Great Action-Packed Movies About Gladiators, Ranked


Biblical epics, religious dramas, mythical adventures: These movies all fall within the category of sword-and-sandal films that focus on ancient heroes, wars, and revenge plots — and they often feature gladiators. Forced to face off against wild animals and other men, gladiators were sent into an arena and forced to fight to the death as a form of entertainment for ancient Romans. It doesn't get much more thrilling than that when it comes to historical films.







Sword-and-sandal movies, of which gladiator films are a part, have been a staple genre since the early days of film itself. The first of its kind was the silent film The Last Days of Pompeii, which premiered in 1913, quickly followed by the Italian masterpiece Cabiria, with similar movies hitting their peak in the '50s and '60s. The genre has survived into modern times with hits like Ridley Scott's 2000 hit Gladiator featuring Russell Crowe and its much-anticipated sequel, Gladiator II, set to release in 2024. Within sword-and-sandal flicks, gladiator movies are quite a niche category; nonetheless, many of these movies have set records for box office sales and have won awards and critical acclaim alike. Here are the best of the best.





8 Pompeii (2014)


pompeii
Release Date
February 18, 2014
Runtime
105


While Kit Harrington may have joked in his SNL monologue that Pompeii was "more of a disaster than the event it was based on," it does provide some flashy, dumb fun. That's mainly thanks to director Paul W.S. Anderson, taking a break from his Resident Evil movies to direct this big-budget box office disappointment. Harington, Carrie-Anne Moss, Emily Browning, and Kiefer Sutherland star in this epic about two gladiatorial rivals who ultimately form a bond to survive the ruthless general Corvus.



A Volcanic Eruption of Action


It feels like the whole last hour of the film is non-stop action, with the eruption of Mount Vesuvius causing chaos and our main characters desperately trying to free each other and escape disaster. It's handled well by Anderson, even if it's heavy on special effects and melodrama.






7 Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954)


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Demetrius and the Gladiators
Release Date
June 16, 1954
Director
Delmer Daves
Cast
Susan Hayward , Victor Mature , Michael Rennie , Debra Paget , Anne Bancroft , Jay Robinson , Ernest Borgnine , Richard Egan , Barry Jones , Charles Evans , William Marshall , Woody Strode
Runtime
101 minutes
Writers
Philip Dunne


Delmer Daves' Demetrius and the Gladiators was a celebrated sequel to the successful 1953 biblical epic The Robe. It follows a Christian slave, Demetrius, played by leading man of the time, Victor Mature, who is forced to fight as a Roman gladiator. Demetrius' dedication to his faith and resolution not to kill human competitors is shaken when his love, Lucia (Debra Paget), is killed. Ultimately, the bravery and perseverance of the main character leads to significant change regarding the persecution of Christians.



It's a Well-Balanced Drama





Demetrius and the Gladiators was recognized as an admirable sequel, if not better than its predecessor, which was a significant accomplishment. It was a massive commercial success as the third-highest-grossing film of 19454. Critics praised it for its high entertainment value. Shying away from the heavy focus that characterized The Robe, the movie instead concentrates on telling a captivating story about a worthy hero.



Paul Mescal in Gladiator 2 wearing light armor
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6 Conan the Barbarian (1982)


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Conan The Barbarian
Release Date
May 14, 1982
Runtime
129 Minutes



Based on the Conan series by novelist Robert E. Howard — coined the father of the sword and sorcery genre — Conan the Barbarian hit theaters in 1982. The John Milius movie stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as the titular character on a revenge mission against a necromancing snake cult and its leader, Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones). After training as a gladiator, the warrior seeks retribution for the slaying of his parents and his village by going on a mission to recapture his blacksmith father's prized sword and kill Doom.



The Best Conan Adaptation







Conan the Barbarian received mixed reviews, with many praising its production and action sequences but some criticizing its extreme violence. This film is often credited for putting Schwarzenegger on the map as an actor and was successful enough to spawn a 1984 sequel, Conan the Destroyer. A new take on the story came out in a 2011 reboot starring Jason Momoa, which bombed at the box office and garnered negative reactions from critics. As far as adaptations of the Conan character, Milius' project is the clear winner.





5 Barabbas (1961)







The 1950 Swedish novel Barabbas, penned by Nobel Prize-winner Pär Lagerkvist, expands upon the story of Barabbas from the Bible. A Swedish film adaptation was released in 1953 before director Richard Fleischer debuted his version in 1960. The story begins with Barabbas (Anthony Quinn) being held captive by Pontius Pilate (Arthur Kennedy) alongside Jesus Christ. When Pilate asks the public which man should be set free, they choose Barabbas, effectively sentencing Jesus to crucifixion. Barabbas later spends two decades as a Roman slave in a sulfur mine before escaping with a fellow slave with whom he trains to be a gladiator. Despite proving his fighting skills, Barabbas' guilt over having his life spared over a man who is now being worshiped only intensifies as Christian persecution rises, and he must come to grips with his own faith.



Barabbas was Innovative for its Time


Anthony Quinn as Barabbas in Barabbas
Universal Pictures





Fleischer's religious epic features a number of grand scenes that have captivated critics and viewers of all kinds —including an intense gladiator battle in a mock Colosseum and Christ's crucifixion, which was filmed during an actual solar eclipse. These sequences are often compared to the memorable chariot race scene in Ben-Hur. The film's score, created by famed Italian composer Mario Nascimbene, was praised for its innovation and use of then-radical technology, the Mixerama. Barabbas stands proud among celebrated gladiator films.





