When “Gladiator” came out it was not only a huge success, but a revelation of cinema storytelling. During that time, historical epic movies had pretty much fallen by the wayside. That all changed with the release of “Gladiator,” however. It showed modern audiences just how fun and expansive a historical epic can be when done properly. There are, however, many facts you may not know about “Gladiator.”
Considering the film required 18 weeks of filming, thousands upon thousands of costumes, and a host of great actors to accomplish, it’s no surprise that the film features a wealth of great trivia. Be it A-list actors getting into fistfights, or director Ridley Scott rebuilding the Coliseum in his image, any historical epic will feature a wealth of interesting information, and “Gladiator” is no exception. Let’s explore 25 facts you may not know about “Gladiator.” (For other great revenge movies, discover the greatest revenge movies of all time.)
To compile a list of 25 facts you may not know about “Gladiator,” 24/7 Tempo consulted a range of entertainment and cinema sources including IMDb, ScreenRant, and the oral history of the movie via Variety Magazine. Next, we selected the most unique and interesting facts about the movie and its creation. After that, we confirmed aspects of the facts using sites like Britannica.
Maximus’ Description of His Home was Improvised
One of the facts you may not know about “Gladiator” is that Maximus’ description of his home was improvised. To complete the short monologue, Russell Crowe talked about his own house in Australia. He describes how the kitchen is arranged and how it smells in the morning and night.
The Wounds on Russell Crowe in the First Scene are Real
Another one of the facts you may not know about “Gladiator” involves Maximus’ wounds in the first battle scene. After Russell Crowe’s horse was startled and backed into tree branches, Crowe received some scratches on his face. These are visible when he speaks with Commodus.
For the Opening Battle, Ridley Scott Burned Down a Forest
The famous opening battle between the Romans and Germanic tribes wasn’t created through just Hollywood magic. The Royal Forestry Commission had slated the Bourne Woods in Surrey England for deforestation. As such, Ridley Scott chose the location and offered to burn it down for them, to which the Commission eagerly agreed.
Russell Crowe’s Relationships with Two Veteran Actors
Another one of the facts you may not know about “Gladiator” concerns Russell Crowe’s onset relations with two of the famous actors in the movie. Crowe became fast friends with Richard Harris, who played Marcus Aurelius. His relationship with Oliver Reed who played Proximo, however, took an immediate dislike of Crowe. So much so, that Reed challenged Crowe to a fistfight.
Oliver Reed Died on Set
An already famous drinker, Oliver Reed promised Ridley Scott he would not drink during the film’s shooting. This didn’t last, however, and Reed began drinking on weekends. One night, when holding court in a pub in Malta, a crew of sailors entered the establishment. Reed challenged them to a drinking bout. It was too much for even Reed, however, and he fell dead in the middle of the competition. To complete his scenes, director Ridley Scott used CGI.
Joaquin Phoenix Asked Russell Crowe to Beat Him Up
Another one of the facts you may not know about “Gladiator” involves actor Joaquin Phoenix’s preparation for his role as Commodus. Incredibly nervous about performing, Phoenix asked Crowe to beat him up to loosen him for filming. Bewildered at the request, Crowe approached actor Richard Harris about what to do. Harris, however, suggested drinking, so they took Phoenix out for a few beers and got him relaxed enough to film his scenes.
To accomplish the Coliseum Scenes, Various Methods Were Employed
The large, epic scenes of the functioning Coliseum during gladiatorial games required a mixture of elements. To capture the large and diverse crowd, the film crew used a mixture of real-life extras, digitally incorporated extras via CGI, and four hundred cardboard cutouts.
The Gladiatorial Games gave Russell Crowe Serious Injuries
Another one of the facts you may not know about “Gladiator” is how many injuries Russell Crowe received in the gladiatorial matches. Due to various maneuvers, including sword fights, Crowe lost all feeling in his right forefinger for two years after shooting wrapped. What’s more, he received an Achilles tendon injury, a broken foot bone, popped bicep tendons, and cracked his hip bone.
Ridley Scott Thought the Real Coliseum was Too Small
When visiting potential shooting locations, director Ridley Scott and production designer Arthur Max also visited the famous Roman Coliseum. Scott, however, thought the real thing was too small for his liking. Instead, they designed a “Rome of the Imagination,” which was much larger and inspired by a spectrum of influences including French romantic painters and the work of Nazi architect Albert Speer.
The Character of Maximus is Fictional, But Based on Several Real Figures
Though Russell Crowe’s character Maximus is a made-up figure, the crew took inspiration from several real people to capture his personality and life arc. These include Narcissus, the real murderer of Emperor Commodus, famous slave-revolt leader Spartacus, and Cincinnatus, a farmer who became the Roman dictator, saved the society from invasion then promptly resigned his post. The character also based elements on Marcus Nonius Macrinus, a General, Consul, and close friend of Marcus Aurelius.
