Ridley Scott’s 2000 film Gladiator achieved massive commercial success, grossing $465.5 million and earning the Best Picture award, securing its place among Scott’s celebrated works like Alien and Blade Runner. Despite this acclaim and the film’s popularity, renowned critic Roger Ebert expressed strong reservations about Gladiator upon its release, offering a distinctly negative viewpoint within the broader critical landscape. The renewed interest sparked by the 2024 release of Gladiator II has brought the original back into public discussion, yet Ebert’s critical stance remains a notable outlier among fans and reviewers alike.
In his original critique, Ebert dismissed Gladiator as a diluted version of Stanley Kubrick’s 1960 classic Spartacus, labeling it “Spartacus Lite.” Awarding the movie two out of four stars, he criticized its murky visuals and gloomy narrative, suggesting the film’s tone was more a cover for lack of substance than a deliberate artistic choice. His review contains sharp observations, including the comment,
“It employs depression as a substitute for personality”
—Roger Ebert, Film Critic, pointing to perceived emotional shallowness in the story and characters. Ebert also condemned the battle sequences, describing Scott’s use of camera closeups as
“muddled closeups of fearsome but indistinct events.”
—Roger Ebert, Film Critic, arguing that the action lacked clarity and impact.
Ebert’s opinions often diverged from mainstream critics. He had previously challenged widely praised films like Dead Poets Society, Raising Arizona, and Fight Club with critical reviews, which made his disappointment with Gladiator consistent with his reputation for honest and sometimes contrarian film analysis.
Greater Appreciation for Ridley Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven
Contrasting his critique of Gladiator, Roger Ebert expressed significant admiration for Ridley Scott’s 2005 historical epic Kingdom of Heaven. The film, which stars Orlando Bloom as a crusader during the 12th-century Crusades, received praise from Ebert for its storytelling, dialogue, and notably improved fight scenes. He found Kingdom of Heaven more compelling and better crafted than Gladiator, reflecting a shift in his view on Scott’s approach to historical epics.
Gladiator’s success briefly revived interest in large-scale sword-and-sandal films, leading to releases such as Troy and Alexander. These films, however, did not achieve the influence or acclaim of Gladiator. In his Kingdom of Heaven review, Ebert expressed disappointment with both Troy and Alexander, and even suggested that he might have been overly harsh when judging Gladiator at the time. This reconsideration highlights his evolving perspective on the genre and Scott’s contributions to it.
Though Ebert passed away before the arrival of Gladiator II, which revisits the themes and style of the original film, speculation about his views on the new sequel remains of interest to cinephiles. His frank and insightful critiques lend a unique voice that continues to provoke discussion around Ridley Scott’s historical epics and the legacy of Gladiator.
Principal Cast of Gladiator
Among the standout performances in Gladiator, Russell Crowe portrays the Roman general Maximus Meridius, whose journey underpins the film’s narrative. Joaquin Phoenix plays Emperor Commodus, whose complex role as antagonist drives much of the dramatic tension in the story. These performances have been integral to the film’s enduring popularity, even as critical opinions like Ebert’s offer a contrasting viewpoint.
