Gladiator’s US arrival lets Russell Crowe’s beloved historical epic officially conquer Netflix alongside Gladiator II

A Roman general betrayed

Set in 180 CE and loosely based on historical figures, Gladiator follows Roman general Maximus, played by Crowe. After Roman forces defeat Germanic tribes, Emperor Marcus Aurelius tells Maximus he hopes he will succeed him and restore power to the Senate.

Marcus Aurelius’s son Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix, reacts with fury to the plan and kills his father. Commodus takes the throne and orders Maximus and his family killed. Maximus escapes, but returns home to find his wife and son dead and his home destroyed.

From slavery to the arena

Captured by slave traders, Maximus is taken to North Africa and sold to gladiator trainer Proximo, played by Oliver Reed. Known as the Spaniard, he earns a reputation as a formidable fighter and rises through Proximo’s ranks.

His success gives him a chance to seek revenge when Commodus orders a gladiatorial spectacle. The film centers on Maximus’s effort to confront the ruler who destroyed his family and seized power.

An ensemble cast

Crowe leads the cast alongside Phoenix as Commodus and Connie Nielsen as Lucilla. Richard Harris plays Marcus Aurelius, while Reed portrays Proximo. The supporting cast also includes Djimon Hounsou as Juba, Derek Jacobi as Senator Gracchus and Ralf Möller as Hagen. The film’s arrival on Netflix coincides with Gladiator II being available on the service.