A storied and timeless subgenre of cinema also referred to as peplum, sword-and-sandals films typically encompass historical or mythological epics. From classic genre offerings from the Golden Age of Hollywood like Spartacus and Ben-Hur to modern contemporaries in the vein of Gladiator and Troy, this doesn’t appear to be a brand of film that’s going anywhere anytime soon. It’s a status quo underlined by the recent success of 2024’s Gladiator II, Ridley Scott’s mega-hit sequel that will hopefully serve as the catalyst for similar future offerings from the genre.
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While the subgenre is typically dominated by films set in Ancient Rome or movies about Greek mythology, this decidedly isn’t a prerequisite for consideration. As cinema has modernized, notable sword-and-sandals offerings have expanded to encompass most ancient settings, with some films even channeling elements of other genres like fantasy to great success. An indispensable branch of cinematic popular culture at this stage in the game, a number of the best sword-and-sandals movies ever made have garnered status as some of the best movies of all time.
10 Immortals (2011)
Directed By Tarsem Singh Dhandwar
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10/10 Immortals FantasyAction
In ancient Greece, a young man named Theseus is chosen and trained by the gods. With the help of the oracle Phaedra, he must locate the Epirus Bow to stop the Hyperion from releasing the titans and enslaving mankind.
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*Availability in US Release Date November 11, 2011 Runtime 110 minutes Cast Henry Cavill , Stephen Dorff , Luke Evans , Isabel Lucas , Kellan Lutz , Freida Pinto , Mickey Rourke Director Tarsem Singh
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Led by the former star of The Witcher, Henry Cavill, in one of his earlier career roles, 2011’s Immortals blends the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur with that of the Titanomachy; the epic war that ultimately saw the new generation of Olympians triumph over the older Titans for dominion over the universe. Director Tarsem Singh Dhandwar’s take on the myths surprisingly received mixed reviews, with some critics arguing that the movie emphasized style over substance.
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However, given the film’s litany of jaw-dropping action sequences and the memorable performances from an ensemble cast, this seems like an exceedingly harsh critique of one of the most chaotically entertaining sword-and-sandals movies ever made. If anything, Immortals’ stunning visuals and effects only serve to elevate the quality of what is a first-rate viewing experience, if not the most refined.
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9 Clash Of The Titans (1981)
Directed By Desmond Davis
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Clash of the Titans AdventureFantasy
Clash of the Titans (1981) is a fantasy adventure film directed by Desmond Davis and starring Harry Hamlin as Perseus. The movie follows Perseus’s quest through ancient Greek mythology, where he encounters gods and mythical creatures to save Princess Andromeda. The film features iconic special effects by Ray Harryhausen and marks one of the last major stop-motion animation films before the digital era.
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*Availability in US Release Date June 12, 1981 Runtime 118 Minutes Cast Harry Hamlin , Judi Bowker , Burgess Meredith , Maggie Smith , ursula andress , Claire Bloom , Siân Phillips , Flora Robson , Laurence Olivier , Tim Pigott-Smith , Neil McCarthy , Susan Fleetwood Director Desmond Davis
The final movie to feature the work of renowned stop-motion visual effects artist Ray Harryhausen, 1981’s Clash of the Titans is one of the foremost swords-and-sandals offerings that cinema has to offer. Loosely based on the Greek myth of the demigod Perseus, the Harry Hamlin-led movie depicting the hero’s encounters with Medusa and the Kraken inspired a commercially successful remake in 2010’s Clash of the Titans.
A timeless classic,
Clash of the Titans
boasts all the attributes that make a great sword-and-sandals picture.
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However, unlike the critically panned Sam Worthington-led offering, the 1981 original received positive reviews and is regarded as a groundbreaking number for the subgenre. A timeless classic, Clash of the Titans boasts all the attributes that make a great sword-and-sandals picture. Desmond Davis’ fil is full of dashing heroes and grandiose duels to the death, a state of affairs that is complemented by the creative wildcard afforded by the movie’s more fantastical elements.
8 Conan The Barbarian (1982)
Directed By John Milius
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Conan The Barbarian ActionAdventureFantasy
Conan The Barbarian is a 1982 fantasy film directed by John Milius, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as the titular character. The film follows Conan, a warrior seeking vengeance for his parents’ death at the hands of the sorcerer Thulsa Doom, portrayed by James Earl Jones. Set in a mythical prehistoric age, Conan’s journey encompasses battles, mystical creatures, and his evolution from a slave to a hero.
