Films like Gladiator
12 picks with a similar feel
What defines Gladiator, going by its Boxlist taste profile: Expect a sweeping, uncomplicated action adventure, emotive rather than low-key. Best if you like plain sailing over puzzles. Its strongest markers on Boxlist are themes of injustice and vengeance, social commentary and underdogs, plus tags such as senate, arena and battlefield.
Here are 12 films with a similar feel, ranked by how closely they match that profile. Treat them as picks to try, not a definitive list.
Based on Gladiator (2000).
- 1
Spartacus (1960)
Film7.6Heavier option
Why it's like Gladiator: Also sweeping and weighty, with themes of injustice and vengeance and social commentary. Common ground: gladiator, ancient world, ancient rome.
- 2
Apocalypto (2006)
Film7.5
Why it's like Gladiator: Also straightforward and weighty, with themes of injustice and vengeance and social commentary. Common ground: slavery.
- 3
Conan the Barbarian (1982)
Film6.8
Why it's like Gladiator: Also sweeping, with themes of injustice and vengeance and an all-consuming quest. Common ground: gladiator, epic.
- 4
Troy (2004)
Film7.1Slower burn
Why it's like Gladiator: Also sweeping and emotional, with themes of injustice and vengeance. Common ground: battlefield, ancient world, epic.
- 5
The Northman (2022)
Film7.1
Why it's like Gladiator: Also sweeping and weighty, with themes of injustice and vengeance and an all-consuming quest. Common ground: revenge.
- 6
Film7.8Lighter option
Why it's like Gladiator: Also sweeping and straightforward, with themes of underdogs and an all-consuming quest. Common ground: parent child relationship.
- 7
300 (2007)
Film7.2
Why it's like Gladiator: Also sweeping and emotional. Common ground: ancient world, epic.
- 8
The Count of Monte Cristo (2024)
Film7.9
Why it's like Gladiator: Also sweeping, with themes of injustice and vengeance and an all-consuming quest. Common ground: revenge.
- 9
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Film7.5Faster-paced
Why it's like Gladiator: Also sweeping and straightforward, with themes of injustice and vengeance and social commentary.
- 10
Free State of Jones (2016)
Film6.7Heavier option
Why it's like Gladiator: Also sweeping and weighty, with themes of injustice and vengeance and social commentary. Common ground: slavery.
- 11
Film7.1
Why it's like Gladiator: Also sweeping and emotional, with themes of underdogs and an all-consuming quest. Common ground: epic, historical fiction.
- 12
The Revenant (2015)
Film7.5Slower burn
Why it's like Gladiator: Also sweeping and weighty, with themes of injustice and vengeance and underdogs. Common ground: parent child relationship, revenge.
Boxlist compares Gladiator with every film in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 6.7 or more from at least 1,000 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point. Ratings are TMDB audience scores out of 10.
Which of these suit you?
Take the taste test and every pick shows how well it matches you.
Take the taste testQuestions
- What should I watch if I like Gladiator?
- Picks with a similar feel include Spartacus, Apocalypto, Conan the Barbarian and Troy. Each shares part of Gladiator's taste profile, themes or tags; the full list has 12 films.
- How are these films like Gladiator chosen?
- Boxlist compares Gladiator with every film in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 6.7 or more from at least 1,000 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point.
- Is there a lighter film like Gladiator?
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade has a similar feel but scores lighter on Boxlist's weightiness scale.