ‘Gladiator’ Movie

Will ‘Gladiator II’ Echo Through Eternity?

(L to R) Pedro Pascal plays General Acacius and Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

It was surprising that, given the cultural impact, box office success and Oscar success of the 2000 film, Paramount didn’t simply try to capitalize with a sequel. Part of that might be explained by Ridley Scott trying to find a good reason and the right story (after all, his main character, soldier-turned-gladiator Maximus, played by Russell Crowe –– spoiler alert –– dies at the end).

Scott has finally found something he’s happy with, setting the narrative 16 years after the events of the original, yet featuring plenty of links to that movie. In fact, there are some elements that are embedded as deeply as a trident in flesh.

It’s welcome that the director waited and made sure he was truly ready to return to this world and has rustled up an effective cast to carry on the legacy (a word that hangs heavy over this film) and can deploy even more spectacular moments in the arena.

Script and Direction

(L to R) Pedro Pascal, Director Ridley Scott and Paul Mescal on the set of ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Following a long process of development, with a lot of writers trying their hand at a new screenplay, the director has worked with David Scarpa, who scripted previous movies such as ‘Napoleon’ and ‘All the Money in the World’ for Scott. With a story credit for Peter Craig, the new screenplay is robust and meaty, full of political maneuvering and the sort of big speeches about honor and victory that you might expect from a ‘Gladiator’ movie.

Does it lean a little too heavily on the first film at times, whole sequences feeling like callbacks to it? Yes, but that doesn’t detract from the overall power of the new entry. There are the heroic central characters, sneery villains and one standout role that will have people talking.

Director Ridley Scott and Paul Mescal on the set of ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

As for Scott’s direction, the 86-year-old filmmaker shows no sign of slowing down and invests the new movie will plenty of panache. In fact, this is one of his best films in years, balancing tone and battles far more assuredly than ‘Napoleon’ ever managed.

He and his team have also managed to conjure up some fine fights, making this the rare sequel that can stand alongside the original, while not quite reaching the same quality threshold.

‘Gladiator II’: Performances

Paul Mescal as Lucius

Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Paul Mescal, whose star has been rising fast on the back of performances in shows such as ‘Normal People’ and movies including ‘Aftersun’ and ‘All of Us Strangers’ is solid as Lucius –– the grown up version of the young character we met in the original.

He’s suitably fiery in the role, driven by rage and vengeance, but a measured leader of men much like Crowe, and indeed a very similar character. While Lucius is perhaps not as memorable as Maximus (partly because he’s a similar well-used heroic type), Mescal entirely convincing in the role and very able in the fight scenes.

Denzel Washington as Macrinus

Denzel Washington plays Macrinus in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

If there is a standout in this film, it’s Washington, who steals every scene he so much as wanders into and eats scenery like it’s a fine steak dinner. Macrinus is an excellent fit for the actor, and between his superb outfits and wily attitude, he seems certain to be in consideration for a supporting actor Oscar this year.

Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta and Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla

Joseph Quinn plays Emperor Geta in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Taking on the sneery ruler role (the original film’s version was Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix), Quinn and Hechinger make a great double act. Pasty-faced and cruel, they bring different shades to the twin emperors.

Quinn is, initially at least, the more ambitious of the pair, with little regard for the people. But it’s Hechinger who ends up making the bigger impact with his combo of Salacious Crumb-style cackles while watching gladiators fight and his monkey sidekick (another scene-stealer).

Connie Nielsen as Lucilla

Connie Nielsen plays Lucilla in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Nielsen reprises her role as Lucius’ mother, here given more depth since the grown version of her son is bitter and resentful since she packed him off to Africa years ago to protect him. She’s just as powerful in the role in the past, even if she also has to be as passive given her position in society.

Supporting cast

Pedro Pascal plays Marcus Acacius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Pedro Pascal does good work as Marcus Acacius, the general dispatched to conquer the city where Lucius is living, which brings them into each other’s orbit. There is more to him than the trailers and other publicity might suggest, and Pascal gives it his all.

And shout out to the supporting likes of Derek Jacobi (also reprising his senatorial role from the original) and Peter Mensah as the leader of the city where Lucius has been living and a commander in its army.

Final Thoughts

(L to R) Director Ridley Scott and Paul Mescal on the set of ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Scott has certainly put a lot of work into the new ‘Gladiator’ and though it occasionally falls short of his original film, with beats and the odd action scene that feel like “what if that bit from ‘Gladiator’ but with slightly different elements?” it’s still a great example of a legacy sequel.

Will you be entertained? Most certainly.

‘Gladiator II’ receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the story of ‘Gladiator II’?

‘Gladiator II’ continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist.

With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.

