‘Gladiator II:’ We are entertained, but we should be feeling something stronger

By Ben Konuch

“A man does not become emperor by bloodline alone. It must be taken by force and kept by force! Are you such a man as this?”

I really, really wanted to love “Gladiator II.” As one of 2024’s flashiest blockbusters and a sequel to one of the most famous historical action films ever made, “Gladiator II” had a lot going for it. As iconic director Ridley Scott stepped back into the world of ancient Rome with a new, star-studded cast, I found myself thoroughly entertained. Unfortunately, as the credits rolled, I realized I felt very little else.

The film takes place twenty years after the events of “Gladiator” and follows a refugee named Hanno (Paul Mescal) forced to defend his city against an invading Roman force led by the general Acacius (Pedro Pascal). When Hanno’s wife dies at the hand of Acacius and Hanno is brought back to Rome as a prisoner of war, he vows revenge no matter the cost. This leads him into the employ of a cunning local governor named Macrinus (Denzel Washington) who promises to give Hanno all that he dreams of if he fights for him as a gladiator.

Part action film and part alternate history political thriller, “Gladiator II” blends genres with a slathering of nostalgia and callbacks to the original film. Connections with characters to Maximus, as well as his dream for a better Rome, take front and center even when Russell Crowe is nowhere to be found. In this regard, “Gladiator II” is a worthy sequel that honors the story of the original and advances it satisfyingly. The film never feels like a tacked-on sequel or a cash grab, and whether or not you feel like the film works for you in an emotionally engaging way, its narrative respect is easy to appreciate.

I can also confidently say that Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal are magical in this film. Pascal is both charismatic and weary, perfectly embodying a general beloved by his people while simultaneously more and more alarmed by the state of his kingdom. We start the film seeing him as a villain and almost immediately are asked to look at him with a deeper lens, and Pascal’s performance withstands closer examination. While not one of the biggest leads, Pascal was one of “Gladiator II’s” emotional anchors.

Washington, however, steals the show entirely. His performance of Macrinus is both oozing with charismatic charm and a hidden, unknown brutality. Washington seems to be having the time of his life in almost every scene he’s in, and that can be felt with his impact on the film. You never quite figure out Macrinus’ angle, which makes him a fascinating third player compared to the straightforward nature of the first film’s villain Commodus and the complete insanity of this film’s twin villains (and an honorable mention to Joseph Quinn’s  Geta for creeping the living daylights out of me.)

Unfortunately, for all the strengths that “Gladiator II” possesses, it contains just as many weaknesses. Despite the strength of its supporting cast, I wasn’t sold on Paul Mescal as the lead. I blame the script and the inconsistent story directions for his character more than I blame his performance. Mescal’s performance was perfectly serviceable, yet felt undeniably overshadowed by nearly every other character. It’s hard to connect with “Gladiator II” when the film’s protagonist consistently feels like its least interesting character.

The greatest of “Gladiator II’s” failings is that, at its core, the film cannot decide if it wants to follow the formula of the first film or chart a new path. This can be felt in Hanno’s character direction, the plot progression, the way events unfold and even the action scenes themselves. There are multiple moments when “Gladiator II” seems to be establishing a unique angle for where it’s heading only to then immediately turn back to do something formulaic. It’s almost worse than following the formula of “Gladiator” from the beginning because the film keeps showing me ways that it could be so much better and more unique.

One of the best examples of this is in Hanno’s character. He starts the film as a promise of an angrier, more vengeful protagonist than Maximus and without the binding of the first film’s commitment to honor. Hanno wants nothing more than Acacius’s head and we are told multiple times that he will do anything to get it. Yet, upon reaching the arena, Hanno inexplicably defaults back to Maximus’ style of instinctually trying to save and lead his fellow gladiators despite it making no sense for him to do so. The film lays the groundwork for a protagonist with no honor who then learns how to find it, but it doesn’t let him. The film simply makes him honorable in an instant, effortlessly leading the gladiators and becoming a legend out of nowhere.

It isn’t just unearned, it’s lazy. And in a word, that’s how I feel about “Gladiator II”: lazy.

I wish it was better. I wish I could enjoy it more. But the film’s character developments and plot advancements constantly come out of nowhere or actively contradict its setup just because it seems like what we would expect for a “Gladiator” film. 

It’s certainly an entertaining watch, but its action feels hollow. Fights seem too clean, too “blockbuster” to resonate with the same grit and grime that the first film was filled with. Without narrative satisfaction to ground me or visually exciting spectacles that go beyond surface-level eye candy, “Gladiator II” doesn’t have much to offer.

“Gladiator II,” to its credit, is at least somewhat entertaining. It doesn’t destroy the impact of the original film, but it doesn’t do much to improve it or capitalize it, either. After two decades, I shouldn’t have to settle for a mere average sequel that merely keeps the film’s legacy on life support.

I give “Gladiator II” a 5/10

“Gladiator II” is now showing in theaters

Ben Konuch is a senior Strategic Communication student who serves as a writer for Cedars A&E and as their social media lead. He enjoys getting sucked into good stories, playing video games and swing dancing in the rain.

Images courtesy of Paramount Pictures.