Gladiator 2has become a hit on streaming following its $460 million run at the worldwide box office. Directed by Ridley Scott, the long-awaited sequel sees Paul Mescal stepping into the role of Lucius, Maximus' son, who fights to survive as a slave in the Colosseum.Gladiator 2reviewshave been generally positive from critics and audiences alike, but the film’s total box office haul means the sequel, which also stars Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal, hasn’t been a total win financially.
Now, new data fromReelgoodreveals thatGladiator 2has made quite a splash on streaming. For the week of January 16 – 22,Scott’s sequel ranks as the seventh most popular title on streaming overall in the U.S.Gladiator 2, which is available on Paramount+, comes ahead ofMulholland Drive(2001),Back in Action(2025), andTwin Peaks, but falls short of other titles likeThe Substance(2024),Silo, andLandman. When looking only at movies, the sequel fares even better, coming in at third place. Check out the top 10 movies and TV shows list below:
Reelgood Top 10 Movies & TV Shows On Streaming (Jan. 16 – 22)
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What Gladiator 2’s Streaming Success Means For The Movie
Is Ridley Scott’s Sequel A Success?
With a reported budget of around $250 million,Gladiator 2could be looking at a break even point of $500 million, but this total could be as high as $625 million. While grossing $460 million would be an impressive feat for a movie that carried a lower price tag, the cost of Scott’s sequel means it can now be considered a financial disappointment. Even with the impressiveGladiator 2castand the epic action set pieces, just not enough people went to the theater to see it.
Every Ridley Scott Sequel & Prequel, Ranked Worst To Best
Ridley Scott’s three direct follow-ups to his previous films have ranged from impressive sequels to more tonally disjointed follow-ups.
Our Take On Gladiator 2’s Streaming Success
Will Gladiator 3 Happen?
Though the last few months paintGladiator 2as a bit of a disappointment,the $460 million global haul is high enough that strong performance on home viewing platforms could change the narrative. This is probably more of a long-term goal, however, and it would be interesting to evaluate just how successful the movie has been on all platforms six months or a year from now.
Not adjusted for inflation, the originalGladiatorgrossed $460 million on a $103 million budget.
Even ifGladiator 2somehow manages to crawl to profitability, it’s not looking likely thatScott’s plans forGladiator 3will be coming to fruition. The director has repeatedly expressed his interest in continuing Lucius' story, but it looks like that will only happen now if he can figure out how to make the film for considerably less money.Gladiator 2may not be as strong as the 2000 original starring Russell Crowe, but there is lots to like about it, and it’s now clear that audiences are enjoying checking the film out from the comfort of their own homes.
