A storied and timeless subgenre of cinema also referred to as peplum, sword-and-sandals films typically encompass historical or mythological epics. From classic genre offerings from the Golden Age of Hollywood likeSpartacusandBen-Hurto modern contemporaries in the vein ofGladiatorandTroy, this doesn’t appear to be a brand of film that’s going anywhere anytime soon. It’s a status quo underlined by the recent success of 2024’sGladiator II,Ridley Scott’s mega-hit sequel that will hopefully serve as the catalyst for similar future offerings from the genre.
While the subgenre is typically dominated byfilms set in Ancient Romeormovies about Greek mythology,this decidedly isn’t a prerequisite for consideration. As cinema has modernized, notable sword-and-sandals offerings have expanded to encompass most ancient settings, with some films even channeling elements of other genres like fantasy to great success. An indispensable branch of cinematic popular culture at this stage in the game, a number of thebest sword-and-sandals movies ever madehave garnered status as some of thebest movies of all time.
Immortals
Cast
In ancient Greece, a young man named Theseus is chosen and trained by the gods. With the help of the oracle Phaedra, he must locate the Epirus Bow to stop the Hyperion from releasing the titans and enslaving mankind.
Led by the former star ofThe Witcher, Henry Cavill, in one of his earlier career roles, 2011’sImmortalsblends the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur with that of the Titanomachy; the epic war that ultimately saw the new generation of Olympians triumph over the older Titans for dominion over the universe. Director Tarsem Singh Dhandwar’s take on the myths surprisingly received mixed reviews, with some critics arguing that the movie emphasized style over substance.
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However, given the film’s litany of jaw-dropping action sequences and the memorable performances from an ensemble cast, this seems like an exceedingly harsh critique ofone of the most chaotically entertaining sword-and-sandals movies ever made.If anything,Immortals’stunning visuals and effects only serve to elevate the quality of what is a first-rate viewing experience, if not the most refined.
Clash of the Titans
Clash of the Titans (1981) is a fantasy adventure film directed by Desmond Davis and starring Harry Hamlin as Perseus. The movie follows Perseus’s quest through ancient Greek mythology, where he encounters gods and mythical creatures to save Princess Andromeda. The film features iconic special effects by Ray Harryhausen and marks one of the last major stop-motion animation films before the digital era.
The final movie to feature the work of renowned stop-motion visual effects artist Ray Harryhausen,1981’sClash of the Titansis one of the foremost swords-and-sandals offerings that cinema has to offer.Loosely based on the Greek myth of the demigod Perseus, the Harry Hamlin-led movie depicting the hero’s encounters with Medusa and the Kraken inspired a commercially successfulremake in 2010’sClash of the Titans.
A timeless classic,Clash of the Titansboasts all the attributes that make a great sword-and-sandals picture.
However, unlike the critically panned Sam Worthington-led offering, the 1981 original received positive reviews and is regarded as a groundbreaking number for the subgenre. A timeless classic,Clash of the Titansboasts all the attributes that make a great sword-and-sandals picture. Desmond Davis' fil is full of dashing heroes and grandiose duels to the death, a state of affairs that is complemented by the creative wildcard afforded by the movie’s more fantastical elements.
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian, released in 1982, follows Conan, portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, on a quest for vengeance after his parents are killed by the sinister Thulsa Doom. Trained in combat, Conan forms an alliance with thieves Valeria and Subotai, embarking on a perilous journey involving a king’s missing daughter.
The movie that served as the breakout role for the future governor of California, 1982’sConan the Barbarianis universally viewed as one ofPredatorstarArnold Schwarzenegger’s best movies.Despite only receiving middling reviews,the cult-classic film is still regarded as a seminal swords-and-sandals offering,chronicling the eponymous character’s brutal mission to gain revenge on those responsible for his parents' murder.
Conan the Barbarian series Rotten Tomatoes approval rating
Conan the Barbarian (1982)
67%
Conan the Destroyer (1984)
29%
Full of the cheesy one-liners and high-octane action sequences typically associated with Schwarzenegger’s movies,Conan the Barbarian’sgraphic depiction of violence can border on gratuitous, but still makes for a rip-roaring viewing experience. Conan is arguably the role that Schwarzenegger was born to play, with the Austrian’s foreign accent and formidable physique serving to lend authenticity to one of the subgenre’s most memorable characters.
Gladiator II
Gladiator 2 is the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s award-winning film Gladiator from 2000. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 had been stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.