A Wealth of Costumes was Created for “Gladiator”
Another one of the facts you may not know about “Gladiator” involves the sheer number of items created for the film’s production. Not only did the costume designer Janty Yates create more than 10,000 costumes for the on-screen characters, but over 27,000 pieces of armor were specially made for the movie. What’s more, over 20,000 arrows were made for the opening battle scene alone.
Real Tigers were Used for Filming
Another one of the facts you may not know about “Gladiator” involves the use of tigers for the gladiatorial matches. When Maximus fights Tigris the Gaul in the arena, five real-life tigers are used to accomplish the scene. For safety, a veterinarian was on hand armed with a tranquilizer gun just in case. What’s more, actor Russell Crowe was kept at least fifteen feet from the beasts at all times.
“Gladiator” Easily Made Back Its Budget
At the time of filming, “Gladiator” was one of the most expensive movies ever made with a budget clocking in at a little over $100 million. Within two weeks of the movie’s release, however, that amount was easily made back. Cumulatively, “Gladiator” made a total of $460.4 million.
The Film Used Up All the Plaster on Malta
Another one of the facts you may not know about “Gladiator” is the sheer amount of supplies required to pull off this ancient epic film. While filming on the island of Malta, the crew used up all the plaster available on the island. As such, more had to be shipped in for the crew to accomplish their goals.
Some of the Roman Calvary Were Real Soldiers
Another one of the facts you may not know about “Gladiator” involves the use of real-life soldiers. Indeed, a notable portion of the Roman cavalry in the opening battle were real soldiers. At least twenty members of the British Army’s King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery can be seen in this battle.
Heaps of Chariots were Built for the Film
Another one of the facts you may not know about “Gladiator” is the sheer number of chariots built for the film. Much like the sizable quantity of costumes created, 24 fully functional chariots were built for the film. In the end, however, only six appear on-screen.
Much of the Dialogue was Improvised
According to various cast and crew members, when everyone arrived for filming, the working script was so bad as to not be usable. While rewrites were constantly added during filming, many scenes were left incomplete. To fill in the spaces, Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott came up with lines on the spot. This includes parts of Maximus’ speech about strength and honor to his soldiers before the Germania battle.
(For other quotable flicks, explore 25 of the greatest movie quotes in history.)
The Film took 18 Weeks to Shoot
Another one of the facts you may not know about “Gladiator” is its hefty filming schedule. Whereas most movies take between one and three months to film, this historical epic took a whopping 18 weeks to shoot, which is nearly five months. The opening Germania battle scene alone, took over 20 days to film.
Joaquin Pheonix Wore a Special Costume
While much has been already said about the work required to fashion all the characters for the Roman period, there’s even more. Most of the costumes worn by characters were made out of leather. For Joaquin Phoenix’s character, however, special synthetic leather was used to accommodate his strict vegan lifestyle and diet.
Many of the Animals Featured Came from a Local Zoo
Another one of the facts you may not know about “Gladiator” is how the crew sourced the various animals in the movie. Many of the animals were loaned to crew from a zoo in Rabat, Morocco to circumvent the country’s strict animal importation laws. As for any on-screen violence involving said animals, it was all simulated.
Commodus was the Only Emperor to Fight in the Coliseum
In the film, Emperor Commodus makes a big show of fighting in the coliseum. This finds its basis in reality, however. That’s because the real-life Commodus was the only Emperor to fight as a gladiator in the arena, and several times at that. His real death, however, did not happen in combat, but after being strangled in the bathtub.
Commodus’ Gladiatorial Prowess Helped Bring Down the Roman Empire
While the real-life Emperor Commodus was known for his gladiatorial prowess, his pride in fighting also helped destabilize the empire. Each time he appeared in the coliseum, he charged the Roman state exorbitant amounts of money. This eventually devalued Roman currency and helped bring on the fall of the Roman empire. While respected for his fighting, he didn’t always play fair. Reportedly, Commodus would often take cripples and people missing limbs, tie them together, and beat them to death in front of the Coliseum crowd. Later, however, the Roman people turned against him.
Joaquin Phoenix Got So Involved in One Scene, He Fainted
Another one of the facts you may not know about “Gladiator” involves the scene where Commodus strangles his father Marcus Aurelius. Joaquin Phoenix got so into the scene as Commodus, that he reportedly fainted right after its filming.
In Real Life, Marcus Aurelius Died of the Plague
While the movie portrays Marcus Aurelius’ death at the hands of his son Commodus, in real life the great Marcus Aurelius died of the plague. This is alluded to later in the movie, however, when the character Gracchus asks Emperor Commodus if he had ever “embraced someone dying of plague.”
The Film Features one Brief But Notable Cameo
Another one of the facts you may not know about “Gladiator” is the film features one brief, albeit notable cameo from a veteran actor. During one of the games at the Coliseum, actor Brian Blessed is visible in the crowd of spectators. This is notable because Blessed once played Roman Emperor Augustus in the critically acclaimed series “I, Claudius.”
(For more fascinating movie trivia, discover 25 facts you may not know about “Titanic.”)