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*Availability in US Release Date May 14, 1982 Runtime 129 Minutes Cast Arnold Schwarzenegger , James Earl Jones , Max Von Sydow , Sandahl Bergman , Ben Davidson , Cassandra Gava , Gerry Lopez , Mako Director John Milius
The movie that served as the breakout role for the future governor of California, 1982’s Conan the Barbarian is universally viewed as one of Predator star Arnold Schwarzenegger’s best movies. Despite only receiving middling reviews, the cult-classic film is still regarded as a seminal swords-and-sandals offering, chronicling the eponymous character’s brutal mission to gain revenge on those responsible for his parents’ murder.
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|
Conan the Barbarian series Rotten Tomatoes approval rating |
|
|---|---|
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Conan the Barbarian (1982) |
67% |
|
Conan the Destroyer (1984) |
29% |
Full of the cheesy one-liners and high-octane action sequences typically associated with Schwarzenegger’s movies, Conan the Barbarian’s graphic depiction of violence can border on gratuitous, but still makes for a rip-roaring viewing experience. Conan is arguably the role that Schwarzenegger was born to play, with the Austrian’s foreign accent and formidable physique serving to lend authenticity to one of the subgenre’s most memorable characters.
7 Gladiator II (2024)
Directed By Ridley Scott
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167 7.4/10 Gladiator II ActionDramaEpicHistoryAdventure
Gladiator 2 is the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s award-winning film Gladiator from 2000. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 had been stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.
Release Date November 22, 2024 Runtime 148 minutes Cast Paul Mescal , Pedro Pascal , Denzel Washington , Connie Nielsen , Joseph Quinn , Fred Hechinger , Derek Jacobi , May Calamawy , Peter Mensah , Matt Lucas , Alexander Karim , Tim McInnerny , Lee Charles , Chidi Ajufo , Alfie Tempest , Riana Duce , Chi Lewis Parry , Paul Candelent , Hadrian Howard , Alexander Simkin , Mikhail Basmadjian , Matthew Charlery-Smith , Maxime Durand , Lior Raz Director Ridley Scott Expand
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Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II had its fair share of sceptics prior to release; an understandable state of affairs given the fact that the original Gladiator had released more than two decades previously and ended with the death of its main character in Russell Crowe’s Maximus. The highly anticipated sequel saw Paul Mescal take on the role Maximus’ son Lucius, thrust into a desperate fight for survival as a gladiator while being caught up in a plot to overthrow Rome’s despotic twin emperors.
While it doesn’t come close to the dizzying heights of the original, Gladiator II serves as a worthy follow-up to the greatest sword-and-sandals movie of all time; drawing parallels with the likes of Blade Runner 2049 and Top Gun: Maverick for cinema’s best movie sequels released more than a decade after the original. Leveraging some spectacular action sequences and a superb supporting bow from Denzel Washington that is sure to land him in the Oscars conversation, Gladiator II is an excellent, if slightly unadventurous, peplum movie that pays respectful tribute to the iconic original.
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6 Jason And The Argonauts (1963)
Directed By Don Chaffey
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Jason And The Argonauts ActionAdventureFantasy
Jason And The Argonauts is a 1963 fantasy adventure film directed by Don Chaffey. It follows Jason’s quest to retrieve the legendary Golden Fleece, aided by a band of heroes known as the Argonauts. Along their journey, they face various mythical creatures and challenges. The film is renowned for its groundbreaking stop-motion animation by Ray Harryhausen. Todd Armstrong stars as Jason, with Nancy Kovack as Medea and Gary Raymond as Acastus.
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*Availability in US Release Date June 13, 1963 Runtime 104 Minutes Cast Todd Armstrong , Nancy Kovack , Honor Blackman , Gary Raymond Director Don Chaffey
Based on the Greek myth of the hero Jason and his quest for the Golden Fleece, 1963’s Jason and the Argonauts chronicles the perilous journey taken by the titular characters on their way to seek the legendary ram’s skin and the fantastical adventures that they encounter along the way. The movie bombed at the box office upon release, but was critically acclaimed and has subsequently gone on to attain classic status.
The late Ray Harryhausen was also known for his work on the likes of
Clash of the Titans
and
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad
.
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A triumphant adventure that holds up to this day, Jason and the Argonauts is a rip-roaring experience that never ceases to entertain. The timeless movie leverages an array of stunning visuals from legendary cinematic special effects artist Ray Harryhausen to bring the movie’s mythological elements to life, with the unforgettable fight sequence between Jason and the skeleton warriors during the film’s final act widely regarded as one of the most iconic movie scenes of all time.