Who stars in ‘Gladiator II?
- Paul Mescal as Lucius Verus
- Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius
- Connie Nielsen as Lucilla
- Denzel Washington as Macrinus
- Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta
- Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla
- Derek Jacobi as Senator Gracchus
- Tim McInnerny as Thraex
- Alexander Karim as Ravi
- Rory McCann as Tegula
- Alec Utgoff as Darius
- Yuval Gonen as Arishat
Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Other Movies and TV Shows Similar to ‘Gladiator II’:
- ‘Spartacus‘ (1960)
- ‘Ben-Hur‘ (1969)
- ‘Gladiator‘ (2000)
- ‘Troy‘ (2004)
- ‘Kingdom of Heaven‘ (2005)
- ‘Rome‘ (2005 – 2007)
- ‘300‘ (2007)
- ‘Centurion‘ (2010)
- ‘The Eagle‘ (2011)
- ‘Pompeii‘ (2014)
- ‘Ben-Hur‘ (2016)
- ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth‘ (2021)
- ‘Those About to Die‘ (2024)
Buy Tickets: ‘Gladiator II’ Movie Showtimes

Buy ‘Gladiator’ Movies On Amazon
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November 11, 2024
Ridley Scott Says Ideas for ‘Gladiator III’ are in the Works
(L to R) Director Ridley Scott and Paul Mescal on the set of ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Preview:
- ‘Gladiator II’ director Ridley Scott says he has ideas for a third.
- There are no concrete plans just yet.
- The ‘Gladiator’ sequel launches in theaters in November.
Even though ‘Gladiator II’, the much-buzzed about sequel to his 2000 epic ‘Gladiator’ is still two months away from release, director Ridley Scott is saying that he’s already throwing around ideas for a third movie, one he intends to wrap up the story as a trilogy.

And according to the filmmaker, he’s got some interesting inspiration…

Related Article: ‘Gladiator II’: Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal Feature in First Images

What has happened with ‘Gladiator III’ so far?

Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

While a third ‘Gladiator’ movie is strictly at the discussion stage right now, Scott told France’s Premiere magazine that he’s considering ideas for it.

Here’s what Scott had to say:

“I’m already playing with the idea of ‘Gladiator III’ “No, seriously! I lit the fuse… The ending of ‘Gladiator II’ evokes that of ‘The Godfather,’ with Michael Corleone finding himself with a job he didn’t want and wondering, ‘And now, Father, What am I doing?’ So, the next film will be about a man who doesn’t want to be where he is.”

That concept points to a return for Paul Mescal, who plays main character Lucius (more on that below).

In a follow-up interview with the magazine, the actor admitted that he’d spoken to Scott about a potential next outing.

This is what Mescal had to say:

“Yes, Ridley spoke to me about it, but only yesterday! So I’m waiting to see what will happen, but it interests me, of course. But we must not rush anything: the story must hold together.”

Whether it interests Mescal or not is only part of the issue here; ‘Gladiator II’ is a big, expensive bet by Paramount (to the tune of, according to different reports, of between $200 and $300 million), so it will need to make some serious profit to trigger spending on another sequel.

But let’s be honest here, if any director can wrangle studios to his will, it’s Scott.

What’s the story of ‘Gladiator II’?

Connie Nielsen plays Lucilla in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Scott’s sequel is set decades after the original film. Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) dispatched Lucius (who in adult form is played by ‘Normal People’ and ‘Aftersun’s Mescal) to the African region of Numidia, where he has grown up feeling resentful of his mother for sending him away.

Her reasons were to secure his safety –– Numidia is beyond the grasp of Rome. But as Lucius has raised his own family, his relatively safety is put under threat when Rome decides to invade Numidia.

Returned to his birthplace as a slave and then a gladiator, Lucius must confront his past and secure his future.

Who else is in ‘Gladiator II’

Pedro Pascal plays Marcus Acacius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

The movie also features Pedro Pascal as Acacius, the Roman General who leads the assault on Numidia, and who ends up clashing with Lucius back in Rome –– oh, and he’s also in love with Lucilla.

Denzel Washington, who worked with Scott on ‘American Gangster’, is Macrinus, an arms dealer who supplies food for the armies in Europe, including wine and oil and makes steel, spears, weapons, cannons, and catapults. He is a very wealthy man who rides a golden chariot.

Then we have Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla and Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta, two relatively young brothers who rule the crumbling Roman Empire and are described as damaged goods from birth, cruel and vain.
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When will ‘Gladiator II’ be in theaters?

‘Gladiator II’ is scheduled for release on November 22nd.

