A hero will rise

“Are you not entertained?”

Maximus

Gladiator

Release Date: May 5, 2000

Director Ridley Scott brought the glorious battles of the ancient Roman arenas back to the big screen for the first time in decades with Gladiator, a sweeping story of courage and revenge. The great Roman General Maximus (Russell Crowe) has once again led his legions to victory on the battlefield. The war won, Maximus dreams of home, wanting only to return to his wife and son; however, the dying Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) has one more duty for the general—to assume the mantle of his power.

Jealous of Maximus’ favor with the emperor, the heir to the throne, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), orders Maximus’ execution—and that of his family. Barely escaping death, Maximus is forced into slavery and trained as a gladiator in the arena where his fame grows. Now he has come to Rome, intent on avenging the murder of his wife and son by killing the new emperor...Commodus.

The film, a throwback to Hollywood’s 1950s sword and sandal epics made with all of the modern technology and filmmaking acumen of master filmmaker Ridley Scott and his talented artists and technicians, proved a hit with audiences and an award season juggernaut, garnering 12 Academy Award nominations and winning five, including Best Picture and Best Actor (Crowe). It would be the second of three consecutive Best Picture wins for DreamWorks Pictures, following 1999’s American Beauty and preceding 2001’s A Beautiful Mind (also to star Crowe).

About the Film

About the Film

CAST
  • RUSSELL CROWE,
  • JOAQUIN PHOENIX,
  • CONNIE NIELSEN,
  • OLIVER REED,
  • RICHARD HARRIS,
  • DEREK JACOBI,
  • DJIMON HONSOU
DIRECTOR
  • RIDLEY SCOTT
SCREENWRITERS
  • DAVID FRANZONI,
  • JOHN LOGAN,
  • WILLIAM NICHOLSON
PRODUCERS
  • DOUGLAS WICK,
  • DAVID FRANZONI,
  • BRANKO LUSTIG
CINEMATOGRAPHER
  • JOHN MATHIESON
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
  • ARTHUR MAX
COSTUME DESIGNER
  • JANTY YATES
EDITOR
  • PIETRO SCALIA
COMPOSERS
  • HANS ZIMMER,
  • LISA GERRARD
AWARDS
  • ACADEMY AWARDS: BEST PICTURE, BEST ACTOR, BEST COSTUME DESIGN, BEST SOUND

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