A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
-
Positive Messages
very little
"Strength and honor," the motto that Maximus lives by, is upheld in his behavior no matter what happens to him.
-
Positive Role Models
a little
In the midst of losing his family, his life as a Roman soldier and general, and his chance to become emperor, Maximus continues to live his life upholding the motto "strength and honor," even as he is sold into slavery and forced to become a gladiator.
-
Violence & Scariness
a lot
Very violent, many bloody battle scenes, many deaths. Main character's wife and child are burned and crucified to death offscreen, his wife's charred ankles and feet are shown. Tigers are killed with swords. Decapitations. Bodies cut in half with swords. A lot of blood. Maximus cuts into his skin to remove the tattoo that distinguishes him as a Roman soldier and general. References to rape and incest.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Sex, Romance & Nudity
some
A character desires his sister. An exposed male backside. A character is said to have "moaned like a whor*."
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Language
a little
"Bitch," and one "s--t." A trader who has purchased two giraffes openly wonders if they are "queer giraffes" because they are not mating.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Gladiator is a 2000 movie in which Russell Crowe plays a Roman general who is betrayed by a power-hungry emperor's son and must survive as a gladiator. This is a very violent movie. A woman and child are brutally tortured, killed, and crucified mostly offscreen, and their charred feet and ankles are shown. People are sliced up, burned, and decapitated. Blood is constantly being shed. Tigers are killed by swords. There are references to rape and incest. We see an exposed male backside. A character is said to have "moaned like a whor*." We hear "bitch" and "s--t." Overall, while a very loose interpretation of what actually happened in the earliest years of the reign of the tyrannical Emperor Commodus and the beginning of the decline of the Roman Empire, the movie does explore the theme of stoicism and how it helped Maximus to survive tremendous hardships as he continued to live by the motto "strength and honor." To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
What's the Story?
In 180 AD Rome, the aging Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) watches as Maximus (Russell Crowe), his most trusted general, fights the barbarians in Germania in a terrible, bloody battle. The emperor's son, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), wants to succeed his father, but Caesar doesn't think he has what it takes. When Aurelius chooses Maximus to lead the people back to democracy, Commodus kills his father before the Senate hears about Maximus, then orders the execution of Maximus and his family. Maximus escapes, is captured, is sold into slavery, and becomes a gladiator. To confront Commodus, he must win enough fights to be called to Rome. Meanwhile, Commodus finds ways to distract the populace while he disables the Senate. The only one he trusts is his sister, Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), who pretends to support him to protect her young son.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why some people are drawn to watch other people battle. What's the appeal of movies like this?
There are many historical inaccuracies in this movie. Why do you think the filmmakers decided to tell a fictional account of the Roman Empire instead of sticking to the facts?
What do you think would be the challenges in bringing to life the Roman Empire circa 180 AD?
Movie Details
- In theaters: May 5, 2000
- On DVD or streaming: August 19, 2003
- Cast: Connie Nielsen, Joaquin Phoenix, Russell Crowe
- Director: Ridley Scott
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Universal Pictures
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 155 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: violence and some sexual references
- Awards: Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe
- Last updated: June 8, 2024
Inclusion information powered by 