Denzel Washington plays Macrinus in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Other Movies Similar to ‘Gladiator II’:
- ‘Spartacus‘ (1960)
- ‘Excalibur‘ (1981)
- ‘Braveheart‘ (1995)
- ‘Gladiator‘ (2000)
- ‘Troy‘ (2004)
- ‘Kingdom of Heaven‘ (2005)
- ‘300‘ (2007)
- ‘Centurion‘ (2010)
- ‘The Eagle‘ (2011)
- ‘Pompeii‘ (2014)
- ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth‘ (2021)
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September 23, 2024
First Images from Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator II’
Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Preview:
- The first pictures from ‘Gladiator II’ are online.
- Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Connie Nielsen are among the cast.
- Ridley Scott directed the sequel to his 2000 epic.
Though we’ve gotten used to legacy sequels landing years, sometimes decades after the original movie (Netflix’s ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ is one recent example), it’s less common for the original director to return 24 years later. But few directors are as driven or influential as Ridley Scott, who at 86 is still making giant movies at an impressive rate.

And that brings us to ‘Gladiator II’, which follows up the swords and sandals epic of 2000. While the original starred Russell Crowe as Maximus, a general who is betrayed by a scheming emperor’s son (Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus) when the ruler favors Maximus as his heir.

Maximus ends up a gladiator in the arena, fighting for his life. A fateful showdown with Commodus sees both men dead by the end of the movie.

Yet writer David Scarpa and Scott have found a way to continue the story through Commodus’ sister Lucilla (with Connie Nielsen reprising her role) and her son Lucius.
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What’s the story of ‘Gladiator II’?

Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Scott’s sequel is set decades after the original film. Lucilla dispatched Lucius (who in adult form is played by ‘Normal People’ and ‘Aftersun’s Paul Mescal) to the African region of Numidia, where he has grown up feeling resentful of his mother for sending him away.

Her reasons were to secure his safety –– Numidia is beyond the grasp of Rome. But as Lucius has raised his own family, his safety is put under threat when Rome decides to invade Numidia.

Returned to his birthplace as a slave and then a gladiator, Lucius must confront his past and secure his future.

Who else is in ‘Gladiator II’?

Pedro Pascal plays Marcus Acacius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

The movie also features Pedro Pascal as Acacius, the Roman General who leads the assault on Numidia, and who ends up clashing with Lucius back in Rome –– oh, and he’s also in love with Lucilla.

Denzel Washington plays Macrinus in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Denzel Washington, who worked with Scott on ‘American Gangster’, is Macrinus, an arms dealer who supplies food for the armies in Europe, including wine and oil and makes steel, spears, weapons, cannons, and catapults. He is a very wealthy man who rides a golden chariot.

Fred Hechinger plays Emperor Caracalla in Gladiator II from Paramount Pictures.

Then we have Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla and Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta, two relatively young brothers who rule the crumbling Roman Empire and are described as damaged goods from birth, cruel and vain.

Related Article: Pedro Pascal is Ridley Scott’s Latest Recruit for the ‘Gladiator’ Sequel

‘Gladiator II’: Paul Mescal talks the story

Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Here’s what Mescal told Vanity Fair about the themes of the movie:

“What human beings will do to survive, but also what human beings will do to win. We see that in the arena, but also in the political struggle that’s going on outside of my character’s storyline, where you see there’s other characters striving and pulling for power. Where’s the space for humanity? Where’s the space for love, familial connection? And ultimately, will those things overcome this kind of greed and power? Those things are oftentimes directly in conflict with each other.”

‘Gladiator II’: Connie Nielsen on reuniting with Ridley Scott

Connie Nielsen plays Lucilla in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Nielsen enthused about the director:

“Ridley’s process tends to be extremely collaborative. “He is extremely open to suggestions and ideas, which is what makes him a dream director in that way. He hears you, he sees you, and I, for one, come up every morning with my list of ideas that I run by him. He will go, ‘Yes, interesting…okay.…no, that’s way too much.…yep.’ I know that I’ll get some things through. And then there are things where he follows his instinct about the movie that he’s wanting to make.”

When will ‘Gladiator II’ be in theaters?

Paramount will release the sequel on November 22nd.

(L to R) Director Ridley Scott and Paul Mescal on the set of ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Joseph Quinn plays Emperor Geta in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

(L to R) Paul Mescal plays Lucius and Alexander Karim plays Ravi in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

(L to R) Paul Mescal plays Lucius and Pedro Pascal plays Marcus Acacius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Other Movies Similar to ‘Gladiator II’:
- ‘Spartacus‘ (1960)
- ‘Excalibur‘ (1981)
- ‘Braveheart‘ (1995)
- ‘Gladiator‘ (2000)
- ‘Troy‘ (2004)
- ‘Kingdom of Heaven‘ (2005)
- ‘300‘ (2007)
- ‘Centurion‘ (2010)
- ‘The Eagle‘ (2011)
- ‘Pompeii‘ (2014)
- ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth‘ (2021)
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July 8, 2024
Where To Watch Ridley Scott’s War Drama ‘Napoleon’
Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte in director Ridley Scott’s ‘Napoleon.’ Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ and Columbia Pictures.

