Ridley Scott's Newest Action Hit Becomes a Global Sensation on Streaming

Gladiator II has surged to the top of Paramount+'s global charts, overtaking Edgar Wright's The Running Man while World War Z sits in third and Top Gun: Maverick ranks seventh. The sequel joined Paramount+ after a late 2024 theatrical run and has climbed back into prominence on its streaming home.

The film, written by David Franzoni, Peter Craig and David Scarpa, arrived 24 years after the original. Russell Crowe's Maximus does not return; Paul Mescal leads as Lucius, who flees Rome to build a new life in Africa only to be driven into slavery and the Colosseum by the expansion of the Holy Roman Empire.

Denzel Washington plays the enigmatic politician Macrinus. Ridley Scott assembled a large cast that includes returning players Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi alongside Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Peter Mensah, Rory McCann and Tim McInnerny. The sequel grossed $460 million worldwide against an estimated $210 million budget, helping sustain its strong profile on streaming.

gladiator ii, ridley scott, paramount+, paul mescal, denzel washington, russell crowe, pedro pascal, box office, streaming charts, connie nielsen