Gladiator is an incredibly iconic movie, due largely to the amount of rewatchable scenes it contains. In the run-up to Gladiator II‘s story, many will be refamiliarizing themselves with what happened in the first movie. As such, the question of where to rewatch Gladiator is on the minds of audiences before Ridley Scott returns to the streets of Ancient Rome with the newest iteration of the franchise. Despite Gladiator II‘s cast of characters being made up of almost completely new actors, the themes of its predecessor will be explored in-depth in the movie.
✕ Remove Ads
Therefore, there has never been a better time to rewatch 2000’s Gladiator. Thankfully, the first film has no shortage of rewatchable scenes. Telling the story of Maximus Decimus Meridius, Gladiator focuses on one man’s journey for revenge against a tyrannical dictator, fighting his way up through the ranks of gladiatorial combat. From the early scenes involving Maximus as a general of the Roman Army, based on Gladiator‘s real historical elements, to the conclusion of his arc, Gladiator has many scenes that are immensely rewatchable for their sheer iconicity and the quality of craftmanship that was involved in the project.
The following entries are in no particular order of enjoyment, instead being listed chronologically concerning when they take place in the movie.
✕ Remove Ads
10 Gladiator’s Opening Battle Sequence
The Marcomannic Wars Come To An End
Close
The opening credits of Gladiator outline that the Roman Army is coming to the end of a war with the Germanic tribes of northern, eastern, and central Europe. The historical accuracy of Gladiator has long been debated, but these wars line up with the timeline of the real Marcomannic Wars, and the film shows Maximus as a general, leading his soldiers against the last resistors. This is easily one of Gladiator‘s most rewatchable scenes due to the pure spectacle it possesses, and how well it holds up as an epic battle sequence.
✕ Remove Ads
From the long sweeping wide shots of the battle to the more intimate moments showing Maximus and his men facing off against their enemies, the battle is epic in true Ridley Scott fashion. The scene sets the stage for the film to come by proving how thrilling it will be, set against Hans Zimmer’s exciting score. Regarding spectacle, action sequences, gore, and exaggerated real-life battles being depicted on screen, no scene in G ladiator is more rewatchable than its opening one.
9 Maximus’ Escape From Commodus’ Men & His Journey Home
The True Beginning Of Maximus’ Journey Has Everything Audiences Could Want
Close
After the initial battle sequence, Commodus kills his father, Emperor Marcus Aurelius, and takes power. He orders Maximus to be killed as well as his family, taking the former into the forest. Maximus fights off Commodus’ men in a brilliant action sequence, proving again to be a very rewatchable scene from a visceral perspective.
The sequence features some of Zimmer’s best work and some beautiful landscape shots to make it very easy on the eyes and ears…
✕ Remove Ads
After this, Maximus journeys home in an attempt to save his family. The sequence features some of Zimmer’s best work and some beautiful landscape shots to make it very easy on the eyes and ears and thus, easy to rewatch. Although Maximus returning home to find his family dead is a harrowing sequence, it marks the true beginning of his character arc, rendering it a scene that must be rewatched in order to fully grasp the powerful story Gladiator‘s final two acts will tell.
8 Maximus’ Rise Through The Gladiatorial Ranks
Yes Maximus, We Are Entertained
Close
✕ Remove Ads
Gladiator then switches focus to Maximus being taken as a slave and forced to fight in the gladiator arena in Algeria on the northern coast of Africa. This sequence combines the exciting action of the opening action sequence with the added narrative propulsion from the death of Maximus’ family after the newly-crowned gladiator finds out he can make his way up to the Roman Colosseum. The rewatchable nature of this scene comes from these aspects, as Gladiator‘s Maximus Decimus Meridius becomes the titular figure.
Related Are You Not Entertained?! 25 Most Iconic Quotes From Gladiator
From “Are you not entertained?!” to “I will have my vengeance”, the best Gladiator quotes make up some of movie history’s most famous lines.
1
This sequence culminates in one of the more iconic moments in the film. This only makes this scene even more rewatchable, as Maximus throws his sword at the spectators and angrily yells “Are you not entertained?” Given how awesome it is to view this scene on repeat watches of Gladiator, it is safe to say that the answer to Maximus’ question is a simple “yes.”
✕ Remove Ads
7 Maximus & Lucius’ First Meeting
The Crux Of Gladiator II’s Story Is Teased
Close
Gladiator II focuses on Paul Mescal’s Lucius, the son of Lucilla featured in the first movie. Interestingly, Gladiator II retcons Lucius’ character to make him the son of Maximus, making one seemingly innocuous scene from the first Gladiator even more rewatchable. The scene in question comes after Maximus and his fellow gladiators make it to Rome.
Lucius was recast for Gladiator II due to the film’s timeline placing it only 20 years after the first movie, making the original actor, Spencer Treat Clark, slightly too old for the role.
✕ Remove Ads
As they are waiting for the gladiatorial games to begin, Maximus is spoken to by Lucius. The latter tells the former that he will support him in the arena, leading Maximus to fight as much for Lucius’ freedom as he does his own. Knowing that Gladiator II changes Maximus and Lucius’ relationship, this scene is very rewatchable purely due to the setup of the film’s sequel.
