Renowned filmmaker Christopher Nolan (Inception, Interstellar, The Dark Knight) has declared his favourite film of 2024: Ridley Scott‘s Gladiator II.
Starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, and Joseph Quinn, Gladiator II continues the story of Lucius, now a prisoner of war forced into gladiatorial combat. Our very own review can be watched and read right HERE.
Writing for Variety, Nolan described the film as a masterpiece that blends thrilling spectacle with profound thematic exploration, showcasing the veteran Blade Runner and Alien director’s skill in visual storytelling.
Nolan reflected on the iconic question posed by Maximus (played by Russell Crowe) in the original Gladiator: “Are you not entertained?” He emphasised how Scott’s approach transcends mere entertainment, crafting a narrative that invites audiences to examine their own darker impulses. Nolan writes:
“Scott knows we’re not there for insights into Roman culture; we’re there to see our own dark desires at a comfortable remove. But he’s far too experienced a director to get caught making parallels with our time. He lets the world of Gladiator II speak for itself, once again showing us who we are simply by inviting us to enjoy the crazy inflationary ride.”
Praising Scott’s innovative approach to the sequel, Nolan highlighted the film’s ability to simultaneously function as a continuation and a reinvention of its predecessor:
“Like the best long-awaited sequels, Gladiator II must be a remake and sequel in one, and it’s testament to Scott’s brilliance that he manages to balance the individual pathos of the original with the expansionist demands of the sequel’s central theme.”
Nolan was particularly impressed with Scott’s multi-camera techniques, which he noted delivered “clear and jaw-dropping sequence after sequence.” He lauded the film’s action as not only exhilarating but also thematically resonant, driving home the movie’s deeper messages.
The filmmaker also reflected on Scott’s contributions to cinematic storytelling, lamenting that the director’s groundbreaking visual techniques have often been underappreciated:
“Visual innovations he and fellow directors from the British adland of the 1970s brought to cinema were often dismissed as superficial, but critics of the time missed the point — the lavish photography and meticulous design brought new depth to the visual language of movies.”
Gladiator II has been a mostly decent earner this year (depending on the validity of reports about the budget blowing up past the $US300 million mark), recently topping over $400 million at the global box office. The film has also been on the receiving end of awards praise. At the upcoming 2025 Golden Globes, Denzel Washington has a nomination for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role, while the film has a nod for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement. Washington also has a Best Supporting Actor nod at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards, where the film also has nominations for Best Costume Design, Best Visual Effects, and Best Production Design.