'Gladiator II': A Worthy, Bombastic, Crowd-Pleasing Sequel

Ridley Scott returns to the world of Gladiator with the weight of expectation firmly on his shoulders. Following up an Oscar-winning epic that’s been cherished for over two decades is no small feat, but with Gladiator II, Scott crafts a rousing sequel that, while not without its flaws, delivers a confident addition to the franchise.

Gladiator II isn’t a Best Picture contender, nor does it try to be. It knows what it’s here to do: Entertain. And it does that quite well. While it may not reach the emotional heights of the original, it’s a solid, well-crafted spectacle that delivers on the action, drama, and blockbuster thrills you’d hope for.

Back in the director’s chair 24 years after Gladiator, Scott proves he’s still one of the best at staging massive, visually dynamic epics. Gladiator II moves at a brisk pace, balancing grand and grisly arena battles with political intrigue and quieter character moments.

Yes, it’s missing some of the magic that made the original so iconic—mainly, Russell Crowe’s Maximus and the singular charisma he brought to that role. But Scott smartly doesn’t try to replicate that dynamic here. Instead, the film spreads the spotlight across an ensemble cast, anchored by Paul Mescal with Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and a scene-stealing Denzel Washington.

This time around, Mescal takes on the central role of Lucius, a quieter, more introspective gladiator—a man fueled by rage but tempered by the ideals Maximus inspired. His performance isn’t flashy, but it’s quietly effective, especially in his moments of vulnerability. Mescal shines in the physicality of the role, proving himself a compelling lead, even if he doesn’t command the same magnetic presence as Crowe.

The true scene-stealer, though, is Denzel Washington. As a scheming gladiator keeper with grand ambitions in the Roman Empire, Washington is having an absolute blast. His performance is playful and campy when it needs to be, but he also grounds the character in darker, more menacing territory when the stakes rise. (There’s a scene where he shares the screen with a very goofy little monkey, and it’s as fun as it is surreal.)

Pedro Pascal also delivers a pitch perfect emotional performance as an earnest, conflicted Roman general, while Joseph Quinn brings unexpected depth to an underwritten role, the more subdued of Rome’s twin deranged emperors. Together, this ensemble elevates the material, bringing energy and charisma to even the film’s sillier moments.

Most of the arena battles are everything you’d want from a Gladiator sequel: brutal, intense, and precisely choreographed. Scott captures the visceral chaos of the fights while maintaining a sense of scale and grandeur. Even when the sequel leans into over-the-top, almost cartoonish arena battles that stray from the grounded intensity of the original, they remain undeniably fun.

But surprisingly, it’s not just the action that stands out. The film’s subplots of political intrigue and familial betrayal add layers to the story, even if they don’t quite reach Game of Thrones levels of complexity. While I wouldn’t say I was emotionally invested in every twist and turn, by the end I found myself rooting for the heroes and relishing the villains’ inevitable comeuppance.

Of course, Gladiator II isn’t without its flaws. There are some overly familiar callbacks to the original film, particularly in the final act, that risk feeling heavy-handed. But by the time these moments arrive, the movie has earned enough goodwill that I didn’t really mind.

And yes, the film can be silly—sometimes downright dumb. (You’ve seen the killer CGI baboons in the trailer, right?) But that silliness is part of its charm. This is a movie that knows how to have fun without taking itself too seriously. It delivers exactly what I was hoping for: big spectacle, compelling performances, and just enough emotional weight to keep me invested.

Gladiator II isn’t really trying to be as Oscar worthy as Gladiator. Its only goal is to entertain the masses, and it does so with confidence and style. For me, it’s a solid 3.5 out of 5. It’s not a film that will linger in my mind for its emotional or intellectual depth, but as pure, energizing entertainment, it absolutely gets the job done.