The 2000 movie “Gladiator”, directed by Ridley Scott is about the life of a Roman general named Maximus, played by Russell Crowe.
Maximus quickly becomes a favorite of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, played by Richard Harris.
The emperor’s son Commodus takes the reins of the empire after his father’s death. Maximus becomes a threat to Commodus, who is jealous of the love the people have for the general.
Commodus orders to have Maximus killed in the arena. The rest of the movie deals with the revenge of Maximus.
The Gladiator is one of the best movies ever made about historical battles, swords, and blood. Being an epic success, the movie instantly made fans worldwide.
If you love watching The Gladiator, you are sure to like these 15 great historical battle films ever made.
But, before we dive down into the list, you may want to check these 10 amazing adventure thrillers as well.
1. Spartacus | 1960 | 8.3 IMDB
The film is a fictionalized account of the historical events concerning the life of Spartacus, a Thracian gladiator who led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic.
The film is a classic masterpiece from the great Stanley Kubrick. If you loved watching The Gladiator, you must watch this film as well.
Available on: Netflix | Watch Trailer
2. Braveheart | 1995 | 8.3 IMDB
The film tells the story of a 13th-century Scottish warrior who leads a rebellion against the cruel English ruler of the time. This film is a great historical movie. You can really see the historical period in the film.
The film is very well-written and the acting is perfect. This is an incredible film that everyone should watch.
Available on: Amazon Prime, Hulu | Watch Trailer
3 The Last of the Mohicans | 1992 | 7.9 IMDB
The film is an adaptation of James Fenimore Cooper’s classic novel The Last of the Mohicans. The movie is a perfect mix of history, romance, and action. The film is a classic masterpiece by the great director Michael Mann.
You can really see the historical period in the film. It has a unique tone and great cinematography.
Available on: Amazon Prime | Watch Trailer
4. Troy | 2004 | 6.5 IMDB
Our next film in the Movies like The Gladiator is Troy. The story is set during the Trojan War, focusing on the life of the legendary Trojan prince Paris, who elopes with Helen, queen of Sparta, launching the 10-year conflict.
The movie is really epic, but it suffers from a lack of character building. The characters are neither good nor bad. They are just there. The action scenes are amazing, especially the big battle at the end. The movie is also very violent, but it is not gory.
Available on: Netflix | Watch Trailer
5. The 13th Warrior | 1999 | 7.0 IMDB
After the murder of his brother, Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan (Antonio Banderas) becomes a slave of the Norseman Buliwyf (Ulrich Thomsen), who is heading for a showdown with the evil King Herger (Tommy Flanagan). The 13th Warrior is the best fictional portrayal of the Vikings or the Norsemen.
Available on: Google Play, Hulu | Watch Trailer
6. The Last Samurai | 2003 | 8.0 IMDB
The Last Samurai is a 2003 film about an American who is captured by samurai in Japan and becomes their reluctant leader. The movie is a perfect depiction of the ups and downs in the lives of people. It is a beautiful story of love and friendship.
The Last Samurai is one of the best movies I have watched in recent times. It is a classic in every sense of the word.
Available on: Google Play | Watch Trailer
7. 300 | 2006 | 8.1 IMDB
Completely inspired by Frank Miller’s graphic novel, 300 is about the battle of Thermopylae. Facing insurmountable odds, King Leonidas and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes and his massive Persian army. Although the story is fictional, the setting is based on a real account.
300 is certainly a great watch for the fans of The movie The Gladiator.
Available on: Netflix | Watch Trailer
8. Pompeii | 2014 | 6.8 IMDB
A slave-turned-gladiator finds himself in a race against time to save his true love, who has been betrothed to a corrupt Roman Senator. A definite must-watch if you are watching it for the first time. The plot is great and full of surprises.
Any guy would love it. It’s not too fast-paced and has enough action to keep you hooked.
Available on: Amazon Prime | Watch Trailer
9. King Arthur | 2017 | 7.5 IMDB
The film’s plot centers on the classic Arthurian legends of the young Arthur’s quest to reclaim his birthright as the King of Camelot and his feuds with the powerful sorceress Morgana and Merlin, who Arthur is dependent upon to learn, follow and understand the ways of the Knights of the Round Table.
Full of action and adventure, this is a must-watch for the Fans of The Gladiator.