A notable historical figure, Napoleon Bonaparte is considered to be one of the greatest generals in military history. Through Ridley Scott’s ‘Napoleon,’ we see his ruthless tactics on the battlefield, his rise to become the first Emperor of France, his relationship with Josephine, and the decisive battle that led to Napleon’s downfall.

This film reunited Academy Award winning director Ridley Scott with Joaquin Phoenix since their collaboration on ‘Gladiator’, which was released over 20 years ago in 2000.
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Where Can I Watch ‘Napoleon’?

Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Napoleon,’ premiering in theaters around the world on November 22, 2023.

The movie held its premiere at Salle Pleyel in Paris on November 14, 2023. Although the film is set for an Apple TV+ debut later this year, it was released exclusively in theaters on November 22nd for a limited run.

Buy Tickets: ‘Napoleon’ Movie Showtimes

With the film’s runtime of 2 hours and 38 minutes, some viewers may want to enjoy ‘Napoleon’ from the comfort of their homes. Luckily, the historical war epic is now available to rent or purchase on VOD platforms such as Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, and Vudu. Prices range from $19.99 for rental or $24.99 for purchase.

There is no confirmed date for when ‘Napoleon’ will stream on Apple TV+.

Where to Watch: ‘Napoleon’ Online

Recreating the Battle Scenes

‘Napoleon’ premiering in theaters around the world on November 22, 2023.

To recreate the battle scenes, Ridley Scott worked with long time collaborator and cinematographer Dariusz Wolski (‘The Last Duel’, ‘House of Gucci’). Crafting epic battle scenes such as the Battle of Austerlitz and the Battle of Waterloo required extensive planning and coordinating on many fronts.

“You’re basically creating a huge event. You have army personnel, you have extras trained to behave like soldiers from the 19th century, you have horse people, then we have armor, you have professional effects people, explosions, then you have main characters. You basically design the whole battle,” said Wolski.

While some CGI was utilized, the majority of the battle scenes used practical effects such as large soldier formations, cavalry runs, and canons without lethal ammunition rounds. Scenes are shot with over eight cameras simultaneously.

Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Napoleon’

Napoleon and Josephine

(L to R) Vanessa Kirby and Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Napoleon,’ premiering in theaters around the world on November 22, 2023.

This may be a war epic, but for Ridley Scott, it was also important to show the curious and often times, volatile relationship between Napoleon and his long-time love, Josephine (Vanessa Kirby). Napoleon may be relentless and confident on the battlefield, but when it comes to his relationship with Josephine, he is insecure and awkward.

Opposite Napoleon, Josephine was quiet and observant, alluring and flirtatious. Their dynamic shifted constantly. Prior to filming, Kirby traveled to Josephine’s home in Malmaison as a part of her extensive research. In an interview with Deadline, she spoke about the fear of taking on the role initially:

“I love most taking on things that scare me. This was scary just because it’s hard to play a real person, and it’s a different kind of process. You’re not inventing their history, their lives, their childhood, their background, and their psyche. You are trying to accurately embody someone that really has lived, and lived such an extraordinary life that’s really, really far from any of ours or anything that I could relate it to personally.”

Four Hour Director’s Cut

(L to R) Director Ridley Scott and Joaquin Phoenix behind-the-scenes of ‘Napoleon,’ premiering in theaters around the world on November 22, 2023.

The movie sits at a hefty 2 hours and 38 minutes, but there’s a chance we’ll see a four hours and 10 minutes Director’s Cut once the film is released on streaming. During an interview with Total Film, Scott mentions the extended cut will head to Apple TV+:

“I’m working on it. It was four [hours] 10 [minutes] this morning. And so what will happen is, we’ll screen [the theatrical cut] first with Sony, and then it has its run, and then the perfect thing is that [the director’s cut] goes to streaming, and we have four hours 10 minutes.”

Buy ‘Napoleon’ On Amazon

Watch the official trailers for ‘Napoleon’ below:
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The official synopsis for ‘Napoleon’ is below:

‘Napoleon’ is a spectacle-filled action epic that details the checkered rise and fall of the iconic French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, played by Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix. Against a stunning backdrop of large-scale filmmaking orchestrated by legendary director Ridley Scott, the film captures Bonaparte’s relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his one true love, Josephine, showcasing his visionary military and political tactics against some of the most dynamic practical battle sequences ever filmed.

(Center) Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte in director Ridley Scott’s ‘Napoleon.’ Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ and Columbia Pictures.

Other Movies Similar to ‘Napoleon’:
- ‘Napoleon‘ (1927)
- ‘Désirée‘ (1954)
- ‘The Story of Mankind‘ (1957)
- ‘War and Peace‘ (1968)
- ‘Waterloo‘ (1970)
- ‘Love and Death‘ (1975)
- ‘Alien‘ (1979)
- ‘Time Bandits‘ (1981)
- ‘Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure‘ (1989)
- ‘Gladiator‘ (2000)
- ‘The Count of Monte Cristo‘ (2002)
- ‘Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian‘ (2009)
- ‘Joker‘ (2019)
January 26, 2024
Movie Review: ‘Napoleon’
Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Napoleon,’ premiering in theaters around the world on November 22, 2023.