5 300 (2007)
Directed By Zack Snyder
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7.3/10 300 ActionDramaHistory
Loosely based on Frank Miller’s comic series of the same name, Zack Snyder’s 300 tells the legend of the historical battle of Thermopylae. It follows King Leonidas of Sparta (Gerard Butler) as he leads a small force of 300 Spartans against the amassed Persian army of 300,000. Meanwhile, his wife Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) remains in Sparta to negotiate reinforcements against political resistance.
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*Availability in US Release Date March 9, 2007 Runtime 117 minutes Cast Vincent Regan , Giovanni Cimmino , Lena Headey , David Wenham , Gerard Butler , Dominic West Director Zack Snyder
A shameless crowd pleaser of the highest order, Zack Snyder’s 300 is a heavily embellished take on the Battle of Thermopylae. The 2007 historical epic depicts the efforts of 300 Spartan warriors to repel an enormous Persian invasion force, an army more than 1000 times their size. Spearheaded by Gerard Butler in the leading role of the Spartan king, Leonidas, Snyder’s movie has gone on to attain cult classic status despite only boasting a 61% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
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300 series Rotten Tomatoes ratings |
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300 (2007) |
61% |
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300: Rise of an Empire (2014) |
45% |
A gloriously violent spectacle of stylized gore and chest-pounding action sequences set against the backdrop of one of the best last stands in movie history, 300 is relentlessly silly fun from start to finish. It’s Snyder at his most unashamedly Snyder-like, stuffed with visually arresting imagery and instantly quotable one-liners. The movie’s heavy emphasis on macho elements and slow motion can come across as cheesy and ham-fisted at times, but 300 never lets up in terms of sheer riotous entertainment,
4 Troy (2004)
Directed By Wolfgang Peterson
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8.5/10 Troy Drama
Troy, directed by Wolfgang Petersen and released in 2004, is a historical epic based on Homer’s Iliad. The film chronicles the legendary Trojan War, focusing on the conflict between Achilles, played by Brad Pitt, and Hector, portrayed by Eric Bana. Starring Orlando Bloom as Paris and Diane Kruger as Helen, it explores themes of honor, betrayal, and the fates of the warriors involved in the siege of Troy.
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*Availability in US Release Date May 14, 2004 Runtime 163 Minutes Cast Brad Pitt , Eric Bana , Orlando Bloom , Julian Glover , Brian Cox , Nathan Jones , Adoni Maropis , Jacob Smith Director Wolfgang Petersen
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Wolfgang Peterson’s attempt at a historical war outing loosely based on Homer’s Illiad, Troy is an epic retelling of the battle between the Greeks and the Trojans for the titular city. Boasting a star-studded ensemble cast, the 2004 movie features some awe-inspiring battle sequences to complement an electrifying lead turn from Brad Pitt in one of his best war movies as the preternaturally gifted swordsman and brooding Greek warrior, Achilles.
Troy decidedly takes some liberties with Homer’s canon and historical accuracy in general, but this doesn’t prove to be too detrimental in terms of enjoyment for the movie’s audience. Aided by a brutally glorious depiction of warfare and some superb performances from the likes of Eric Bana, Diane Kruger, and Brian Cox, Troy’s dramatic shortcomings are easy to overlook in the context of its status as a standout swords-and-sandals offering.
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3 Spartacus (1960)
Directed By Stanley Kubrick
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10/10 Spartacus BiographyAdventureDrama
Spartacus is a historical drama directed by Stanley Kubrick, starring Kirk Douglas as Spartacus, a slave-turned-rebel leading an uprising against the Roman Empire. Released in 1960, the film features Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, and Tony Curtis in supporting roles. It portrays Spartacus’s journey from enslavement to becoming a symbol of resistance.
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*Availability in US Release Date November 17, 1960 Runtime 197 Minutes Cast Kirk Douglas , Laurence Olivier , Jean Simmons , Charles Laughton , Peter Ustinov , John Gavin , Nina Foch , John Ireland Director Stanley Kubrick , Anthony Mann
The fifth film from the legendary late filmmaker Stanley Kubrick, 1960’s Spartacus is widely regarded as one of the greatest subgenre outings of all time. Winning four Academy Awards from six nominations, the movie chronicles the rise and fall of an epic slave uprising against the Roman Empire led by the titular character, a Thracian slave and gladiator brought to life by Kirk Douglas.
Peter Ustinov won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of slave trader, Lentulus Batiatus.