4 Jason and the Argonauts (1963)


Jason and the Argonauts Movie Poster
Jason And The Argonauts (1963)
Release Date
June 13, 1963
Director
Don Chaffey
Runtime
104 Minutes
Writers
Beverley Cross , Jan Read





Touted as a fantasy adventure, Don Chaffey's 1963 film Jason and the Argonauts follows Jason (Todd Armstrong), who is prophesized to avenge the murder of his father, King Aristo of Thessaly. With both aid and hindrance from various Greek gods and goddesses, he embarks on a search for the Golden Fleece, which will allow him to take his rightful place on the throne. Sailing off in a shop called Argo, Jason and his loyal crewmembers — dubbed the Argonauts — battle the odds in this epic crusade.



Jason and the Argonauts Is Well-Respected




Despite its initial failure to perform at the box office, Jason and the Argonauts has since become a classic. Featuring stop-motion animation at the hands of the legendary special effects artist Ray Harryhausen and plenty of mythical creatures for the heroes to slay, it is a significant contribution to the fantasy film genre. With a fight against a seven-headed Hydra and a memorable battle against an army of skeletons, Jason proves himself a formidable gladiator in this must-watch retelling of a notable Greek myth.




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3 Gladiator (2000)




In the well-known historical epic Gladiator from director Ridley Scott, Russell Crowe stars as Maximus Decimus Meridius — a Roman general forced into slavery who seeks revenge against Emporer Commodus for murdering his family and the former emporer, Marcus Aurelius. Joaquin Phoenix plays Commodus, the arrogant leader who takes out his own father for favoring Maximus over him to be next in line for the throne. Maximus wins public favor while fighting as a gladiator, increasing the bloodthirsty contention between the two men and culminating in an epic battle with widespread repercussions.






Gladiator and Crowe Received Much Acclaim




Gladiator became a massive success upon its release, becoming the second-highest-grossing film of 2000 worldwide. Most critics (with one notable exception) were quick to highlight Crowe's exceptional performance, which gave emotional depth to his character, as well as the visually stunning fight scenes. Even if notable critic Roger Ebert wasn't a fan of Gladiator, it was still nominated for 12 Oscars, winning five, including Best Picture, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, Best Costume Design, and Best Actor for Crowe. It's safe to say that Gladiator is one of the most noteworthy sword-and-sandal flicks and is definitely worth a watch. Its much-anticipated sequel, Gladiator II, is set to release in November 2024.






2 Ben-Hur (1959)


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Release Date
November 18, 1959
Director
William Wyler
Cast
Charlton Heston , Stephen Boyd , Hugh Griffith , Jack Hawkins , Haya Harareet
Runtime
222 Minutes
Writers
Karl Tunberg


A remake of the 1925 silent film of the same name, based on the 1880 novel by Lew Wallace, Ben-Hur centers on a Jewish prince named Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston). Judah makes an enemy of his childhood friend, a fighter in the Roman army, who forces him into slavery for refusing to eschew his Jewish faith and turn on his people. With the help of various allies, Judah embarks on the ultimate journey of revenge. Featuring a battle at sea and an epic chariot race, Ben-Hur manages to be both entertaining and poignant and has solidified itself as one of the most celebrated biblical movies ever made.






Ben-Hur is Top of its Class




Following its premiere, Ben-Hur became the second-highest-grossing film of all time, only eclipsed by Gone with the Wind. It set a record for winning 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Cinematography, Best Director for William Wyler — who holds the record for most nominations in that category — and Best Lead Actor for Heston. Understandably, critics, scholars, and film buffs alike have been shouting Ben-Hur's praises for decades, particularly taken with its awe-inspiring tale and expert filmmaking for the time.





1 Spartacus (1960)


Release Date
October 6, 1960
Cast
Kirk Douglas , Laurence Olivier , Jean Simmons , Charles Laughton , Peter Ustinov , John Gavin , Nina Foch , John Ireland
Runtime
197 Minutes



Stanley Kubrick's 1960 historical drama Spartacus, adapted from Howard Fast's 1951 novel of the same name, features Kirk Douglas in the titular role. Spartacus, a slave to the Roman Republic, is purchased by Batiatus (Peter Ustinov) to fight as a gladiator and, through his indomitable performance, becomes the leader of a rebellion of fellow slaves. Tracing the events of the Third Servile War (also called the War of Spartacus or the Gladiator War), Spartacus details the rebellion's surprisingly impressive stand against Roman dictator Crassus (Laurence Olivier).



Spartacus Has Real-World Historical Significance







Spartacus won four Oscars, including Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, and Best Supporting Actor for Ustinov. It also became the highest-grossing film of 1960. However, some took issue with the film's production team. The scriptwriter, Dalton Trumbo, was blacklisted by Hollywood at the time for being a suspected communist, and Spartacus' rebellion was considered a parallel to communist sympathizers at the time. Though, President John F. Kennedy publicly crossing a picket line to view the film aided its reception, and Douglas' insistence that Trumbo be credited for his work was instrumental in ending the blacklist.



Spartacus Has Been Restored


Due to badly damaged negatives of the film, Spartacus underwent a restoration in 1991 financed by Steven Spielberg. Archivists were able to restore scenes that were originally cut from the movie, and actors redubbed their lines (Anthony Hopkins stepped in to record Olivier's role). Both the 1960 and 1991 versions of the film have been lauded by critics for its battle scenes, acting, and entertaining narrative. The Library of Congress has preserved Spartacus in the United States National Film Registry for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance in 2017.




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