Available on: Netflix | Watch Trailer
10. 10,000 BC | 2008 | 6.3 IMDB
This is a historical fiction adventure film about a prehistoric hunter who falls in love with the daughter of a tribal chief. The prehistoric man is hurled forward in time when an ice age threatens his way of life. He is then faced with the choice of going back to his own time or staying in the present and fighting for survival.
10,000 BC will not only take you back thousands of years in history but is also sure to give you an amazing movie experience that will last pretty long.
Available on: Netflix | Watch Trailer
11. Centurion | 2010 | 7.7 IMDB
In the year AD 117, a Roman army of ten thousand men is wiped out in Scotland by a force of Caledonians – the fiercest warriors in the known world. Only one centurion, Quintus Dias, survives to return to Rome and tell the tale. And only Emperor Hadrian knows the real reason for the disaster.
Centurion is a powerful movie with an interesting plot. It is not your average Hollywood movie. The characters are well developed, the costumes are beautiful, and the scenery is breathtaking.
Available on: Amazon Prime | Watch Trailer
12. Apocalypto | 2006 | 8.6 IMDB
Set in the year 1524, when the Mayan civilization is at the peak of its powers, a small tribe sets out on a dangerous journey to a new land, where they will be under the protection of the mighty Jaguar Paw. Their peaceful quest soon turns into a brutal and desperate fight for survival as they realize they are not alone on their journey.
Pursued by a ruthless and powerful enemy, the tribe faces a harrowing and brutal journey that tests their courage and brings them to the limits of human endurance.
Available on: Google Play | Watch Trailer
13. The Dead Lands | 2014 | 7.8 IMDB
After his tribe is slaughtered through an act of treachery, Hongi, a Maori chieftain’s teenage son, embarks on a mission of revenge. Vastly outnumbered by the band of villains, Hongi’s only hope is to pass through the feared and forbidden Dead Lands.
In the dead lands, he then forges an uneasy alliance with the mysterious Warrior, a cannibalistic Maori warrior who may turn out to be Hongi’s only chance of survival.
Available on: Amazon Prime | Watch Trailer
14. Titus | 1999 | 7.3 IMDB
In this remake of Shakespeare’s tragedy, Titus Andronicus, a Roman general returns home after years of war to find Rome in a state of turmoil. Chaos rules in the streets and a vicious gang of bandits have kidnapped his family.
In a fit of madness and grief, Titus sacrifices his own daughter to a pit of vipers. He then vows to take his revenge on the perpetrators of the crime and restore order to the Republic.
Available on: DVD Netflix, Amazon | Watch Trailer
15. Kingdom of Heaven | 2014 | 7.7 IMDB
In the Holy Land in the year 1184, a French blacksmith named Balian is aided by a Norman Knight, Godfrey, in saving his village from a hostile Saracen army. The movie tells the story of the Battle of Hattin in which Saladin conquers Jerusalem and the two men find themselves on opposing sides.
Available on: Netflix | Watch Trailer
Movies Like The Gladiator: Our Honorable Mentions
1. The Eagle | 2011 | 6.6 IMDB
Marcus Aquila, the son of a Roman legionary, arrives in Britannia to find his father, missing under mysterious circumstances. He discovers that his father’s unit, the Ninth Legion, has been lost to the ages. Suspecting the worst, he sets out to find his father, and to salvage the reputation of the lost Ninth Legion.
2. The Last Legion | 2007 | 6.6 IMDB
Young Lucius is the sole survivor of a massacre that decimated his family. Taken in by the family of Romulus, the man who ordered the attack, Lucius grows up in the house of his enemy. As an adult, he is forced to confront his adopted father, now emperor of Rome.
3. Rome | 2005 | 8.2 IMDB
Rome spans the tumultuous history of the city and empire from Julius Caesar’s ascendancy in the middle Republic to the emergence of Christianity and the fall of the western empire under barbarian rule.
4. Last Knights | 2015 | 6.4 IMDB
In a twisted social experiment, a visionary leader (Morgan Freeman) from an oppressive regime selects a group of people to travel back in time to witness and document the life and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
5. Ben-Hur | 1959 | 8.2 IMDB
A wealthy Jewish prince purchases a Jewish slave to compete in the arena as a charioteer. He eventually becomes entangled in a conflict between several Roman legions and the Arab king who seeks the destruction of Rome.
So, this was the list of our favorite movies like The Gladiator. We would love to know which movies on the list you liked the most!