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Spartacus is now virtually synonymous with its legendary soundbite of “I am Spartacus!” to symbolize resistance, a quote that has been endlessly imitated and parodied over the years. Praised by experts for its historical accuracy, Kubrick’s work is one of the most celebrated and influential films of all time, boasting powerhouse performances and a rousing premise. Furthermore, the movie’s spectacular battle sequences are nothing short of remarkable, particularly given the time it was released and Kubrick’s relative inexperience as a director.
2 Ben-Hur (1959)
Directed By William Wyler
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Ben-Hur HistoryDramaAdventureAction
Ben-Hur (1959) is an epic historical drama directed by William Wyler, starring Charlton Heston in the titular role. Set during the time of Christ, the story follows Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince who is betrayed and enslaved by his childhood friend. The film is renowned for its chariot race scene and earned eleven Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
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*Availability in US Release Date November 18, 1959 Runtime 222 Minutes Cast Charlton Heston , Stephen Boyd , Hugh Griffith , Jack Hawkins , Haya Harareet Director William Wyler
Starring Charlton Heston as the titular character, 1959’s Ben-Hur is a seminal piece of cinema from the Golden Age of Hollywood, as well as one of the finest swords-and-sandals offerings of all time. An epic tale of betrayal and vengeance with heavy religious leanings, William Wyler’s movie tells the story of Judah Ben-Hur, a wealthy Jewish prince sold into slavery who becomes a famous charioteer and ultimately gains his revenge upon those who have wronged him.
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Wyler’s picture earned a record eleven Academy Awards and remains an awe-inspiring swords-and-sandals triumph to this day.
Clocking in with an official running time of 212 minutes, Ben-Hur is a lengthy epic, but it’s worth sticking around for every second. The movie’s epic chariot race was years ahead of its time, serving to elevate the impressive quality of what is already a glorious piece of vintage cinema. Boasting a nuanced and gripping narrative carried by some first-rate acting, Wyler’s picture earned a record eleven Academy Awards and remains an awe-inspiring swords-and-sandals triumph to this day.
1 Gladiator (2000)
Directed By Ridley Scott
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65 9.2/10 Gladiator ActionAdventureDrama
Gladiator follows Maximus, a Roman general betrayed by the new emperor Commodus. After escaping execution, he is enslaved and becomes a gladiator. Set in ancient Rome, the story portrays his struggle for survival and quest for vengeance as he battles for his freedom in the arena.
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*Availability in US Release Date May 5, 2000 Runtime 155 minutes Cast Russell Crowe , Joaquin Phoenix , Connie Nielsen , Oliver Reed , Richard Harris , Derek Jacobi , Djimon Hounsou , David Schofield , John Shrapnel , Tomas Arana , Ralf Moeller , Spencer Treat Clark , David Hemmings , Tommy Flanagan , Sven-Ole Thorsen , Omid Djalili , Nicholas McGaughey , Chris Kell , Tony Curran , Mark Lewis , John Quinn , Alun Raglan , David Bailie , Chick Allan , David J. Nicholls , Al Hunter Ashton , Billy Dowd , Giannina Facio , Giorgio Cantarini Director Ridley Scott Expand
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The best sword-and-sandal movie ever made, Ridley Scott’s Gladiator remains the golden standard for the subgenre nearly twenty-five years after it was first released. Chronicling the epic tale of the gladiator known as “the Spaniard,” Scott’s movie follows Russell Crowe’s Maximus Decimus Meridius. Gladiator can be perfectly summarised by the iconic soundbite issued by Joaquin Phoenix’s Emperor Commodus when confronted with his nemesis; “The general who became a slave. The slave who became a gladiator. The gladiator who defied an emperor.”
Related Is Gladiator 2 as good as the original?
I enjoyed Gladiator 2, but was it as good as the original? Absolutely not. I feel like the movie had some major strong points in Acacius, Macrinus, and the twin emperors, but where it fell short was every aspect that it tried to mirror the original. In trying to repeat Gladiator’s story, so much of the sequel ended up feeling contrived, particularly Lucius’ character arc. Meanwhile, everything that was fresh and original turned out fantastic.
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Spearheaded by a pair of powerhouse performances from Crowe and Phoenix which earned them a Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor Oscar win and nomination respectively, Gladiator is one of the most beloved movies of all time, irrespective of genre. An endlessly rousing revenge story carried by some thrilling action sequences befitting the movie’s title, cinema has yet to produce a swords-and-sandals offering that can legitimately give Scott’s picture a run for its money.
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