
The film has been analyzed for its themes of revenge, violence, masculinity, and stoicism. Several films have attempted to emulate Gladiator's visuals, style, and tone with varying degrees of success. It has been credited with reinventing the sword-and-sandal genre and rekindling interest in entertainment centered around the cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and other time periods throughout world history. Since its release, Gladiator has been critically reevaluated and it has been considered one of the best films of the 2000s decade. Gladiator helped elevate or revitalize the careers of several cast and crew members, particularly elevating both Crowe and Phoenix to leading men status. It also received four BAFTA Awards at the 54th British Academy Film Awards for Best Film, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design and Best Editing. The film won multiple awards, including five at the 73rd Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Actor for Crowe, Best Costume Design, Best Sound and Best Visual Effects. The film received generally positive reviews from critics with praise for the acting (particularly Crowe's and Phoenix's performances), Scott's direction, visuals, screenplay, action sequences, musical score, and the production values. On its release, the film grossed over $460.5 million worldwide, making it the second highest-grossing film of 2000, finishing behind Mission: Impossible 2. Gladiator was anticipated to become one of 2000's most successful films. British post-production company The Mill, who constructed the film's computer-generated imagery effects, had to create a digital body double for the remaining scenes involving Reed's character Proximo. Complications of the film’s production were made worse when Reed died of a heart attack before production wrapped. Several of the cast complained about the writing quality throughout the nineteen week shoot in Fort Ricasoli, Malta, forcing many rewrites.

Principal photography, which began in January 1999 and wrapped up in May of that year, was known to have a set of problems due to the script being unfinished. Mannix's 1958 book Those About to Die (formerly titled The Way of the Gladiator), the film's script, initially written by Franzoni, was acquired by DreamWorks and Ridley Scott signed on to direct the film. Reduced to slavery, Maximus becomes a gladiator and rises through the ranks of the arena to avenge the murders of his family and his emperor. Crowe portrays Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius, who is betrayed when Commodus, the ambitious son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, murders his father and seizes the throne. It stars Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Ralf Möller, Oliver Reed (in his final role), Djimon Hounsou, Derek Jacobi, John Shrapnel, Richard Harris, and Tommy Flanagan. DreamWorks Pictures distributed the film in North America while Universal Pictures released it internationally through United International Pictures. The film was co-produced and released by DreamWorks Pictures and Universal Pictures.

Young, Matt Walsh, Michelle Gunn, Mike Meldman, Monique Delee, Montana Byrne, Naomi Watts, Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi, Odessa Rae, Olivia Roberts Payne, Paloma Felisberto, Patrick Warburton, Phil Crowley, Phillip Michaels, Raven Burnett, Richard Gere, Ricki Lander, Rightor Doyle, Rocky Madigan, Roy Jenkins, Sayed Badreya, Sean Rosales, Seann William Scott, Sebastian Brodziak, Seth MacFarlane, Severyn K.Gladiator is a 2000 epic historical drama film directed by Ridley Scott and written by David Franzoni, John Logan, and William Nicholson. Smoove, Jack McBrayer, Jared Dudley, Jaron Henrie-McCrea, Jarrad Paul, Jarrett Carter, Jason Sudeikis, Jasper Grey, Jay Ellis, Jeremy Allen White, Jimmy Bennett, John Hodgman, John Shuman, Johnny Knoxville, Josh Duhamel, Julie Ann Emery, Julie Claire, Julie McNiven, Justin Long, Kate Bosworth, Kate Winslet, Katie Finneran, Katrina Bowden, Kieran Culkin, Kristen Bell, Larry Eugene Sanders II, Leslie Bibb, Liev Schreiber, Liz Carey, Logan Holladay, Mandy Kowalski, Marc Ambrose, Maria Arcé, Mark L. Cast: Aaron Jennings, Aaron LaPlante, Aasif Mandvi, Alex Cranmer, Anna Faris, Anna Madigan, Arthur French, Austin Cope, Ben Harris, Bobby Cannavale, Brett Davern, Brian Flaccus, Brooke Davis, Caryl Lippman West, Cathy Cliften, Charlie Saxton, Cherina Monteniques Scott, Chloë Grace Moretz, Chris Pratt, Christina Linhardt, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Coleen Hoffman, Common, Corey Wayne Brewer, Darby Lynn Totten, Dennis Quaid, Devin Eash, Ed Blythe, Elbe Van Der Merwe, Elizabeth Banks, Emily Alyn Lind, Emma Stone, Eric Stuart, Esti Ginzburg, Evan Dumouchel, Gerard Butler, Greg Kinnear, Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, J.B.
