- R
- 2h 28m
- Directed by
-
- Ridley Scott
- Story
- Peter Craig
- Premiered
- November 13, 2024
- Language
-
- English
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $310,000,000.00
- Revenue
- $462,180,717.00
- Awards
-
- Nominated for 1 Oscar. 9 wins & 110 nominations total
- Country
-
- United States of America
Gladiator II
- Production
-
- Paramount Pictures
- Scott Free Productions
- Lucy Fisher/Douglas Wick Productions
Spoiler
Sixteen years have passed since the death of the noble Marcus Aurelius, and the dream of a glorious Rome has curdled into a nightmare. The empire is now under the iron fist of twin emperors, Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger), whose corrupt reign has plunged the city into a state of decay. Their ambition knows no bounds, setting their sights on distant lands like Persia and India, while the very heart of Rome begins to crumble.
In the distant province of Numidia, in the year 200 AD, a young man named Lucius Verus Aurelius, known to his people as Hanno, toils the land with his wife, Arishat (Yuval Gonen). Their peaceful existence is shattered by the ominous sight of smoke and fire billowing from the nearby city gates, a grim herald of impending conflict. The call to arms echoes through their village, and Lucius and Arishat, along with their fellow warriors, don their armor to face the formidable Roman army led by the ruthless General Acacius (Pedro Pascal).
The Numidians fight with the ferocity of those defending their homes, but the Roman legions are relentless. Acacius, a keen observer of the battlefield, spots Arishat expertly wielding her bow and arrow. His command is swift and brutal: eliminate her. A fatal arrow finds its mark, and Arishat is tragically swept into the ocean's embrace. Lucius, also struck down, is cast into the churning waters. In the liminal space between life and death, he witnesses Arishat’s soul being guided by the Ferryman into the afterlife, while he himself is pulled back from the brink.
Lucius awakens to find himself enslaved, alongside the surviving Numidian warriors and citizens, as their city falls to Roman conquest. Acacius, his victory secured, returns to Ostia to be lauded by the corrupt emperors. Geta, ever eager for expansion, speaks of future conquests, but Acacius, witnessing the human cost of their ambition, urges a focus on the welfare of Rome’s own citizens. His pleas fall on deaf ears. Geta denies Acacius any respite to be with his wife and instead conspires with Caracalla to orchestrate grand gladiator games in the Colosseum, a spectacle designed to distract and appease the masses.
The enslaved Lucius and his fellow captives are transported to Antium, where they are placed under the charge of Macrinus (Denzel Washington), a shrewd stablemaster. Their new reality is one of brutal survival, forced to fight for the amusement of their captors. Their first trial is a horrific combat against feral baboons. Jubartha (Peter Mensah), the Numidian chieftain, chooses a swift and violent end, allowing a baboon to tear into his neck. Lucius, however, fights with a primal rage. He confronts a baboon, biting its arm and ultimately strangling it to death with his own shackles. Macrinus, observing this display of raw ferocity and survival instinct, is impressed. He soon pits Lucius against the seasoned gladiator trainer Viggo (Lior Raz) in a hand-to-hand combat. Lucius’s skill and unyielding spirit continue to captivate Macrinus, who recognizes the burning hatred that fuels him. Lucius openly declares his sole aim: to kill Acacius. Macrinus, seeing an opportunity, promises Lucius that if he fights with enough valor in Rome, his revenge may be within reach.
Meanwhile, Acacius returns to his wife, Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), who has remarried. He confides in her his deep disillusionment with the twin emperors, disgusted by the needless sacrifice of soldiers for their insatiable lust for conquest. Together, they begin to forge a plan for an insurrection, enlisting the support of allies like Gracchus (Derek Jacobi).
Macrinus orchestrates a grand party at the home of Senator Thraex (Tim McInnerny), an event attended by the emperors and other influential senators. In this opulent setting, Lucius is once again thrust into the arena, forced to fight another man for the entertainment of the elite. Despite his attempts to de-escalate the situation, he is compelled to fight, ultimately impaling his opponent. Emperor Geta, intrigued by Lucius’s stoic demeanor, approaches him with a question. Lucius, however, offers only a cryptic response, quoting Virgil: “The gates of Hell are open night and day; smooth the descent, and easy the way. But to return, and view the cheerful skies, in this the task and mighty labor lies.”
The gladiator games commence in the colossal Colosseum, and Lucius, along with other fighters, is brought into the arena. As he runs the dirt through his hands, a gesture reminiscent of the legendary Maximus, Lucilla observes him from her private box. A flicker of recognition ignites within her. Lucius and his fellow gladiators are then pitted against the formidable undefeated champion, Glyceo (Chris Hallaways), who rides his pet rhino into battle. Glyceo decimates the other gladiators, leaving only Lucius to face him. Their battle is a brutal spectacle, and at one point, Lucius is knocked down. Geta offers Glyceo the chance to spare Lucius, but Glyceo refuses. Lucius, fueled by an unyielding will to survive, continues the fight, eventually impaling Glyceo. The crowd roars its approval, and Lucius receives the grim signal to decapitate his fallen foe.
After the fight, in her private chambers, Lucilla recalls the quote Lucius uttered and a painful memory surfaces: her decision to send her young son away into exile for his own safety. Tears stream down her face as she realizes her son has returned. Macrinus, witnessing Lucilla’s distress and piecing together the clues, begins to understand Lucius’s true identity.
