How Russell Crowe’s ‘Gladiator’ defied death, fire, tigers and a ‘rubbish’ script to become a Hollywood classic
NY Post
Are you not entertained?
The tale of making “Gladiator” is every bit as epic as the movie itself.
Twenty-four years after the film’s release, director Ridley Scott has brought a hotly-anticipated sequel starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn along with Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi reprising their roles from the first film.
The 2000 movie reinvigorated the swords-and-sandals genre, inspiring other historical action dramas like “Troy.”
It became the second highest grossing movie of the year – raking in $465.4 million, not adjusted for inflation – and was the most-nominated film at the 2001 Academy Awards with 12 nods, and 5 wins, including Best Actor for Russell Crowe and Best Picture. Oscar glory was certainly not a feat it was expected to ever attain upon its release in May 2000.
The historic success of “Gladiator” is all the more dramatic because it was, well, a disaster to make.