Opening in theaters on November 22nd is Ridley Scott’s ‘Napoleon,’ starring Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby, Tahar Rahim, Ben Miles, Rupert Everett, and Ludivine Sagnier.

Initial Thoughts

Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Napoleon,’ premiering in theaters around the world on November 22, 2023.

With most of his last decade’s worth of films – including ‘Exodus: Gods and Kings,’ ‘The Last Duel,’ ‘House of Gucci,’ and the upcoming ‘Gladiator 2‘ – director Ridley Scott seems intent on creating a series of historical epics both contemporary and classic. His new film, however, ‘Napoleon,’ may have exceeded Scott’s always admirable ambitions. The two-and-a-half-hour drama, does have a sense of grandeur and sweep, in addition to some intense battle scenes. But it suffers from an unwieldy script and a turgid central performance from Joaquin Phoenix as the French military leader and ruler, two elements which make this as dull as your junior year history class.

Related Article: ‘Napoleon’ Trailer

Story and Direction

(L to R) Director Ridley Scott and Joaquin Phoenix behind-the-scenes of ‘Napoleon,’ premiering in theaters around the world on November 22, 2023.

‘Napoleon’ opens with the French Revolution and the beheading of Marie Antoinette, as David Scarpa’s script throws us right into the chaos that was France at the time (the late 1780s). Napoleon is first seen supporting the Revolution, then earning his initial success as a military strategist in the Siege of Toulon, in which he recaptured a small French town and port from the British.

We learn almost nothing about his early life, and right from the start, Joaquin Phoenix gives a reductive, stiff performance that borders on lethargy. He only comes faintly to life when he meets Josephine (Vanessa Kirby), a captain’s widow with children whom Napoleon courts and marries. Their relationship is meant to be the spine of the film, as Napoleon first professes his insatiable love for Josephine, only for her to cheat on him while he’s away on his military adventures and writing her letters every day. Although Kirby generates some heat, the chemistry between her Josephine and Phoenix’s Napoleon is nearly non-existent.

When the two leads are not sitting and staring at each other, ‘Napoleon’ wanders at an extremely leisurely pace through a checklist of the French ruler’s life: his continued success on the battlefield during the Revolutionary Wars, the end of the Reign of Terror and the overthrow of the French government, Napoleon’s rise to power and eventual crowning as Emperor, and his ongoing battles with England, Russia, Austria, and Prussia that eventually took a heavy toll on the French people and armies and led to his humiliating defeat against the English at Waterloo.

Many of these events come and go in assembly line fashion, and it’s not always easy to grasp their context or the dizzying array of wars, advisers, generals, and rivals that clock in and out of the story. While Napoleon’s machinations to make himself Emperor and the other political upheavals of the time could make for an interesting comment on our own turmoil today – Scott uses handheld cameras to capture several political riots, almost certainly an allusion to the attempted coup on our own government on Jan. 6, 2021 – that avenue is left largely unexplored as Scott meanders to the next thing.

Ridley Scott is an old-school director in ways that can be mostly positive when he’s on his game, in that he has a natural eye for the cinematic and always has a grasp on the geography of both his story and his set pieces. Indeed, the battle scenes in ‘Napoleon’ are massive, visceral, and dramatic, but the script is murky about the meaning and placement of each one.

By the time we get to the closing scenes, in which Napoleon tries to return to power in France after being forced to abdicate the throne – only to lose crushingly at Waterloo – even that legendary battle lacks resonance despite being the movie’s most gripping such sequence.

Napoleon and Josephine

(L to R) Vanessa Kirby and Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Napoleon,’ premiering in theaters around the world on November 22, 2023.

“I am not built like other men,” Napoleon tells Josephine at one point in the film. “I am not subject to petty insecurities.” That line got a few chuckles at our screening because Napoleon is packed with such insecurities about his height, his sexual ability, his ability to keep his wife happy (although in the end he divorces her for not being able to produce an heir to the French Empire), and his leadership of France. The only place he seems to feel the most calm and confident is on the battlefield, where history tells us that the real man was one of the greatest military strategists of all time.

We do get to see a bit of that during the battle scenes in ‘Napoleon,’ but even that part of Bonaparte’s personality is subsumed behind Joaquin Phoenix’s thousand-yard stare of doom. Phoenix seems to be in a trap of his own making: it’s almost as if he’s continuing his performances as Arthur Fleck from ‘Joker’ and the title character from ‘Beau is Afraid,’ making Napoleon as repressed and withdrawn as those damaged men.

In other words, it’s another tepid performance from the actor who has been so great in films past, but who seems to be bringing his talent down to a low flame. He’s all over the place tonally as well, shouting random lines about a lamb chop or somebody’s boats as if he just woke up mad about the topic, and getting laugh lines in the oddest spots.

