Gladiator is a 2000 British-American
epic historical drama film directed by
Ridley Scott, and starring
Russell Crowe,
Joaquin Phoenix,
Connie Nielsen,
Ralf Möller,
Oliver Reed (in his final film role before his death),
Djimon Hounsou,
Derek Jacobi,
John Shrapnel, and
Richard Harris. Crowe portrays the fictional character, loyal
Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius, who is betrayed when
Commodus, the ambitious son of Emperor
Marcus Aurelius, murders his father and seizes the throne. Reduced to slavery, Maximus rises through the ranks of the gladiatorial arena to avenge the murders of his family and his emperor.