Gladiator II Hits Paramount+ After $454M Box Office Success

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The highly anticipated sequel to the 2000 blockbuster “Gladiator” is set to debut on Paramount+ on Tuesday, Jan. 21, following its successful theatrical run that grossed $454.2 million worldwide. Directed by Ridley Scott, “Gladiator II” stars Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, and Pedro Pascal in a tale of vengeance and power set in Ancient Rome.

The film, which opened in theaters on Nov. 22, 2024, follows Lucius (Mescal), the nephew of the original film’s antagonist, Commodus. Years after witnessing the death of Maximus, Lucius is forced into the Colosseum as Rome falls under the rule of tyrannical emperors. Washington plays Macrinus, a manipulative powerbroker, while Pascal portrays General Acacius, who is married to Lucius’ mother, Lucilla, reprised by Connie Nielsen.

Paramount+ announced the streaming release in a press release Friday, confirming that the film will be available to subscribers in the U.S. and Canada. International availability will be announced later. The platform offers two subscription plans: the ad-supported Paramount+ Essential plan at $7.99 per month and the ad-free Paramount+ with Showtime plan at $12.99 per month.

“Gladiator II” has already garnered critical acclaim, earning two Golden Globe nominations, four Critics' Choice Awards nods, and three British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) nominations. The National Board of Review named it one of the top 10 films of 2024. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 71% critics’ score and an 82% audience score, with praise for Washington’s “scene-stealing performance.”

The original “Gladiator,” which won five Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe, is also available to stream on Paramount+. Fans of the franchise can now revisit the epic saga as the sequel brings new characters and heightened stakes to the screen.