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!
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 Date | 2000 |
| Director | Ridley Scott |
| Cast | Russel Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, and Djimon Hounsou |
| Genre | History/Action |
| IMDb Rating | 8.5/10 |
| Movie Runtime | 2h 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)
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 Date | 2006 |
| Director | Zack Snyder |
| Cast | Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Rodrigo Santorio, and Dominic West |
| Genre | Action/War |
| IMDb Rating | 7.6/10 |
| Movie Runtime | 1h 57m |
| Streaming Platform | Netflix and Amazon Prime Video |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 61% |
2# Braveheart (1995)
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 Date | 1995 |
| Director | Mel Gibson |
| Cast | Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Catherine McCormack, and Brendan Gleeson |
| Genre | War/Drama |
| IMDb Rating | 8.4/10 |
| Movie Runtime | 2h 58m |
| Streaming Platform | Vudu, Direct TV, and Amazon Prime Video |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 78% |
3# Troy (2004)
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 Date | 2004 |
| Director | Wolfgang Petersen |
| Cast | Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger, and Sean Bean |
| Genre | War/Adventure |
| IMDb Rating | 7.3/10 |
| Movie Runtime | 2h 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)
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 Date | 2004 |
| Director | Antoine Fuqua |
| Cast | Clive Owen, Keira Knightley, Stellan Skarsgård, Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen |
| Genre | War/Action |
| IMDb Rating | 6.3/10 |
| Movie Runtime | 2h 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)
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 Date | 2003 |
| Director | Peter Weir |
| Cast | Russel Crowe, Paul Bettany, Max Pirkis, and Billy Boyd |
| Genre | Action/Adventure |
| IMDb Rating | 7.4/10 |
| Movie Runtime | 2h 18m |
| Streaming Platform | Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 85% |
6# Ben-Hur (1959)
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 Date | 1959 |
| Director | William Wyler |
| Cast | Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd, Haya Harareet, and Hugh Griffith |
| Genre | History/Drama |
| IMDb Rating | 8.1/10 |
| Movie Runtime | 3h 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!
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!
| Movie | Year | Director | IMDb Rating | Streaming Platforms |
| Spartacus | 1960 | Stanley Kubrick | 7.9/10 | Vudu and Apple TV |
| Robin Hood | 2010 | Ridley Scott | 6.6/10 | Netflix, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video |
| Exodus: Gods And Kings | 2014 | Ridley Scott | 6/10 | Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video |
| The Ten Commandments | 1956 | Cecil B. DeMille | 7.9/10 | Apple TV, Vudu, and Amazon Prime Video |
| Hero | 2002 | Yi-Mou Zhang | 7.9/10 | Netflix and Amazon Prime Video |
| The Last Samurai | 2003 | Edward Zwick | 7.8/10 | Netflix, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video |
| Kingdom Of Heaven | 2005 | Ridley Scott | 7.2/10 | Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video |
| Quo Vadis | 1951 | Mervyn LeRoy | 7.1/10 | Vudu and Amazon Prime Video |
| Cleopatra | 1963 | Joseph L. Mankiewicz | 7/10 | Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video |
| Centurion | 2010 | Neil Marshall | 6.3/10 | Netflix and Amazon Prime Video |
| The Eagle | 2011 | Kevin Macdonald | 6.2/10 | Netflix and Amazon Prime Video |
| Last Knights | 2015 | Kazuaki Kiriya | 6.1/10 | Netflix, Vudu, and Amazon Prime Video |
| The Last of the Mohicans | 1992 | Michael Mann | 7.7/10 | Netflix and Amazon Prime Video |
| Lawrence of Arabia | 1962 | David Lean | 8.3/10 | Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video |
| 300: Rise of an Empire | 2014 | Noam Murro | 6.2/10 | Netflix and Amazon Prime Video |
| Pompeii | 2014 | Paul W. S. Anderson | 5.5/10 | Amazon Prime Video |
| Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves | 1991 | Kevin Reynolds | 6.9/10 | Netflix, Vudu, and Amazon Prime Video |
| Immortals | 2011 | Tarsem Singh | 6/10 | Netflix and Amazon Prime Video |
| Alexander | 2004 | Oliver Stone | 5.6/10 | Vudu and Amazon Prime Video |
| The Count of Monte Cristo | 2002 | Kevin Reynolds | 7.7/10 | Amazon Prime Video |
| 47 Ronin | 2013 | Carl Rinsch | 6.2/10 | Netflix, Vudu, and Amazon Prime Video |
| The Patriot | 2000 | Roland Emmerich | 7.2/10 | Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video |
| The 13th Warrior | 1999 | John McTiernan | 6.6/10 | Vudu and Amazon Prime Video |
| Gettysburg | 1993 | Ronald F. Maxwell | 7.6/10 | Vudu and Amazon Prime Video |
| Red Cliff | 2008 | John Woo | 7.3/10 | Amazon Prime Video |
| The Crossing | 2000 | Robert Harmon | 7.1/10 | Direct 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!
