Gladiator 2 (2024): A Clash of Fresh and Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

Ridley Scott returns to ancient Rome with Gladiator 2, a long-awaited sequel to his 2000 Oscar-winning masterpiece. With a mix of epic battles, political intrigue, and star-studded performances, the film has divided critics, sparking both applause and criticism. Let’s dive into the reviews from Rotten Tomatoes’ Top Critics to see what the buzz is about.

A Spectacle of Grandeur and Familiarity

Many critics praised the film’s grandiose visuals and thematic parallels to its predecessor. David Fear of Rolling Stone highlighted the film’s energy, remarking, “Sir Ridley is 87 years old, and…you’d swear the unbelievably prolific filmmaker has a personal fountain of youth in his Malibu mansion’s backyard.” Fear’s enthusiasm reflects a recurring sentiment: Scott’s direction still has the vibrancy to captivate audiences.

Michael Phillips from the Chicago Tribune was similarly positive, noting, “I hung there, for some of the acting, for some of the callbacks, and for the many individual moments…that could only have come from Ridley Scott.” While Phillips admitted the movie was not groundbreaking, he still found it entertaining.

Denzel Washington Steals the Show

One of the film’s standout elements is Denzel Washington’s portrayal of the villain. Stephanie Zacharek of TIME Magazine proclaimed, “None stands taller, literally or figuratively, than Denzel Washington.” His charismatic and menacing performance brought a fresh dynamic to the film, earning widespread acclaim.

Peter Travers of ABC News echoed this sentiment: “A sensational, scene-stealing Denzel Washington as a villain worth cheering.” Travers applauded Washington’s ability to elevate the narrative despite its familiar plot points.

A Familiar Story, Contrived Execution

For some, the sequel’s insistence on mirroring the original film proved to be a double-edged sword. Carlos Aguilar of The Playlist pointed out, “That insistence in creating parallels…occasionally yields poetic results, though in general the outcome is contrived.” The reliance on nostalgia seemed to work for some but alienated others.

Kyle Smith of the Wall Street Journal was less forgiving, writing, “Every element in Gladiator II says, ‘How about we try the same things we did before, only not as well?’” For him, the film failed to achieve the same emotional and cinematic highs as the original.

Rotten Reactions: Overindulgence and Missed Opportunities

Several critics found the film’s attempt to blend grandeur with moral lessons to be hollow. Justin Chang of The New Yorker criticized the film’s tonal inconsistencies: “Scott and his collaborators pander so unabashedly to our bloodlust that it rings all the more hollow when Gladiator II suddenly fancies itself a civics lesson.”

Gayle Sequeira of The Hollywood Reporter dismissed the sequel as an unnecessary retread: “History might keep repeating itself, but there’s no reason for cinematic retreads to be this tiresome too.”

Richard Whittaker of the Austin Chronicle also had harsh words, calling out Scott’s direction: “Scott’s increasingly leaden direction can’t add any nuance, and instead sloppily lumps together the po-faced grandeur of Quo Vadis and the unhinged debauchery of Caligula.”

A Divided Verdict

Despite its flaws, Gladiator 2 garnered enough praise for its entertainment value. Rafer Guzman of Newsday summarized the sentiment of many: “A slightly silly but entertaining sequel.” Similarly, Sara Michelle Fetters of MovieFreak.com admitted, “For all my misgivings, I was entertained by Gladiator II.”

However, Ty Burr of the Washington Post provided a more nuanced critique: “There are bad movies that are entertaining and bad movies that are a drag…The truth is, it’s both.”

Final Thoughts

Gladiator 2 walks a precarious line between honoring its predecessor and falling into predictable territory. With standout performances—especially from Denzel Washington—and Scott’s signature flair for epic storytelling, it offers moments of grandeur. Yet, for many, the film struggles to justify its existence as a sequel.

Whether you view it as a nostalgic spectacle or a cinematic misfire, one thing is certain: Gladiator 2 has ignited a lively debate, proving that even two decades later, the shadow of Maximus still looms large. For fans of the original, it’s worth watching—but perhaps with tempered expectations.

Would Maximus Decimus Meridius approve? That’s for you to decide.