Ridley Scott is returning to the genre that made him great with the upcoming release of Exodus: Gods And Kings, which makes now as good a time as any to look back on the acclaimed director's career-defining triumph. Nearly a decade and a half after its release, Gladiator still stands as one of the great films of the 21st century so far. Here's a look at five ways in which the film has enjoyed enduring relevance.
1. The Careers It Sparked
While there is certainly such a thing as a breakthrough role, it's rare for an outsider to be able to look at a Hollywood career and define the point at which an actor or director "made it." It can't be done with Russell Crowe or Ridley Scott either, as both had gradual journeys to superstardom, filled with triumphs along the way. That said, however, Gladiator certainly marked new heights for both men. Scott's IMDB page (for directing) shows various major projects before the 2000 Best Picture winner (including Alien, Blade Runner, and Thelma & Louise), but a far more consistent and noteworthy list of works after 2000. Similarly, Crowe's own IMDB shows that virtually all of the films he's known for came after 2000. So, while both Scott and Crowe are immense talents that would have made it to stard om regardless of their connection, their own careers to date are certainly part of Gladiator's enduring legacy.2. Sequel Talk
These days there's a sequel for everything, but it speaks to fans' adoration of Gladiator that rumours and hopes of a sequel remain to this day. Just last year, Huffington Post wrote about an absolutely ridiculous sequel that was reportedly in the works: something about Maximus turning into an immortal and attempting to kill Jesus Christ. Most fans are probably pretty grateful that this particular sequel never got further than a script, but the fact that we're even talking about it 14 years later says a lot. If the right script came along, we'd all be ready and waiting for more Maximus action.3. Imitation
There's no one film out there that comes across as a Gladiator ripoff. However, in the expansive history of on-screen sword-and-sandals narratives that has unfolded since 2000, there are glimpses of Scott's film all over the place. In Troy, we see echoes of Maximus in Achilles' absolute supremacy, as well as his defeat of wave after wave of attacks meant to stop only him. In 300, we see wistful, family-oriented scenes in fields of crops nearly identical to the dream visions of a Maximus longing for home. And 2014 flop Pompeii so closely resembled Gladiator at times that HitFlix described it as "One part Gladiator, one part Titanic." As the saying goes, imitation is the highest form of flattery, and Gladiator has been imitated in just about every film in the genre since.4. Video Games
Gladiator actually arrived before the era in which just about every major film release comes with accompanying games. Yet, the film still has a presence, both direct and indirect, in gaming. No modern console game actually based on Gladiator exists, but the Betfair online casino does host a slot machine that uses the image and title of the film to make things more interesting. The site is actually offering a £300 welcome bonus at the moment, so it's not a bad time to take a look at the Gladiator game if the idea intrigues you. However, there are also a number of other video games out there that themes and ideas about Roman gladiator settings as backdrops. Blood & Glory, which Android users can download for free, is a particularly impressive app game, though it more closely resembles the setting of the STARZ t elevision series Spartacus than that of Gladiator. Still, for even the one casino game to be using the 2000 film to lure players all these years later is an impressive sign of enduring popularity.5. The Music
Perhaps this belongs in the same category as our first point about sparking careers. Hans Zimmer has become such a significant name in the industry that the music of Gladiator takes on a new significance in context. Known to a younger generation for his work on numerous Christopher Nolan projects, Zimmer has established himself as the most impactful composer in modern cinema (with the possible exception of Howard Shore, who composed the music for the Lord Of The Rings trilogy). The score of Gladiator still stands as some of his best work. Re-watch the film or listen to its soundtrack all these years later and you may be stunned at how familiar it sounds and how quickly it takes you back to Scott's wonderfully realized ancient Rome. Here's the whole, remarkable soundtrack on YouTube, in case you haven't listened in a while!If all of that doesn't inspire you to re-watch Gladiator or see it for the first time, there's no telling what would. But it's also all the reason to get excited for Exodus: Gods And Kings and what looks like it could be Scott's biggest and best effort in some time.