It’s almost a wonder that Vanessa Kirby can bring some much-needed vitality to the proceedings, but she does just that as Josephine. Initially flirtatious and seductive, yet always with an eye on the pragmatic (her marriage to Napoleon seems to be at least partially one of convenience), she creates real pathos during the divorce sequence, clearly hurt by her husband’s actions. She’s always understated, but never flat.

Editing, Production Design and Music

‘Napoleon’ premiering in theaters around the world on November 22, 2023.

‘Napoleon’ is edited by Claire Simpson and Sam Restivo, who don’t necessarily subscribe to the rapid-fire, slam-bang style of many modern editors and give scenes room to build and breathe. Yet as hard as they try (and sometimes succeed, as in some of the battle passages), they have a tough time mustering up energy out of the footage in ‘Napoleon.’

The production design by Arthur Max is simply superb, down to small details on Napoleon’s complex uniforms. But cinematographer Dariusz Wolski – who has been working with Scott since 2012’s ‘Prometheus’ – and his director have chosen to drape most of ‘Napoleon’ in dreary grays, blues, and browns, making much of it seem unnaturally dark. Martin Phipps’ music is fine and often striking, finding a balance between period music of the time, large orchestral pieces and eerie choral moments.

Final Thoughts

(L to R) Vanessa Kirby and Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Napoleon,’ premiering in theaters around the world on November 22, 2023.

It’s difficult to say whether audiences will respond to a movie like ‘Napoleon’; Ridley Scott’s previous, far superior historical drama, ‘The Last Duel,’ was quickly and ruthlessly cut down in theaters. But anyone willing to give ‘Napoleon’ a try is going to certainly find the film a challenge. It’s long, slow, fairly tedious for great stretches, and while its subject is one of the most compelling and controversial in European history, Joaquin Phoenix does little to help us understand him. The battle scenes and Vanessa Kirby’s work are often exciting, but not enough to make us think that ‘Napoleon’ – a film that even Stanley Kubrick could never get off the ground – will wear the box office crown.

‘Napoleon’ receives 4 out of 10 stars.
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What is the plot of ‘Napoleon’?

As the French Revolution comes to a close but France itself finds itself besieged by endless wars with its European neighbors and political turmoil within, a master military strategist named Napoleon Bonaparte (Joaquin Phoenix) ascends to the highest echelons of power and makes himself Emperor – driven by his love for France and for his Empress, the enigmatic Josephine (Vanessa Kirby).

Who is in the cast of ‘Napoleon’?
- Joaquin Phoenix (‘Joker’) as Napoleon Bonaparte
- Vanessa Kirby (‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part One’) as Empress Josephine
- Tahar Rahim (‘The Mauritanian‘) as Paul Barras
- Ludivine Sagnier (‘Swimming Pool’) as Thérésa Cabarrus
- Rupert Everett (‘My Policeman’) as Arthur Wellesley
- Ben Miles (‘Andor’) as Caulaincourt
- Matthew Needham (‘House of the Dragon’) as Lucien Bonaparte
‘Napoleon’ premiering in theaters around the world on November 22, 2023.

Other Movies Similar to ‘Napoleon’:
- ‘Napoleon‘ (1927)
- ‘Désirée‘ (1954)
- ‘The Story of Mankind‘ (1957)
- ‘War and Peace‘ (1968)
- ‘Waterloo‘ (1970)
- ‘Love and Death‘ (1975)
- ‘Alien‘ (1979)
- ‘Time Bandits‘ (1981)
- ‘Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure‘ (1989)
- ‘Gladiator‘ (2000)
- ‘The Count of Monte Cristo‘ (2002)
- ‘Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian‘ (2009)
- ‘Joker‘ (2019)
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‘Napoleon’ is produced by Scott Free Productions, Latina Pictures, and Apple Studios. It is scheduled to release in theaters on November 22nd, 2023.
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November 15, 2023
Brianna Hildebrand and Shioli Kutsuna Returning for ‘Deadpool 3’
(L to R) Shioli Kutsuna as Yukio and Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead in ‘Deadpool 2.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox.

With the cameras now reportedly rolling on the third ‘Deadpool’, director Shawn Levy has been busy gathering the cast he needs to surround Ryan Reynolds’ titular Merc With A Mouth, who also goes by the name Wade Wilson.

Some are new recruits –– ‘The Crown’s Emma Corrin, for example is reportedly playing one of the movie’s main villains, while ‘Succession’s Matthew Macfadyen is also aboard in an unknown capacity (we could see him being a Weasley character of some sort, though he might want to do something different after years of Tom Wambsgams).
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And the headliner, of course, is Hugh Jackman, who after two films (and years of a fake rivalry with his good friend Reynolds) is bringing Wolverine to both the ‘Deadpool’ franchise and the MCU (since the new movie will be overseen by producer Kevin Feige and counted as part of the sprawling superhero universe for the first time).

