This Disappointing $462M Ridley Scott Historical Epic Is Surging On Netflix's Global Charts

Renowned for his epic storytelling, Ridley Scott has left a lasting mark on the historical movie genre. Scott’s directorial debut, The Duellists, set in Napoleonic France, showcased his penchant for smaller stories within expansive historical backdrops. The film was praised for its authenticity and attention to period detail, something which has become a trademark of Ridley Scott’s movies.

Following this, Scott directed other standouts such as Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, Robin Hood, and Exodus: Gods and Kings. Despite spanning various settings and periods, the director has demonstrated a consistent ability to immerse audiences in historical worlds, earning many accolades over the years. As a result, Ridley Scott’s historical movies are famed for their lasting impressions.

Paul Mescal holding out his sword in the arena in Gladiator II

According to data provided by Netflix, Scott’s long-awaited historical epic sequel, Gladiator II, is now making a dramatic resurgence on Netflix’s global streaming charts. Ranking No. 5 in the Top 10 Global Movies for last week, Gladiator II has amᴀssed 8,500,000 views on the streaming platform, sitting just below Adam Sandler’s original comedy, Happy Gilmore, at No. 4.

Gladiator II follows the exiled Prince of Rome, Lucius Verus Aurelius (Paul Mescal), as he becomes a prisoner of war and a gladiator, fighting for Macrinus (Denzel Washington), a former slave with plans to overthrow the twin emperors. Gladiator II also stars Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Fred Hechinger, as well as Derek Jacobi and Connie Nielsen from the original Gladiator.

Gladiator II received two Golden Globe nominations and one Academy Award nomination, and earned generally positive reviews, with a 70% Tomatometer and 81% Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes. However, despite its positive reception, the follow-up to the 2000 classic only earned $462 million worldwide, against an astonishing reported production budget of $310 million, making it an overall box office disappointment.

Our Take On Gladiator II’s Streaming Success

Denzel Washington leaning forward conspiratorially in Gladiator II

While Gladiator II isn’t Ridley Scott’s best movie, and it certainly doesn’t match the legacy of its Oscar-winning predecessor, its streaming comeback is noteworthy. The brilliant visuals, battle sequences, and Paul Mescal’s brooding performance as Lucius heavily contributed to the film’s positive reviews, and audiences who skipped its theatrical run are now discovering Gladiator II, unhindered by opening-week expectations.

However, while Gladiator II may have delivered on the action and visual spectacle expected of a historical epic— as it should, considering its budget — the sequel struggled to capture the emotional depth and originality that made the first film a classic. That being said, Gladiator II is perfect for streaming, with viewers appreciating Scott’s work as a casual watcher.

Sources: Netflix, Rotten Tomatoes