32 Movies Like Gladiator | Classic Movies That Belong On Your Watch List!

Related

Gladiator (2000) is the ultimate movie of shutting up your haters and flexing on them with nothing but sheer willpower and strength by your side. Movies like Gladiator motivate you to chuck everything to the side, go out running, get ripped and achieve all you want to achieve. It’s not just about history you know?

Well, it’s not just that. The movie Gladiator is much more nuanced than what I said, but this can be your main takeaway from the movie. So what’s it about? Gladiator follows the life of Maximus Decimus Meridius (played by Russel Crowe). Maximus is a general in the Roman army when his life turns upside down following the murder of the king. 

He is made a prisoner and his family is murdered by the new king Commodus. Maximus flees and is taken as a slave, making it one of the best slavery movies. His way out becomes his fighting abilities as he trains as a gladiator, ultimately making his way back to Commodus and finally is able to avenge the death of his family.

32 Historical Movies Like Gladiator That You Need To Watch In 2022 | Get Your Dose Of War And History Here!

32 Historical Movies Like Gladiator | Classic Movies That Belong On Your Watch List!

Gladiator won big at the Academy awards the year it was released and is considered one of the best historical fiction movies ever made. That’s mostly thanks to the impeccable acting in the movie, but Ridley Scott’s direction deserves equal praise. It isn’t often that big-budget movies like Gladiator are made and then they pay off at the box office too. 

So, whether you want a dose of historical action or some heartwrenching acting, there are a lot of movies like Gladiator that will do it for you. I have curated a list of the best movies that you are sure to like. Check out that list below!

Additional Details About The Movie – 

Release Date2000
DirectorRidley Scott
CastRussel Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, and Djimon Hounsou
GenreHistory/Action
IMDb Rating8.5/10
Movie Runtime2h 35m
Streaming Platform Netflix, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video
Rotten Tomatoes Rating 77%

Also, Read | 7 Powerful Historical Movies Like Troy | Classics You Can’t Miss Out On!

1# 300 (2006)

32 Historical Movies Like Gladiator | Classic Movies That Belong On Your Watch List!

History buffs must be aware of what went down at the Battle of Thermopylae during the ancient Persian Wars. 300 is a fictional take on the same events and it’s fair to say that Zack Snyder has taken more than a few creative liberties in the retelling of the tale. 300 shows us how the spartan soldiers that numbered in the hundreds fought against the Persian army that numbered in the hundred thousand! The men were all slain in the battle but their legacy has continued to live on for centuries. 300 is a great movie like Gladiator that you shouldn’t miss out on!

Additional Details About The Movie – 

Release Date2006
DirectorZack Snyder
CastGerard Butler, Lena Headey, Rodrigo Santorio, and Dominic West
GenreAction/War
IMDb Rating7.6/10
Movie Runtime1h 57m
Streaming Platform Netflix and Amazon Prime Video
Rotten Tomatoes Rating 61%

2#  Braveheart (1995)

32 Historical Movies Like Gladiator | Classic Movies That Belong On Your Watch List!

Honestly one of the must-watch movies like Gladiator is Braveheart. It’s also based on historical fiction, but that doesn’t diminish any of its charms. The movie follows Scotsman William Wallace, who is happy in love with his bride to be Murron. As all good things come to an end, the two are separated and Murron is murdered the day after their marriage by the ruler of England, King Edwards’s men. Wallace along with his clan lead a rebellion against the king to overthrow him and avenge the murder of his wife. Be ready with some tissues because Braveheart is going to get your eyes teary!

Additional Details About The Movie – 

Release Date1995
DirectorMel Gibson
CastMel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Catherine McCormack, and Brendan Gleeson
GenreWar/Drama
IMDb Rating8.4/10
Movie Runtime2h 58m
Streaming Platform Vudu, Direct TV, and Amazon Prime Video
Rotten Tomatoes Rating 78%

3# Troy (2004)

32 Historical Movies Like Gladiator | Classic Movies That Belong On Your Watch List!

The next entrant in our list of movies like Gladiator is another historical fiction movie whose inspirations can be traced back to real history. The Trojans and Spartans have been at war with each other since time immemorial. The affair of a Trojan prince with the wife of a Spartan leader sparks off an all-out war. Troy shows us that war and all that comes with it. We also get to see specific historical representations of historical events like the Trojan Horse incident too. Is the city of Troy able to withstand an assault on their existence? Watch the movie to find out!

Additional Details About The Movie – 

Release Date2004
DirectorWolfgang Petersen
CastBrad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger, and Sean Bean
GenreWar/Adventure
IMDb Rating7.3/10
Movie Runtime2h 43m
Streaming Platform Amazon Prime Video
Rotten Tomatoes Rating 54%

Also, Read | 40 Horror Movies Like The Conjuring To Make You Scream In Fear!

4# King Arthur (2004)

32 Historical Movies Like Gladiator | Classic Movies That Belong On Your Watch List!

One of the better renditions of the age of Arthurian legend is the 2004 movie – King Arthur. The movie shows us the life of King Arthur minus all the mythical legends surrounding him. Thus you get unadulterated historical action mixed with stories full of heroics. The year is 400 AD and the roman empire encompasses most of Europe along with Britain. The soldiers of King Arthur, known as Knights of the Round Table undertake one last mission before they can truly liberate England from the Empire. King Arthur is further elevated by Hans Zimmer’s music score and deserves to be on your watchlist!