But then there are the returning characters who have appeared in previous ‘Deadpool’ movies –– and the latest to be announced are Brianna Hildebrand and Shioli Kutsuna, per Deadline.

Hildebrand has played sullen, sarcastic teen X-Men hero Negasonic Teenage Warhead (who has the ability to generate nuclear explosions) since the original, while Kutsuna joined in the second as her girlfriend, the cheery Japanese mutant ninja Yukio.

(L to R) Shioli Kutsuna as Yukio and Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead in ‘Deadpool 2.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox.

Related Article: Leslie Uggams Talks ‘Dotty and Soul’ and playing Blind Al in ‘Deadpool 3’

Who is else is back for the movie?

Alongside Hildebrand and Kutsuna, many of the movies’ veteran characters are coming back. Morena Baccarin, who plays the main character’s great love, Vanessa, will return (thanks to some convenient time-travel shenanigans that retconned her character’s death at the start of the second movie). Karan Soni is once again playing humble, nervous taxi driver Dopinder, while Leslie Uggams will be the sardonic Blind Al, Wade’s roommate. And we’ll also see more from stoic, metallic X-Men member Colossus, brought to life via performance capture and CGI by Stefan Kapicic.

Those have all been with the franchise since the original. Joining from ‘Deadpool 2’ is Peter (Rob Delaney) the unassuming human who stumbled into Wade’s auditions for his X-Force team and somehow ended up joining the group. Though Peter ended up dying like (most of) the rest of the ill-fated squad, Wade also used time travel to save him at the end of the movie.

(L to R) Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman discuss Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool 3.’ Photo courtesy of Ryan Reynolds YouTube channel.

What will ‘Deadpool 3’ be about?

So far, director Shawn Levy, who collaborated with regular writers Reynolds, Paul Wernick, Rhett Reese and new recruit Zeb Wells, has not said explicitly what the storyline will be.

Yet we know from comments that Jackman in particular has made, that we can expect Wolverine and Deadpool to butt heads (probably literally at several points), and there will of course be knowing nudges at Wade’s new superhero reality –– we’d be shocked if there aren’t at least cameos from one or two MCU characters.

‘Deadpool 3’ is currently targeting a November 8th, 2024, release date.

Hugh Jackman will return as Wolverine in Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool 3.’

In other news, Ridley Scott is rounding out the cast for his long-anticipated sequel ‘Gladiator 2’ –– but he’s been required to make a change as he does.

While ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ Oscar nominee Barry Keoghan had been in the midst of making a deal to play the antagonist, Emperor Geta, he’s had to drop out due to a schedule clash. But according to Deadline’s story on the matter, Scott has quickly found a replacement –– Fred Hechinger, seen in the first season of ‘The White Lotus’, will play the character instead.

Fred Hechinger on HBO’s ‘The White Lotus.’

Hechinger’s casting is just the latest piece of news on the film, and he’s part of an eclectic group of fresh additions to the movie.

Also new this time? ‘Moon Knight’ breakout May Calamawy, who was picked after an extensive audition process and is apparently a key character in the movie.

Besides her, Lior Raz, Peter Mensah (no stranger to gladiators after appearing on Starz series ‘Spartacus’ as Doctore) and Matt Lucas are all playing new characters. Plus, Derek Jacobi, who played Senator Gracchus in the original movie, will be reprising the role in the sequel.

(L-R): May Calamawy as Layla El-Faouly and Oscar Isaac as Marc Spector/Steven Grant in Marvel Studios’ ‘Moon Knight.’ Photo by Gabor Kotschy. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

Who is already in the cast?

‘Gladiator 2’s ensemble already boasts a compelling mix of established names and rising stars, with Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn and Connie Nielsen aboard.

Nielsen, of course is another returning veteran of the originally, and she’ll be reprising the role of Lucilla, mother to Lucius, played as a boy by Spencer Treat Clark in the original and now by ‘Aftersun’s Paul Mescal.

And there has been chatter that Djimon Hounsou, Juba from the original, will be back for this one.
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How does the sequel continue the story of ‘Gladiator’?

You’ll recall that the 2000 original saw Russell Crowe as Maximus, a Roman general betrayed by the scheming Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) who killed his father the emperor and seized power.

While Maximus isn’t likely to show up –– short of CG-enhanced flashbacks since the character died in the original and went to a lush heavenly zone to reunite with his slaughtered family –– the story for the new movie, written by David Scarpa, sets the clock forward by several years.

In addition to being Lucilla’s son, he was the nephew of Commodus. Maximus saved Lucius and Lucilla while avenging his own family and left a strong impression on the young boy.

Quite what Lucius is up to in the new film remains to be seen, but there’s a chance he’ll be ending up in the arena himself, especially since Mescal has reportedly been training for the role.