Ridley Scott’sGladiator IIhad its fair share of sceptics prior to release; an understandable state of affairs given the fact that the originalGladiatorhad released more than two decades previously and ended with the death of its main character in Russell Crowe’s Maximus.The highly anticipated sequel saw Paul Mescal take on the role Maximus' son Lucius,thrust into a desperate fight for survival as a gladiator while being caught up in a plot to overthrow Rome’s despotic twin emperors.
While it doesn’t come close to the dizzying heights of the original,Gladiator IIserves as a worthy follow-up to the greatest sword-and-sandals movie of all time;drawing parallels with the likes ofBlade Runner 2049andTop Gun: Maverickfor cinema’sbest movie sequelsreleased more than a decade after the original. Leveraging some spectacular action sequences and a superb supporting bow from Denzel Washington that is sure to land him in the Oscars conversation,Gladiator IIis an excellent, if slightly unadventurous, peplum movie that pays respectful tribute to the iconic original.
Jason And The Argonauts
Jason And The Argonauts is a 1963 fantasy adventure film directed by Don Chaffey. It follows Jason’s quest to retrieve the legendary Golden Fleece, aided by a band of heroes known as the Argonauts. Along their journey, they face various mythical creatures and challenges. The film is renowned for its groundbreaking stop-motion animation by Ray Harryhausen. Todd Armstrong stars as Jason, with Nancy Kovack as Medea and Gary Raymond as Acastus.
Based on the Greek myth of the hero Jason and his quest for the Golden Fleece, 1963’sJason and the Argonautschronicles the perilous journey taken by the titular characters on their way to seek the legendary ram’s skin and the fantastical adventures that they encounter along the way. The movie bombed at the box office upon release, but was critically acclaimed and has subsequently gone on to attain classic status.
The late Ray Harryhausen was also known for his work on the likes ofClash of the TitansandThe 7th Voyage of Sinbad.
A triumphant adventure that holds up to this day,Jason and the Argonautsis a rip-roaring experience that never ceases to entertain.The timeless movie leverages an array of stunning visuals from legendary cinematicspecial effects artist Ray Harryhausento bring the movie’s mythological elements to life, with the unforgettable fight sequence between Jason and the skeleton warriors during the film’s final act widely regarded as one of the most iconic movie scenes of all time.
300
Loosely based on Frank Miller’s comic series of the same name, Zack Snyder’s 300 tells the legend of the historical battle of Thermopylae. It follows King Leonidas of Sparta (Gerard Butler) as he leads a small force of 300 Spartans against the amassed Persian army of 300,000. Meanwhile, his wife Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) remains in Sparta to negotiate reinforcements against political resistance.
A shameless crowd pleaser of the highest order, Zack Snyder’s300is a heavily embellished take on the Battle of Thermopylae. The 2007 historical epic depictsthe efforts of 300 Spartan warriors to repel an enormous Persian invasion force,an army more than 1000 times their size. Spearheaded by Gerard Butler in the leading role of the Spartan king, Leonidas, Snyder’s movie has gone on to attain cult classic status despite only boasting a 61% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
300 series Rotten Tomatoes ratings
300 (2007)
61%
300: Rise of an Empire (2014)
45%
A gloriously violent spectacle of stylized gore and chest-pounding action sequences set against the backdrop of one of thebest last stands in movie history,300is relentlessly silly fun from start to finish. It’s Snyder at his most unashamedly Snyder-like, stuffed with visually arresting imagery and instantly quotable one-liners. The movie’s heavy emphasis on macho elements and slow motion can come across as cheesy and ham-fisted at times, but300never lets up in terms of sheer riotous entertainment,
Troy
Troy, directed by Wolfgang Petersen and released in 2004, is a historical epic based on Homer’s Iliad. The film chronicles the legendary Trojan War, focusing on the conflict between Achilles, played by Brad Pitt, and Hector, portrayed by Eric Bana. Starring Orlando Bloom as Paris and Diane Kruger as Helen, it explores themes of honor, betrayal, and the fates of the warriors involved in the siege of Troy.
Wolfgang Peterson’s attempt at a historical war outing loosely based on Homer’sIlliad,Troyisan epic retelling of the battle between the Greeks and the Trojans for the titular city.Boasting a star-studded ensemble cast, the 2004 movie features some awe-inspiring battle sequences to complement an electrifying lead turn from Brad Pitt in one of hisbest war moviesas the preternaturally gifted swordsman and brooding Greek warrior, Achilles.
