Ridley Scott has made several masterpieces throughout his career as a director. Blade Runner is one of the defining sci-fi films, and easily the most influential cyberpunk movie ever made. Alien took its sci-fi premise and added an element of horror, which has spawned a billion-dollar franchise that’s still going over 40 years later. But, in 2000, Ridley Scott moved away from the sci-fi genre and traveled back in time to one of the most cinematic periods in human history: Ancient Rome. To many people on free streaming, the Roman Empire is, well… their Roman Empire, because Ridley Scott’s historical action masterpiece continues to dominate.
Ridley Scott’s Gladiator is currently streaming for free on Pluto TV. After being added to the free streaming platform at the end of 2025, Maximus Decimus Meridius’ journey for revenge has been watched time and time again on the platform. Gladiator shot to the top spot on Pluto TV’s weekly rankings when it was first added to the free site. But, per FlixPatrol, Gladiator has become a mainstay on Pluto TV’s viewing library. At the time of writing, Gladiator has remained on Pluto’s weekly charts for over 190 days. That’s over six months! What’s more impressive is that Pluto TV usually cycles through new movies on a monthly basis, constantly refreshing its library. So, for Gladiator to have had such an impact for so long proves the timelessness of Scott’s film.
Ridley Scott may have directed Gladiator, but the screenplay was the brainchild of David Franzoni, John Logan, and William Nicholson. Released in 2000, the film stars Russell Crowe as the aforementioned Maximus Decimus Meridius (Commander of the Armies of the North and the Felix Legions, etcetera, etcetera). After waging war in England, Maximus is betrayed by the corrupt Emperor Commodus. With his wife and child murdered, Maximus narrowly escapes assassination, but is taken as a slave. By fighting in the gladiator pits, Maximus finds a chance to avenge his family and save Rome from such a corrupt leader.
What Went Wrong With ‘Gladiator II’?
After two decades of development hell, Gladiator II finally hit our screens in 2024. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t live up to 24 years’ worth of hype. It wasn’t a bad movie, but it was nowhere near the original. The film had a multitude of problems, from a bloated script to the story underwriting Maximus’ family-focused morals from the first movie, and Scott’s decision to shoot for coverage (shooting with multiple cameras at once) rather than with intentionality, resulting in lackluster cinematography and lighting, and a flat final image.
‘Gladiator’s Cast Was Insane
When you’re Ridley Scott, you can pretty much cast whoever you want in a movie. His newest project, the post-apocalyptic The Dog Stars​​​​​​, features Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin, Allison Janney, Guy Pearce, and Benedict Wong. But even in 2000, Scott had his pick of the A-listers and rising talent. The original Gladiator was a who’s who of well-known actors, including Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, Richard Harris, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, and so many more.
