Movies Like Gladiator (Top Picks At A Glance)
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One thing that made Gladiator so great was just how dark, gritty, and violent it got throughout the entire film. Not only that, but it forces you to form a connection with the characters, and by the end, you really do feel something for Maximus!
All these things combined as well as having incredible action sequences is what makes this movie so damn amazing! After watching it, we have decided to gather what we believe are the best and most exhilarating movies like Gladiator that will keep you entertained for hours to come.
1. 300
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To start this list of movies like Gladiator, we have one of the most badass movies out there, which also has one incredibly iconic quote!
If you ever wondered where the “This is Sparta!” comes from, this is it. If you haven’t seen it, we highly recommend you give it a watch.
300 Movie Description
King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) leads his Persian army in the war against Greece in 480 B.C. On the other side Leonidas (Gerard Butler), the king of the Greek city state named Sparta, leads his men of incredible warriors into the Battle Of Thermopylae.
Though the Spartans are severely outnumbered, their skill is beyond anything the Persians have. Although the Spartans know that death is coming for them, their incredible stand against the massive Persian army sends a wave of inspiration across Greece to unite against its common enemy.
2. Braveheart
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Next up we have a classic that everyone must watch at least once in their lives. If you enjoy the medieval times as well as war then this one is perfect for you.
Braveheart Movie Description
After the love of his life is unjustly slaughtered, William Wallace (Mel Gibson) a Scottish patriot leads a massive revolt against the English. At first he led his men into battles, but it isn’t long before he’s leading an army into an all out war. His success in advancing into England threatens King Edward I’s throne.
It isn’t long though before William faces his inevitably capture and death. However, it’s already too late. He has sparked a fire amongst his people and has become a symbol for a great and free Scotland.
3. The Last Samurai
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We feel as though no one ever talks about this Tom Cruise movie. He’s well known for Mission Impossible, Minority Report and other amazing movies of the sort, but this one rarely comes up! And it is amazing! If you haven’t seen it, change that now!
The Last Samurai Movie Description
The Emperor of Japan has hired American military officer Capt. Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) to be the man that trains the country’s first army in the arts of modern warfare. This is to replace and completely rid the country of the ancient Samurai class as they prepare for more Westernized and trade friendly policies.
However, Algren has become unexpectedly involved with the Samurai and becomes deeply affected with every encounter he has with them. He now finds himself in the middle of a clash between two different eras and worlds.
4. Apocalypto
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This movie is on a different level. It’s one of our favorite movies ever and is also one of the most thrilling films you’ll ever see. Recently, it was nearly impossible to get your hands on a copy of this film.
But they recently added it to Amazon Prime, where you can watch it for free if you have a subscription! We definitely recommend you give it a watch.
Apocalypto Movie Description
During these times, the Mayan kingdom has never had more power or wealth. However, when the foundations of this powerful empire begin to crumble, its leaders believe they must sacrifice more people and build more temples in order to save its crops and people from perishing.
During a raid, the Mayans capture a man named Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood) along with his entire village. They have scheduled for Jaguar to take part in a ritual sacrifice. Fearing for his life he makes a dangerous escape attempting to make it back to his pregnant wife and son before his gruesome death.
5. Spartacus
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This is a classic and in our opinion the most similar to Gladiator itself. It’s based around Spartacus, who is a slave turned Gladiator. If you haven’t seen it, you should definitely give it a watch.
Spartacus Movie Description
Thracian Spartacus (Kirk Douglas) was born and raised as a slave. Eventually sold to the Gladiator trainer Batiatus (Peter Ustinov), Spartacus spends weeks being trained to kill for the arena. It isn’t long before Spartacus turns on his owners and leads his companion slaves on a bloody rebellion.
As they make their way from town to town, the numbers of their army grow immensely with escaped slaves joining their cause. Following Spartacus, the band of ex-slaves make their way to southern Italy where they plan to cross the sea and return home.
6. Troy
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Ending our list of movies like Gladiator, we have another film based around an incredibly skilled fighter.
If you want some incredible non-stop action that takes place during the Bronze Age then you have to give this one a watch! Not to mention, it has Brad Pitt in it! All the more reason to watch it.
Troy Movie Description
The Trojan prince Paris (Orlando Bloom) falls deeply for Helen (Diane Kruger), the Spartan King Menelaus’s (Brendan Gleeson) wife during a visit he makes. Paris takes her back to Troy when he leaves Sparta.
Using the anger of Menelaus, his brother King Agamemnon (Brian Cox) declares war on Troy. He has already defeated every other army in Greece and Troy stands as the last Kingdom which prevents his total control over the Aegean Sea.
These films above are what we believe will give you the best movie-watching experience if you’re looking for more epic movies like Gladiator. However, we also know that six movies may not be enough for you!
So, we’re also going to list all the films that just barely didn’t cut it down below. These coming movies are also amazing. They were just missing one or two things that the top films had!
15 More Gritty Movies Like Gladiator
- Robin Hood (2010)
- Saving Private Ryan (1998)
- King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword (2017)
- The Eagle (2011)
- Cleopatra (1963)
- The Passion Of The Christ (2004)
- Centurion (2010)
- 300: Rise Of An Empire (2014)
- Pearl Harbor (2001)
- Outlaw King (2018)
- Clash Of The Titans (2010)
- Immortals (2011)
- Iron Clad (2011)
- Kingdom Of Heaven (2005)
- Dunkirk (2017)
- The Thirteenth Warrior (1999)
