Ridley Scott has been directing sci-fi classics and historical epics for years, but one of his most controversial works has achieved unprecedented streaming success. Last year, around this time, Scott released the long-awaited Gladiator II, the legacy sequel to his 2000 Oscar-winning masterpiece starring Russell Crowe. Although Crowe did not reprise his role as Maximus in the sequel, Scott cast Paul Mescal as his son, Lucius. Reports suggest that Scott considered several famous actors for the role of Lucius, including Miles Teller, Timothée Chalamet, Austin Butler, and Richard Madden, but it was Mescal who ultimately secured the role.

Gladiator II began streaming on Paramount+ in America after concluding its theatrical run earlier this year, and it has also joined the Prime Video streaming library in recent months. The legacy sequel is ranking in the top 10 on Paramount+ in over 10 countries worldwide, and it continues to perform well on VOD platforms like Google and iTunes in twice as many countries. While the film may not have been as well-received as the original Gladiator, it has made a significant impact as one of Scott’s most successful films on streaming.

Gladiator II faced challenges in achieving profitability at the box office, ultimately falling short. The film had a substantial production cost of approximately $250 million, with an additional $100 million spent on marketing. This set its break-even point at well over $500 million, but it concluded its run with a total of $462 million worldwide. It received respectable ratings of 70% from critics and 81% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.

Ridley Scott Has Another Historical Epic Dominating Streaming

Five years after directing Gladiator, Scott collaborated with Lord of the Rings star Orlando Bloom for <em>Kingdom of Heaven</em>, a 2005 historical epic that follows Balian of Ibelin as he journeys to Jerusalem during the Crusades of the 12th century. Kingdom of Heaven is available exclusively on Starz in America, but globally, the film has recently been added to HBO Max, quickly climbing into the streamer’s top 10. The film grossed $214 million at the global box office and earned scores of 39% from critics and 72% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.

Be sure to watch Gladiator II on Prime Video or Paramount+ in America and stay tuned to Collider for more streaming updates.