Knowing Scott’s current prolific output, there’s every chance he’ll be hopping on to a different film as soon as ‘Gladiator 2’ is in good shape. He already has ‘Napoleon’ (a reunion with Phoenix) due in theaters on November 22nd this year.

‘Gladiator 2’, meanwhile, has earmarked the same date –– November 22nd but for next year.

(Right) Russell Crowe in director Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator.’

Other Movies Similar to ‘Gladiator 2:’
- ‘Spartacus‘ (1960)
- ‘Excalibur‘ (1981)
- ‘Braveheart‘ (1995)
- ‘Gladiator‘ (2000)
- ‘Troy‘ (2004)
- ‘Kingdom of Heaven‘ (2005)
- ‘300‘ (2007)
- ‘Centurion‘ (2010)
- ‘The Eagle‘ (2011)
- ‘Pompeii‘ (2014)
- ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth‘ (2021)
Buy ‘Gladiator’ On Amazon

(L to R) Zazie Beetz as Domino, Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson / Deadpool, and Terry Crews as Bedlam in ‘Deadpool 2.’

Other Movies Similar to ‘Deadpool 3:’
- ‘X-Men‘ (2000)
- ‘X-Men: The Last Stand‘ (2006)
- ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine‘ (2009)
- ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past‘ (2014)
- ‘Deadpool‘ (2016)
- ‘Logan‘ (2017)
- ‘Deadpool 2‘ (2018)
Buy ‘Deadpool’ Movies On Amazon
May 22, 2023
Pedro Pascal to Appear in ‘Gladiator 2’
Pedro Pascal in ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.’ Photo: Katalin Vermes/Lionsgate.

Like a general assembling an army, Ridley Scott has been busy gathering the acting troops he needs for his ‘Gladiator’ sequel. And the latest recruit is someone who already has quite the pop cultural cache. Pedro Pascal, currently best known for ‘The Mandalorian’ and ‘The Last of Us’, is now aboard the movie.

He’s just the latest name to sign up for the much anticipated (and long gestating) epic, which will continue the story Scott began in the 2000 original, albeit with a different character.
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What do we know about the ‘Gladiator’ sequel so far?

The original, of course, told the story of Roman General Maximus (played by Russell Crowe), betrayed by his rulers and thrown into life as a gladiator. But even as he fights for his life, he ends up getting revenge on those who wronged him.

As for the sequel, it’ll shift the story forward to focus on Lucius.

He, you may recall, was the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen, who is returning for the sequel) and the nephew of Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the son of Roman leader Marcus Aurelius who murdered his father and seized the throne. Commodus wound up in the gladiator ring with Maximus who, though mortally wounded, skewered the emperor before fading into the great. Maximus saved the Lucius and Lucilla while avenging his own family and left a strong impression on the young boy.

‘Aftersun’s Paul Mescal is starring as the adult Lucius, while ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’s Barry Keoghan, meanwhile, is playing the primary antagonist, Roman Emperor Geta (a fictional take on a real-life ruler). We can certainly see Keoghan as a Commodus-style troublemaker.

And that’s without mentioning the other big star draw for the new movie –– ‘Gladiator 2’ also marks Scott’s reunion with ‘American Gangster’s Denzel Washington, though again his role is being kept quiet beyond it being described as “bad-ass”.

Joseph Quinn as Eddie Munson in ‘Stranger Things.’ Photo Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.

Related Article: Connie Nielsen to Return as Lucilla For Ridley Scott’s Gladiator Sequel

More recently, ‘Stranger Things’ Joseph Quinn also joined the movie in an unknown role, and Djimon Hounsou is expected to return as Juba, a gladiator who befriended Maximus.

As for Pascal? His part, according to Deadline, remains a mystery for now. But we are wary of him being anywhere near arenas of conflict after what happened to his character Oberyn Martell in ‘Game of Thrones’. We won’t go into major spoilers in case you’re still catching up on the show (even if it finished in 2019, but to sum up… ouch).

Scott has the original movie’s costume designer Janty Yates and production designer Arthur Max, along with cinematographer John Mathieson, and the cameras are rolling.

Paramount is aiming to have this on in theaters on November 22nd, 2024.

Russell Crowe in ‘Gladiator.’ Photo by Karine Weinberger/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images.

Other Movies Similar to ‘Gladiator:’
- ‘Spartacus‘ (1960)
- ‘Excalibur‘ (1981)
- ‘Braveheart‘ (1995)
- ‘Troy‘ (2004)
- ‘Kingdom of Heaven‘ (2005)
- ‘300‘ (2007)
- ‘Centurion‘ (2010)
- ‘The Eagle‘ (2011)
- ‘Pompeii‘ (2014)
- ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth‘ (2021)
Buy Pedro Pascal Movies On Amazon
May 2, 2023