Lucius finds solace and friendship in the gladiator doctor, Ravi (Alexander Karim), who tends to his wounds. Later, Gracchus facilitates a meeting between Lucilla and Lucius, allowing her to reveal his true parentage: he is the son of Maximus. Lucius, however, is consumed by his grief and rage. He angrily dismisses Lucilla, unable to forgive her for sending him away and holding Acacius responsible for Arishat’s death. Heartbroken, Lucilla then seeks out Acacius, imploring him to help Lucius.
Lucius trains rigorously and participates in a naval battle alongside other gladiators. He leads them to a decisive victory by strategically destroying the enemy ship’s oars and then ramming their vessels. In the heat of battle, he attempts to fire his crossbow at Acacius, but the bolt narrowly misses, striking the ground between Geta and Caracalla, an act they perceive as a direct personal attack.
Macrinus confronts Senator Thraex at his home, demanding repayment of a substantial debt. To settle his obligation, Thraex reveals his knowledge of a plot to overthrow the emperors, a conspiracy he was once a part of. Macrinus, having obtained the crucial information, still forces Thraex from his home. Acacius and Lucilla are then brought before Geta and Caracalla, their alleged treachery exposed. Geta declares they will be forgotten and orders their imprisonment. Macrinus, however, intervenes, convincing Geta to allow Acacius to face punishment in the games.
Lucius deepens his bond with Ravi, learning that Ravi was once a slave who earned his freedom through his prowess in the arena. Ravi shows Lucius a shrine dedicated to fallen gladiators, where Maximus’s name is crossed out, but his armor and sword are privately preserved, along with his powerful words: “What we do in this life echoes in eternity.”
Acacius is forced to fight against the elite Praetorian Guard. He slaughters them all, only to face Lucius in the final confrontation. Their battle is fierce, and Lucius gains the upper hand, holding Acacius at his mercy. However, Lucius refuses to deliver the killing blow. Acacius, in his final moments, speaks of his love for his mother and his willingness to die for his father. Enraged by Lucius’s defiance, Geta orders the Praetorian Guard to execute Acacius by raining dozens of arrows upon him. Lucius, witnessing this brutal act, condemns the emperors and their treatment of heroes, warning the spectators that if this is how Rome honors its champions, they too can expect a similar fate. As Lucius departs, the crowd chants his name, or rather, the name they know him by: “Hanno.”
Macrinus visits Lucius in his cell, questioning his decision to spare Acacius. Lucius articulates his vision for a more just Rome, a vision Macrinus vehemently rejects. Later, Macrinus visits the emperors as the populace begins to stir with unrest. After Geta insults Caracalla over their differing approaches to the growing riots, Macrinus seizes an opportunity. He speaks to Caracalla in private, preying on his insecurities and his constant feeling of being overshadowed by his brother. Macrinus manipulates Caracalla into confronting Geta, subtly guiding his hand to deliver a fatal blow to his brother’s throat, followed by a swift decapitation.
Lucilla visits Lucius once more, presenting him with the ring that belonged to his grandfather. They reconcile, and Lucius embraces his mother, a moment of profound healing. Lucius then entrusts the ring to Ravi, tasking him with delivering it to a general in Ostia, hoping to summon an army to their aid.
Caracalla ascends to the throne, his first act as emperor appointing his pet monkey, Dandas, as consul, while elevating Macrinus to a position of immense power. Macrinus presents Geta’s severed head to the horrified senators, a chilling display designed to solidify his own authority. As Caracalla departs to consolidate his power, Macrinus forces the senators to vote him as leader of the Praetorian Guard. He then visits Lucilla, revealing his true intentions: to end the imperial bloodline and seize the throne for himself, a plan fueled by a deep-seated resentment stemming from his own enslavement by her grandfather.
Macrinus orchestrates a deadly scheme, placing Lucilla and the other conspirators in the Colosseum, with only Lucius to defend them. The plan is to incite a riot among the crowd if Lucilla is harmed, creating an opportunity to assassinate Caracalla and claim the emperorship. Upon learning of his mother’s peril, Lucius breaks free from his cell, overpowering Viggo. The other slaves, inspired by his defiance, join the revolt. Lucius retrieves his father’s armor and sword, ready to lead his men in a fight for their freedom.
The gladiators clash with the Praetorian soldiers in the arena, igniting a full-scale riot as arrows fly and spectators turn on each other. Gracchus falls amidst the chaos. In the ensuing pandemonium, Macrinus seizes his chance, fatally stabbing Caracalla in the ear with a slender bodkin and then firing an arrow into Lucilla’s chest just as Lucius reaches her. Macrinus escapes on horseback, intending to join the Praetorian Guard to face the approaching army at the gates. Lucius pursues him, cornering Macrinus as the two armies stand poised for battle. Lucius charges on horseback, initiating their final duel. Macrinus gains the upper hand, nearly overpowering Lucius, but a memory of his mother’s words empowers him. He disarms Macrinus, severing his left arm before delivering a fatal blow. Lucius then addresses both armies, imploring them to cease their senseless bloodshed. The soldiers, heeding his words, lay down their swords and chant in agreement.
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