Additional Details About The Movie – 

Release Date2004
DirectorAntoine Fuqua
CastClive Owen, Keira Knightley, Stellan Skarsgård, Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen
GenreWar/Action
IMDb Rating6.3/10
Movie Runtime2h 6m
Streaming Platform Apple TV, Vudu, and Amazon Prime Video
Rotten Tomatoes Rating 31%

Also, Read | 15 Spine-Chilling Movies Like Saw | It’s Going To Get Pretty Bloody!

5# Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World (2003)

32 Historical Movies Like Gladiator | Classic Movies That Belong On Your Watch List!

If you are looking for movies like Gladiator to see Russel Crowe’s acting then Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World is for you! The movie follows Captain Jack Aubrey as he and his crew go on a search and takeover mission of a french war vessel. As the water gets treacherous and Aubrey’s own ship gets heavily damaged, he starts to realize maybe he bit off more than he could chew. The movie is a masterpiece and involves great action sequences that take place in the sea. Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World also has a great sound design that will reel you in and keep you hooked to the movie.

Additional Details About The Movie – 

Release Date2003
DirectorPeter Weir
CastRussel Crowe, Paul Bettany, Max Pirkis, and Billy Boyd 
GenreAction/Adventure
IMDb Rating7.4/10
Movie Runtime2h 18m
Streaming Platform Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video
Rotten Tomatoes Rating 85%

6# Ben-Hur (1959)

32 Historical Movies Like Gladiator | Classic Movies That Belong On Your Watch List!

Considered one of the best historical depictions is the movie Ben-Hur. Made in 1959, Ben-Hur claimed the title of the biggest budget movie and the biggest set for any movie for a long time. The movie follows the titular Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince who gets sold into slavery after he is betrayed by people close to him. He makes his way out of slavery, gets his freedom, becomes rich, and then plans to take back what belongs to him. A classic tale of a comeback victory, Ben-Hur is one of the best movies like Gladiator that you can possibly watch!

Additional Details About The Movie – 

Release Date1959
DirectorWilliam Wyler
CastCharlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd, Haya Harareet, and Hugh Griffith
GenreHistory/Drama
IMDb Rating8.1/10
Movie Runtime3h 32m
Streaming Platform Amazon Prime Video
Rotten Tomatoes Rating 86%

Also, Read | 20 Scary Movies Like A Quiet Place That Will Leave You In Sweats!

More Movies Like Gladiator On Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, And Amazon Prime | History Is Everywhere!

32 Historical Movies Like Gladiator | Classic Movies That Belong On Your Watch List!

I understand you might have a need to watch more and more movies like Gladiator as weekends run long and binge sessions are addictive. So for that, I present to you a list of more movies that have enough history, action, adventure, and drama to keep you occupied for a good while. Check the list out below!

MovieYearDirectorIMDb RatingStreaming Platforms
Spartacus1960Stanley Kubrick7.9/10Vudu and Apple TV
Robin Hood2010Ridley Scott6.6/10Netflix, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video
Exodus: Gods And Kings2014Ridley Scott6/10Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video
The Ten Commandments1956Cecil B. DeMille7.9/10Apple TV, Vudu, and Amazon Prime Video
Hero2002Yi-Mou Zhang7.9/10Netflix and Amazon Prime Video
The Last Samurai2003Edward Zwick7.8/10Netflix, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video
Kingdom Of Heaven2005Ridley Scott7.2/10Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video
Quo Vadis1951Mervyn LeRoy7.1/10Vudu and Amazon Prime Video
Cleopatra1963Joseph L. Mankiewicz7/10Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video
Centurion 2010Neil Marshall6.3/10Netflix and Amazon Prime Video
The Eagle2011Kevin Macdonald6.2/10Netflix and Amazon Prime Video
Last Knights 2015Kazuaki Kiriya6.1/10Netflix, Vudu, and Amazon Prime Video
The Last of the Mohicans 1992Michael Mann7.7/10Netflix and Amazon Prime Video
Lawrence of Arabia 1962David Lean8.3/10Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video
300: Rise of an Empire 2014Noam Murro6.2/10Netflix and Amazon Prime Video
Pompeii2014Paul W. S. Anderson5.5/10Amazon Prime Video
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves 1991Kevin Reynolds6.9/10Netflix, Vudu, and Amazon Prime Video
Immortals 2011Tarsem Singh6/10Netflix and Amazon Prime Video
Alexander 2004Oliver Stone5.6/10Vudu and Amazon Prime Video
The Count of Monte Cristo 2002Kevin Reynolds7.7/10Amazon Prime Video
47 Ronin 2013Carl Rinsch6.2/10Netflix, Vudu, and Amazon Prime Video
The Patriot 2000Roland Emmerich7.2/10Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video
The 13th Warrior 1999John McTiernan6.6/10Vudu and Amazon Prime Video
Gettysburg1993Ronald F. Maxwell7.6/10Vudu and Amazon Prime Video
Red Cliff2008John Woo7.3/10Amazon Prime Video
The Crossing 2000Robert Harmon7.1/10Direct TV and Amazon 

Also, Read | 25 Best Movies Like Greenland | Get Set To Board A Thrilling Ride Of Action Movies!

Final Words

This brings our amazing list of movies like Gladiator to a close. While best is a subjective word, we feel our choice does in fact encompass the best ones. What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below and we can debate this!

Abdul Mukeet
Abdul Mukeet
Two things define Abdul Mukeet. His love for literature and his love for food. He likes to indulge in the best versions of both of them. When he is not writing for Viebly, you can find him cooped up in a corner with a good book in his hand and a cat in his lap. Oh, yeah, he loves cats too. His interests lie in psychology and knowing what makes humans click. That is what he wants his writings to look be like too. Something that readers can click with. One day he will be an established author, till then, you can find him on Twitter tweeting lame puns and making unfunny jokes.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here