Nothing special? «Gladiator II» received first reviews — a modest 67 out of 100 on Metacritic and 76% «freshness» Rotten Tomatoes

A few days before its release in theaters, the sequel to «Gladiator» received the first critical acclaim on review aggregator sites.

Thus, on Rotten Tomatoes, «Gladiator II» currently has a 76% «freshness» (with an initial score of 84%, but dropped overnight) based on 91 reviews, while on Metacritic, Ridley Scott’s film was rated 67 out of 100 based on 32 reviews from critics.

If we summarize the reactions to «Gladiator II», the picture looks like this: the script is confusing, the fight scenes are epic, and Denzel Washington is brilliant. All the critics agree that the movie will be a good weekend entertainment, but it seems that we shouldn’t expect much more from it.

Below are some direct quotes from journalists from specialized publications:

• Howard Wallstein, CBR: «Ridley Scott’s sequel to Gladiator — is a mediocre remake with outstanding acting».
• Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly: «While some moments of the plot may be cloying, given their contemporary parallels, one truth rises above the rest: it’s impossible not to be entertained by a movie this meticulously crafted».
• Graham Gutman, Screen Rant: «Gladiator II — one of the best blockbusters of 2024, but sometimes it falters under the pressure of the standards set by its predecessor».
• David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter: «In terms of brutal spectacle, elaborate period reconstruction, and sets requiring intricate choreography, the sequel offers what fans of its Oscar-winning 2000 predecessor crave — battles, bloodshed, ancient Roman intrigue… But Gladiator II lacks a protagonist with the brilliance of Russell Crowe’s Maximus».
• Tessa Smith, The Direct: «Gladiator II boasts a phenomenal cast, but Denzel Washington takes the cake. The cinematography, costumes, and sets create something unforgettable. Watch it on the biggest screen you can find».
• Owen Gleiberman, Variety: «A movie that you can love like Gladiator? No and no.Finallyd, it’s just a shadow of that movie. But it is distracting enough to justify its existence».
• Kelechi Ehenulo, Total Film: «Not perfect or a patch on the original film, but the magic of Ridley Scott’s direction and Denzel Washington’s performance elevates “Gladiator II” to the epic spectacle it should be. However, set aside your expectations of getting something similar to the first Oscar-winning» movie.

As a reminder, «Gladiator II» will debut in Ukrainian cinemas on November 13. The movie takes place 16 years after the events of the original film and focuses on Lucius (Paul Mescal) — grandson of the former Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius and son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen). The protagonist lives with his wife and child in Numidia, but after the invasion of General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal), he is sent into slavery — in fact, he will repeat the fate of Maximus from the first film.

The roles of the tyrant emperors this time are played by Joseph Quinn and Fred Hutchinger, while Denzel Washington appears as the former slave and now powerful villainous Macrinus.

Recall that Ridley Scott himself stated that considers «Gladiator II» the best movie of his career and even announced a threequel.