6 Maximus’ First Fight In Rome’s Colosseum
Maximus Begins To Win The Hearts Of The Roman People
Like the opening battle sequence, Gladiator‘s Colosseum scenes are filled with spectacle, action, gore, and drama. Perhaps the most rewatchable is the first fight Maximus and his gladiatorial peers have in the film, where they are forced to fight against men in chariots in a recreation of the Battle of Zama. The scene has everything anyone could want from a swords-and-sandals action sequence, including a great show of leadership from Maximus, epic stunts, and some gruesome kills.
✕ Remove Ads
5 “I Am Maximus Decimus Meridius…”
Another Iconic Scene In Gladiator
Close
After this battle, Commodus wishes to meet the gladiator known as The Spaniard. He tells the fighter to remove his helmet and tell him his name, leading Maximus to reveal himself. This scene is perhaps the single most rewatchable in the entire film due to how satisfying it is to see Commodus’ shock at Maximus’ survival. Then comes one of the best speeches in movie history – which actor Russell Crowe ironically hated – to drive home how fantastic the scene is.
Related Russell Crowe Hated Gladiator’s Best Line (& Tried To Improvise It Better)
It’s hard to imagine that Russell Crowe could hate any of Gladiator’s screenplay. The actor argued with director Ridley Scott and tried to improvise.
✕ Remove Ads
After revealing his face, Maximus tells Commodus that he is “father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life, or the next.” This speech alone is enough to make this scene one of Gladiator‘s most rewatchable as it pays off the film’s main rivalry perfectly, serving as an excellent midpoint for the story that capitalizes on what came before it and propels the narrative into its latter half.
4 Maximus vs. The Tigris Of Gaul
Maximus’ Second Gladiatorial Fight Is As Good As His First – For Different Reasons
Close
✕ Remove Ads
While every action sequence in Gladiator could be counted among the film’s most rewatchable scenes, the second main gladiator fight stands out for different reasons. Where the first scene had every gladiator fighting together against an onslaught of men, horses, and chariots, the second is much more intimate as it features only Maximus fighting against an undefeated gladiator named the Tigris of Gaul. By foregoing the added spectacle of a battle between several characters for a one-on-one duel, Gladiator makes another of its action scenes immensely rewatchable for similar yet different reasons.
An added twist is thrown into the mix when Maximus also has to reckon with live tigers…
The similarities in question are the obvious thrills and excitement that come with most action sequences, as well as seeing Maximus’ skills as a warrior. The differences include the aforementioned more intimate feeling of having Maximus only have to face off against one character. However, an added twist is thrown into the mix when Maximus also has to reckon with live tigers. All of this culminates in one of the film’s standout action sequences which is as different as it is rewatchable when compared to others of the same ilk.
✕ Remove Ads
3 The Gladiators’ Attempt To Escape Rome
Action, Romance, & Story Setup All Come Together
Close
As Gladiator nears its ending, a final bombastic action sequence takes place. This involves the gladiators starting a fight with the Praetorian guards in order to give Maximus a distraction so that he can escape Rome. Maximus intends to do this in an attempt to reunite with the soldiers who still support their former general. In doing so, Maximus can take Rome from Commodus and hand it back to the people as Marcus Aurelius desired.
✕ Remove Ads
Naturally, the action in this scene makes it highly rewatchable, as does the sad sacrifice of a fan-favorite character in Hagen. Shortly before this, there is even a rare romantic scene in which Maximus and Lucilla share a kiss which also adds more credence to the retcon that Lucius is Maximus’ son as it establishes their relationship. To make these sequences even better on rewatch, Hans Zimmer’s score booms throughout to make it truly memorable.
2 Maximus vs. Commodus
The Final Battle
Close
As a narrative climax, there are few scenes as rewatchable as Maximus’ fight against Commodus. The choreography on display is excellent during the battle, with the scene before between Gladiator‘s evil Emperor Commodus making audiences root for Maximus even more when the former injures the latter to gain the upper hand. Thanks to the choreography of the fight and the slow build-up of the narrative that has centered around Maximus’ revenge, there is only one word that can be used to describe why this scene is so rewatchable: satisfying.
✕ Remove Ads
1 Maximus’ Death & Visions
The Ending Of Gladiator Is A True Masterpiece
Close
The final rewatchable scene in Gladiator closes out the film. After defeating Commodus and ensuring Rome will fall back into the hands of the people, Maximus dies from his wounds. Not only does this scene completely pay off Maximus’ arc, but it also addresses the many themes set up throughout the film. Finally, it is incredibly emotionally effective, meaning it is rewatchable for the fact that it always closes out Gladiator on a very strong note.
✕ Remove Ads
The main character being picked up by his comrades as Maximus’ dreams of the afterlife play out solidifies this emotional climax, as does Hans Zimmer’s score. The song “Now We Are Free” by Zimmer and Lisa Gerard is one of the more iconic in film history and perfectly fits the ending as Juba buries the figures of Maximus’ family beneath the Colosseum. If Gladiator‘s final scene does not work on rewatch, nor does the entire film. As such, this scene may not only be the best in the film but also the most rewatchable.
Your Rating
10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
10/10 9.8/10 Gladiator R
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.
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US Director Ridley Scott Release Date May 5, 2000 Writers David Franzoni , John Logan , William Nicholson 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 Runtime 155 minutes Expand