15 Major Historical Inaccuracies That Undermine Famous Movies
2. Gladiator Is Completely Made-Up
Ridley Scott's historical epic is a beloved people's classic to this day and is still a great blockbuster... and it's entirely made up. Sorry to disappoint the film's many fans, but this much-loved story has little historical basis.
Russell Crowe's Maximus, who is fondly remembered as one of the manliest men in movies, is fictional (although he might be very slightly based on aspects of certain historical figures). Marcus Aurelius was not murdered by his son and actually appointed Commodus as his successor; there is also no evidence he wished to turn Rome back into a republic.
The only character the film gets remotely right the most is Commodus. He was just as awful in real life and did have many conspirators plotting against him, but he actually ruled for 12 years rather than the short time seen in the film. There's also some notable upbeat spins on the real history in regards to him.
Commodus' sister, Lucilla (who in real life had a husband instead of being a widow) did plot against him but not successfully and was executed by him. Commodus' eventual death, which happened in a bath rather than an arena, didn't bring about peace and only started a new war.
Gladiator is still an enormously enjoyable movie, but don't watch it thinking any of it actually happened at all. It shouldn't be called a historical drama; rather it should be seen as a drama that happens to be set in a certain historical period.