The third gladiator fight—the first Colosseum battle, ending with Maximus revealing himself—is the unanimous favorite after a field spanning the opening war, political scenes, escape, earlier arena fights, tigers, and the final confrontation.
In the discussion (9)
- The opening Germania battle is nominated and praised for realism, physical scale, and immediate character building.
- Marcus Aurelius asking Maximus to rule is nominated for establishing their bond and a generational passing of the torch.
- Commodus killing Marcus Aurelius is acknowledged as powerful but not a scene the panel would casually dial up.
- Maximus escaping his execution is nominated, with the caveat that the family aftermath makes the scene hard to continue watching.
- The first chained gladiator fight is nominated for the strangers’ rapid teamwork.
- The one-versus-six “Are you not entertained?” fight is nominated.
- The first Colosseum battle and Maximus identity reveal are the unanimous choice.
- The tiger fight is nominated.
- The pre-final confrontation between Commodus and the chained Maximus is nominated for Maximus’s verbal reversal.
Opening dialogue, background arena brutality, Joaquin Phoenix’s improvised outburst and performance, memorable lines, post–Game of Thrones incest jokes, and the sword-and-sandal fights make up the aged-best field.
In the discussion (7)
- The gladiator combine’s casual background violence is praised as vivid world-building.
- Commodus’s “am I not merciful?” outburst is praised and reported as improvised.
- “It vexes me” is praised.
- Joaquin Phoenix’s performance is called flawless.
- “Tell the men their general lives” is praised and connected to a personal comeback joke.
- Suggestions of incest are jokingly said to have aged better after Game of Thrones.
- The film’s sword-and-sandal fight scenes are called the best one host has seen.
The runtime, repeated Elysium imagery, Senate ending, digital Oliver Reed, and missing Proximo action draw objections.
In the discussion (5)
- The movie could lose roughly twelve to fifteen minutes.
- The repeated wheat-field Elysium imagery feels heavy-handed.
- The Senate and restored-republic ending is questioned.
- The digitally completed Oliver Reed material is visibly artificial.
- The film loses an intended Proximo fight because of Reed’s death.
Tommy Flanagan wins over Ralf Moeller, though one host recognizes Flanagan primarily as Chibs from Sons of Anarchy.
In the discussion (3)
- Tommy Flanagan is selected because one host still recognizes him as the scarred man from Gladiator.
- Ralf Moeller is the other nominee.
- The choice is disputed by a host who sees Flanagan as Chibs from Sons of Anarchy.
Oliver Reed wins for Proximo’s scenery-chewing line readings; the subsequent research anecdote says Reed challenged Russell Crowe to a fight.
In the discussion (2)
- Oliver Reed is selected for his grand, scenery-chewing Proximo speeches.
- A research anecdote says Reed took an instant dislike to Crowe and challenged him to a fight.
Ralf Moeller’s Hagen wins over Richard Harris and the Germanic war leader.
In the discussion (3)
- Richard Harris is nominated.
- The Germanic leader from the opening battle is nominated.
- Ralf Moeller is selected for Hagen.
Crowe and Connie Nielsen receive affirmative apex rulings; Hans Zimmer is proposed, gladiator movies are disputed against Spartacus, incest is deferred to Game of Thrones, and touching wheat is affirmed.
In the discussion (6)
- Russell Crowe receives three audible affirmative apex judgments.
- Hans Zimmer is proposed for Apex Mountain.
- Connie Nielsen receives an unquestionable affirmative ruling.
- Gladiator movies are disputed against Spartacus on quality and historical impact.
- Incest is denied because it peaks later in Game of Thrones.
- Touching wheat is jokingly affirmed as an apex, with Gladiator said to take the image fully mainstream.
The panel advises against expanding the film into a ten-episode remake because Rome already covered the terrain; it then traces apparent Gladiator echoes in Game of Thrones.
In the discussion (3)
- Rome is cited as an existing series in the same space.
- The film should not be remade.
- Game of Thrones carries direct echoes of the film’s political and arena spectacle.
Russell Crowe wins two explicit votes; Joaquin Phoenix receives one, and fields of wheat receive a joke vote.
In the discussion (3)
- Russell Crowe receives two explicit winner choices.
- Joaquin Phoenix receives one explicit choice.
- Fields of wheat receive a joke choice.
Podcast choices
- Speaker not identified
- Russell Crowe
- Speaker not identified
- Russell Crowe
- Speaker not identified
- Joaquin Phoenix
- Speaker not identified
- Fields of wheat
Most Rewatchable Scene