Troydecidedly takes some liberties with Homer’s canon and historical accuracy in general, but this doesn’t prove to be too detrimental in terms of enjoyment for the movie’s audience. Aided by a brutally glorious depiction of warfare and some superb performances from the likes of Eric Bana, Diane Kruger, and Brian Cox,Troy’sdramatic shortcomings are easy to overlook in the context of its status as a standout swords-and-sandals offering.
Spartacus
Spartacus is a historical drama directed by Stanley Kubrick, starring Kirk Douglas as Spartacus, a slave-turned-rebel leading an uprising against the Roman Empire. Released in 1960, the film features Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, and Tony Curtis in supporting roles. It portrays Spartacus’s journey from enslavement to becoming a symbol of resistance.
The fifth film from the legendary late filmmaker Stanley Kubrick, 1960’sSpartacusis widely regarded as one of the greatest subgenre outings of all time. Winning four Academy Awards from six nominations, the movie chroniclesthe rise and fall of an epic slave uprising against the Roman Empire led by the titular character,a Thracian slave and gladiator brought to life by Kirk Douglas.
Peter Ustinov won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of slave trader, Lentulus Batiatus.
Spartacusis now virtually synonymous with its legendary soundbite of"I am Spartacus!“to symbolize resistance, a quote that has been endlessly imitated and parodied over the years. Praised byexperts for its historical accuracy, Kubrick’s work is one of the most celebrated and influential films of all time, boasting powerhouse performances and a rousing premise. Furthermore, the movie’s spectacular battle sequences are nothing short of remarkable, particularly given the time it was released and Kubrick’s relative inexperience as a director.
Ben-Hur
Ben-Hur (1959) is an epic historical drama directed by William Wyler, starring Charlton Heston in the titular role. Set during the time of Christ, the story follows Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince who is betrayed and enslaved by his childhood friend. The film is renowned for its chariot race scene and earned eleven Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Starring Charlton Heston as the titular character, 1959’sBen-Huris a seminal piece of cinema from the Golden Age of Hollywood, as well as one of the finest swords-and-sandals offerings of all time. An epic tale of betrayal and vengeance with heavy religious leanings, William Wyler’s movie tells the story of Judah Ben-Hur,a wealthy Jewish prince sold into slavery who becomes a famous charioteer and ultimately gains his revenge upon those who have wronged him.
Wyler’s picture earned a record eleven Academy Awards and remains an awe-inspiring swords-and-sandals triumph to this day.
Clocking in with an official running time of 212 minutes,Ben-Huris a lengthy epic, but it’s worth sticking around for every second. The movie’s epic chariot race was years ahead of its time, serving to elevate the impressive quality of what is already a glorious piece of vintage cinema. Boasting a nuanced and gripping narrative carried by some first-rate acting, Wyler’s picture earned a record eleven Academy Awards and remains an awe-inspiring swords-and-sandals triumph to this day.
Gladiator
Gladiator follows Maximus, a Roman general betrayed by the new emperor Commodus. After escaping execution, he is enslaved and becomes a gladiator. Set in ancient Rome, the story portrays his struggle for survival and quest for vengeance as he battles for his freedom in the arena.
The best sword-and-sandal movie ever made,Ridley Scott’sGladiatorremains the golden standard for the subgenre nearly twenty-five years after it was first released. Chronicling the epic tale of thegladiator known as"the Spaniard,“Scott’s movie follows Russell Crowe’s Maximus Decimus Meridius.Gladiatorcan be perfectly summarised by the iconic soundbite issued by Joaquin Phoenix’s Emperor Commodus when confronted with his nemesis;“The general who became a slave. The slave who became a gladiator. The gladiator who defied an emperor.”
Is Gladiator 2 as good as the original?
I enjoyed Gladiator 2, but was it as good as the original? Absolutely not. I feel like the movie had some major strong points in Acacius, Macrinus, and the twin emperors, but where it fell short was every aspect that it tried to mirror the original. In trying to repeat Gladiator’s story, so much of the sequel ended up feeling contrived, particularly Lucius' character arc. Meanwhile, everything that was fresh and original turned out fantastic.
Spearheaded by a pair of powerhouse performances from Crowe and Phoenix which earned them a Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor Oscar win and nomination respectively,Gladiatoris one of the most beloved movies of all time, irrespective of genre. An endlessly rousing revenge story carried by some thrilling action sequences befitting the movie’s title, cinema has yet to produce a swords-and-sandals offering that can legitimately give Scott’s picture a run for its money.
