Best Historical Movies Like Gladiator 2

Key Takeaways

• Gladiator 2 starring Paul Mescal as Lucius offers epic, high-octane violence in a Roman Empire setting.
• Despite historical inaccuracies, movies like Gladiator & Napoleon provide epic, enthralling depictions of historical settings.
• Ridley Scott’s film, Napoleon, chronicles the rise of the French leader with Joaquin Phoenix in the lead role.

The highly anticipated sequel Gladiator 2 has fans of the original movie extremely excited about the next depiction of the Roman Empire, appealing to those who enjoy sheer brutality and high-octane violence. Starring Paul Mescal as its lead, Lucius, the character fights for valor and honor in the Colosseum in an attempt to get vengeance on those who have afflicted his life.

Set at the peak of the Roman Empire, the movie explores themes of the period, although Gladiator 2 strays away from being an accurate depiction. Like Gladiator 2, several movies take place in history that provide a level of epicness that enthralls audiences despite lacking total historical accuracy.

1 Gladiator (2000)

Legendary War Epic Taking Place At The Height Of The Roman Empire

The war epic Gladiator reinvigorated audiences at the turn of the century, subjecting audiences to peak masculinity and intense drama. Taking place at the height of Marcus Aurelius’ Roman Empire, Gladiator follows the war general Maximus on his journey of revenge for his deceased family and stolen position, with the character’s mission proving legendary.

While not adhering to total historical accuracy, Gladiator‘s epic backdrop of the Roman Empire and the Colosseum facilitates the riveting story that has inspired generations of audience goers and filmmakers alike.

2 Napoleon (2023)

French War General’s Journey Covered In Apple Epic

Chronicling the life of Napoleon Bonaparte is Napoleon, the movie that follows the title character’s rise to power and the subsequent war efforts that made him so famous. Starring Joaquin Phoenix as the historical leader, the depiction of Napoleon’s life illustrates his reign as Emperor of the French, engaging in politicking, warfare, and scandals.

While much of Napoleon follows his life, the movie is filled with historical inaccuracies. However, Napoleon‘s sense of scale is marvelous, with Ridley Scott and Phoenix reuniting to deliver the historical epic.

3 The Last Of The Mohicans (1992)

Mohican Man Aims To Rescue British Girl Caught In The French And Indian War

The elite combination of Daniel Day-Lewis and Michael Mann came together to craft The Last of the Mohicans, a war epic set during the peak of the French and Indian War. Although dramatically fictionalized, The Last of the Mohicans delivers an epic spectacle brimming with compelling characters and awe-inspiring battle sequences reminiscent of 50s and 60s movie epics.

While the protagonist, Hawkeye, engages in a rescue mission to save a British Colonel’s daughter, the movie excels at depicting the landscape of the time period, with the situations of the Native Americans, the British, and the French being explored.

4 The Patriot (2000)

Revolutionary War Explored With Mel Gibson As The American Hero

Mel Gibson’s run of roles in the 90s and early 00s was a sight to behold, with The Patriot continuing the actor’s thrilling work. Set in the Revolutionary War between America and Great Britain, Gibson’s Benjamin Martin is a war veteran who comes out of retirement to lead the American Revolution after the death of one of his sons at the hands of the enemy.

While large parts of the narrative and specific characters are heavily fictionalized or loosely based on certain individuals during the Revolutionary War, some of the battles in The Patriot happen to be the movie’s most historically accurate feature. Specifically, the critical conflicts of the Battle of Cowpens and the Battle of Camden illustrated war tactics utilized in the war.

5 The King (2019)

Outcast Son Becomes King In Medieval England

Medieval England has many films chronicling the time. However, The King, starring Timothée Chalamet, certainly makes its mark, following a young Henry V and his story through William Shakespeare’s interpretation.

Littered with political warfare and treachery, The King sees Hal’s ascent from being an outcast son to becoming King of England, resulting in mass conflict as the head of a nation. Though adapted from Shakespeare’s Henriad, The King examines an important historical figure in his ascension, with the era of kings and queens being at its height.

6 Ben-Hur (1959)

From Prince To A Slave In The Roman Empire

Famed for being the most expensive movie of all time on release, the historical epic Ben-Hur revolutionized cinema, with the 20th-century film excelling in grandeur and sense of scale. Following the journey of Judah Ben-Hur, the Jewish prince is betrayed by his friend, resulting in Ben-Hur becoming a slave of the Romans.

However, the protagonist makes a remarkable return to get revenge on his former friend in the form of a chariot race. Exploring aspects of the Roman Empire, Ben-Hur’s trajectory throughout the nearly four-hour epic is captivating and heroic, with the movie certainly shaping and influencing the Gladiator franchise.

7 Kingdom Of Heaven (2005)

Crusader Warfare In The Holy Land

Another one of Scott’s most acclaimed movies is Kingdom of Heaven, a war epic that loosely follows the events preceding the Third Crusade. Featuring a star-studded cast, Kingdom of Heaven follows the knight Balian as he seeks to invoke peace in the Holy Land despite a raging war.

Filled with epic battle sequences and riveting political rivalries, Crusader warfare takes center stage at the heart of the narrative despite having many inaccurate depictions. Kingdom of Heaven proves entertaining for audiences seeking thrilling action based loosely on one of history’s most discussed conflicts.

8 The Last Duel (2021)

French Knights Dueling To The Death In Medieval Times

One of the more underrated historical movies of recent years is The Last Duel, a medieval drama taking place in France. The narrative centers on two established knights who become intense rivals after a scathing accusation from one of the knight’s wives. Such a bombshell eventually leads to the pair engaging in a dramatic rift, resulting in a duel to the death.

Set in 14th-century France, The Last Duel examines an underexplored part of history. However, legendary director Ridley Scott and his impressive cast manage to create a thrilling drama that brings themes of violence and conflict of the time to the movie’s forefront.