Gladiator II Now Streaming on Netflix: Release Date, Cast
Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II is now streaming on Netflix. The historical epic arrived on the platform on Wednesday, October 21, 2026 — nearly two years after its theatrical release — alongside the original 2000 Gladiator, giving subscribers a ready-made double feature of both films.
The October 21 arrival marks the sequel’s third stint on Netflix, and subscribers have shown strong interest every time it lands. Its August 2025 debut drew 21 million hours watched in the first week, followed by another 10.7 million hours the next week. It fought back into Netflix’s Top 10 movies chart in May 2026 with 7.3 million hours of viewing. According to What’s On Netflix, based on Netflix’s semi-annual engagement reports, Gladiator II has now accumulated roughly 98.9 million hours watched on the platform.
Early chart performance
The sequel wasted little time climbing the rankings. FlixPatrol-tracked data published by What’s On Netflix showed Gladiator II at No. 1 among movies on Netflix’s US daily chart on both October 22 and October 23, 2026 — ahead of Ben Affleck’s Animals, which sat at No. 2 on both days.
That result applies specifically to the US daily movie ranking; FlixPatrol’s daily territorial charts and Netflix’s own official weekly Top 10 viewing figures measure different things and should not be treated as interchangeable.
Cast and crew
Ridley Scott returns as director with a script by David Scarpa. Paul Mescal leads the film as Lucius, the exiled Roman prince. Pedro Pascal plays General Marcus Acacius, while Denzel Washington plays Macrinus, a former slave who schemes against the twin emperors. Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger portray the twin emperors Geta and Caracalla, and Connie Nielsen returns from the first film as Lucilla.
Reviews were mixed, with critics praising the film’s scale and Washington’s performance; it holds an IMDb score of 6.4 against the original’s 8.5.
Box office and runtime
The 148-minute sequel earned more than USD 460 million worldwide theatrically — respectable for most films, though viewed as an underperformance against its reported $210 million production budget.
Netflix’s October 21 lineup also included Emily, The Ides of March, The New Stanford Prison Experiment and Six Kings Slam Season 2. Availability can differ by country — German outlets, for example, reported the film on Netflix there as early as May 28, 2026 — so viewers should search the title in their own Netflix app.
What the film is about
Gladiator II picks up years after the original, with Lucius forced into the Colosseum and drawn into a fight for Rome’s future. The film leans on massive arena set pieces and naval battle sequences, along with the political intrigue around Macrinus and the twin emperors. Viewers who enjoyed the first film’s blend of action and palace plotting will find familiar ground here.
Should you watch it
The film suits viewers looking for big-screen-scale spectacle at home: grand battles, strong ensemble performances, and Denzel Washington’s scene-stealing turn. Those expecting the emotional weight of the original may find the sequel thinner — the 6.4 IMDb rating reflects that split — but as a 148-minute action epic, it has found a large second life on streaming.
For more streaming and showbiz coverage, see James Bond Screen Tests Start Today and Tom Skerritt Dies at 93.
—
Sources: What’s On Netflix, ScreenRant, TechnoSports, The Wrap (October 2026). Chart data via FlixPatrol.