# Goodbye ‘The Odyssey,’ This Ridley Scott Epic Is One of the Biggest Streaming Hits in the World

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/goodbye-the-odyssey-this-ridley-scott-epic-is-one-of-the-biggest-streaming-hits-in-the-world/
- Published: 2026-10-28T09:08:12+00:00
- Original publisher: Collider
- Original article: https://collider.com/ridley-scott-gladiator-2-biggest-movie-streaming/
- Topics: Art, Culture

## Key points

- Gladiator II is currently topping Netflix’s charts.
- The sequel reportedly had a $310 million budget.
- Denzel Washington’s performance is a key draw.

## Summary

Gladiator II, Ridley Scott’s 2024 sequel to Gladiator, is currently at the top of Netflix’s charts. The article links its streaming success to renewed interest in historical action epics and says the film’s large-scale spectacle and cast are drawing viewers back to ancient Rome.

Set 16 years after Maximus’s death, the film follows Lucius, played by Paul Mescal, who is enslaved and forced to fight as a gladiator after Roman forces invade his home. It reportedly cost $310 million and features elaborate battles and Denzel Washington as Macrinus, a scheming gladiator owner who mentors Lucius. Although the story divided fans of the original, the article describes Washington’s performance as a standout; the film became the most successful of his career to date.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.