Producer: David Franzoni, Branko Lustig, Laurie MacDonald, Terry Needham, Walter F. Parkes, Douglas Wick, Ridley Scott
Cast:Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, Richard Harris, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, David Schofield, John Shrapnel, Tomas Arana, Ralf Moeller, Spencer Treat Clark, David Hemmings, Tommy Flanagan, Sven-Ole Thorsen, Omid Djalili, Nicholas McGaughey, Chris Kell, Tony Curran, Mark Lewis, John Quinn, Alun Raglan, David Bailie, Chick Allen, David Nicholls, Al Ashton, Billy Dowd, Ray Calleja, Giannina Facio, Giorgio Cantarini, Allan Corduner, Michael Mellinger, Said Amel, Adam Levy, Gilly Gilchrist, James Fiddy, Ruth Frendo, Nic Main, Antonio Meitin, Joao Costa Menezes, Norman Campbell Rees, Neil Roche, Christian Simpson
In Theaters: 5 May 2000 USA
United International Pictures, American Broadcasting Company, CBS Paramount Domestic Television, DreamWorks Home Entertainment, Universal Pictures, Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, CIC-Taft Home Video
Directed by Ridley Scott and starring the incredible Russell Crowe, "Gladiator" is a rare example of a movie that combines a thrilling and emotional story, an excellent script, an outstanding cast, and an inspired cinematographer.
General Maximus Decimus Meridius leads the Roman army to victory against Germanic barbarians in the year 180 AD, ending a prolonged war and earning the esteem of elderly Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Although the dying Aurelius possesses a son, Commodus, Aurelius decides to appoint temporary leadership to the morally-upstanding Maximus, with a desire to eventually return power to the Roman Senate. Aurelius informs Maximus and offers him time to consider before informing Commodus, who murders his father. Declaring himself the emperor, Commodus asks Maximus for his loyalty, which he refuses, realizing Commodus's involvement in the Emperor's death. Commodus orders Maximus's execution and dispatches Praetorian Guards to murder Maximus's wife and son. Maximus escapes his execution and races home only to discover his family's charred and crucified bodies in the smoldering ruins of his villa. After burying his wife and son, a grieving Maximus succumbs to exhaustion and collapses on their graves.
