6 Best Gladiator and Roman Empire Movies

By Vlad Zakh · March 19, 2026

Ancient Rome is a big, bloody stage, and Hollywood has loved it for decades. Gladiator has a betrayed general rising through the arena for revenge, Spartacus follows an enslaved gladiator leading a massive rebellion, and Pompeii has a gladiator racing to save his love as Vesuvius erupts. Ben-Hur, Quo Vadis and The Fall of the Roman Empire round out the six.

Pompeii (2014)

TMDB ★ 5.7

A gladiator races to save the woman he loves as Mount Vesuvius erupts and destroys the city.

Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson · 1h 45m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads, Starz Apple TV channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Gladiator (2000)

IMDb ★ 8.5 RT 80% Metacritic 67

A betrayed Roman general seeks vengeance on the corrupt emperor who murdered his family.

Directed by Ridley Scott · 2h 35m · Rated R

Won 5 Oscars61 wins & 105 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Kanopy, YouTube TV · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964)

TMDB ★ 6.8

A noble Roman general's loyalty is tested as corruption and ambition threaten the empire.

Directed by Anthony Mann · 3h 08m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Spartacus (1960)

TMDB ★ 7.9

An enslaved gladiator leads a massive slave rebellion against the might of the Roman Republic.

Directed by Stanley Kubrick · 3h 17m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: MGM Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Ben-Hur (1959)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 87% Metacritic 90

A betrayed Jewish prince seeks revenge on his childhood friend, now a powerful Roman official.

Directed by William Wyler · 3h 32m · Rated G

Won 11 Oscars29 wins & 13 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Quo Vadis (1951)

TMDB ★ 7.0

A Roman commander falls for a Christian woman as Emperor Nero's tyranny escalates towards persecution.

Directed by Mervyn LeRoy · 2h 54m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Gladiator and Roman Empire Movies

Pompeii (2014)

Gladiator (2000)

The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964)

Spartacus (1960)

Ben-Hur (1959)

Quo Vadis (1951)

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