The long-awaited Gladiator II has made its debut, and it comes with a notable achievement. The original Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott in 2000, holds a 79% approval rate from 258 critical reviews.
Now, the sequel has arrived, and early reviews on Rotten Tomatoes are quite favorable. From 45 reviews, Gladiator II has an 84% critical approval rate, earning it a “Fresh” status. Critics have been impressed, especially by Denzel Washington’s performance as Marcrinus. They also note that the sequel manages to distinguish itself from the original.
What does this mean for Gladiator II? Well, considering the 20-plus-year wait and the original’s Oscar-winning status, the pressure was on. But it seems the 2024 sequel has won over most critics. By surpassing the original’s Rotten Tomatoes score, it shows its ability to hold its own against the classic.
Our take on Gladiator II is that it sounds quite promising. It’s a bit surprising the original only had a 79% approval rate, as some critics like Roger Ebert had issues with its writing. However, winning an Oscar still gave it prestige. Gladiator II’s high score is a relief, suggesting it’s not an unnecessary follow-up. With Scott even working on Gladiator 3, and the film hitting U.S. theaters on November 22, 2024, it seems this sequel will offer a different experience, leaning into humor and absurdity rather than being as emotionally heavy as the original.
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