Films About Romans
Films about Romans often explore the grandeur and complexity of ancient Roman civilization, delving into themes of power, conflict, politics, and societal norms. These films transport audiences to a time of emperors, gladiators, and mythological gods, showcasing both the magnificence and the brutality of Roman life. From epic battles to personal dramas, these narratives reflect the rich tapestry of Roman history and culture, often intertwining historical events and figures with fictional elements.
List of Films About Romans
“Gladiator”, 2000
Director: Ridley Scott
This epic historical drama follows Maximus Decimus Meridius, a betrayed Roman general who seeks vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family. The film explores themes of honor, loyalty, and redemption within the brutal world of gladiatorial combat.
Starring: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, Richard Harris, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, David Schofield, John Shrapnel, Tomas Arana, Ralf Moeller, Spencer Treat Clark, David Hemmings, Tommy Flanagan, Sven-Ole Thorsen, Omid Djalili, Nicholas McGaughey, Chris Kell, Tony Curran, Mark Lewis, John Quinn, Alun Raglan, David Bailie, Chick Allan, David J. Nicholls, Al Ashton, Billy Dowd, Ray Calleja, Giannina Facio, Giorgio Cantarini, Allan Corduner, Michael Mellinger, Said Amel, Adam Levy, Gilly Gilchrist, Paul Bateman, Nick Beardshaw, Corey Booth, Michael Dickins, Chuck Douglas, Malcolm Ellul, Simon Faulkner, James Fiddy, Peter Francis-Wemyss, Ruth Frendo, Kjeld Gogosha-Clark, Cara Higgins, Earl Hundt, Mehdi Kashani, Tom Kay;
Production year: 2000;
Genre: history, action, drama, adventure;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 155 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,5;
More information about the film “Gladiator” on the website imdb.com
“Spartacus”, 1960
Director: Stanley Kubrick, Anthony Mann
Directed by Stanley Kubrick, this classic film tells the story of Spartacus, a Thracian slave who leads a massive uprising against the Roman Republic. It highlights the struggle for freedom and justice against the oppressive Roman regime.
Starring: Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, John Gavin, Nina Foch, John Ireland, Herbert Lom, John Dall, Charles McGraw, Joanna Barnes, Harold J. Stone, Woody Strode, Peter Brocco, Paul Lambert, Robert J. Wilke, Nick Dennis, John Hoyt, Frederick Worlock, Tony Curtis, Phil Altman, David Armstrong, Joseph Bardo, John Barton, Arthur Batanides, Paul Baxley, John Benson, Shari Lee Bernath, Sabine Bethmann, Norman Bishop, Bill Blackburn, Shirley Blackwell, David Bond, Buff Brady, Don Bramblett, Brad Brown, Courtney Brown, Jerry Brown, Rudy Bukich, Bob Burns, Paul E. Burns, Polly Burson, Wayne Burson, Joe Canutt, Tap Canutt, Al Carmichael, Bill Catching, Chuck Courtney, Dick Crockett;
Production year: 1960;
Genre: drama, adventure, war, biography, history;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 197 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,9;
More information about the film “Spartacus” on the website imdb.com
“Ben-Hur”, 2016
Director:
This sweeping epic follows the journey of Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince wrongly accused of treason by a childhood friend who becomes a Roman officer. The film is renowned for its grand chariot race and explores themes of betrayal, revenge, and redemption.
Starring: Jack Huston, Toby Kebbell, Rodrigo Santoro, Nazanin Boniadi, Ayelet Zurer, Pilou Asbæk, Sofia Black-D'Elia, Morgan Freeman, Marwan Kenzari, Moises Arias, James Cosmo, Haluk Bilginer, David Walmsley, Yasen Zates Atour, Francesco Scianna, Gabriel Lo Giudice, Denise Tantucci, Jarreth J. Merz, Iaon Gunn, Dato Bakhtadze, Yorgos Karamihos, Christopher Jones, Craig Peritz, Simone Spinazze, Alan Cappelli Goetz, Jay Natelli, Julian Kostov, Maurice Lee, Stefano Scherini, Alessandro Giuggioli, Giorgio Bonelli, Leon Lee, Mani Magnusson, Aleksandrs Petukhovs, Edoardo Purgatori, Toffoli Nico, Gianluca Valente, Francesco Volpi;
Production year: 2016;
Genre: action, drama, melodrama, adventure;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 123 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 5,7;
More information about the film “Ben-Hur” on the website imdb.com
“The Fall of the Roman Empire”, 1964
Director: Anthony Mann
This historical epic chronicles the events leading to the decline of the Roman Empire, depicting political intrigue, military conflicts, and the struggles of key figures as they navigate the tumultuous landscape of ancient Rome.
Starring: Sophia Loren, Stephen Boyd, Alec Guinness, James Mason, Christopher Plummer, Anthony Quayle, John Ireland, Omar Sharif, Mel Ferrer, Eric Porter, Finlay Currie, Andrew Keir, Douglas Wilmer, George Murcell, Norman Wooland, Michael Gwynn, Virgilio Teixeira, Peter Damon, Rafael Luis Calvo, Lena von Martens, Roland Carey, Luis Fernández de Eribe, Margaret Fuller, Mario Ghignone, Gabriella Licudi, Jeffrey O'Kelly, Robert Rietty, Guy Rolfe, José Terrón, Friedrich von Ledebur, Patricia Wright;
Production year: 1964;
Genre: drama, war, history;
Age: 16+;
Duration: 188 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,7;
More information about the film “The Fall of the Roman Empire” on the website imdb.com
“Rome”, 2005
Director: Michael Apted, Mikael Salomon, Allen Coulter, Alan Poul
While technically a TV series, this critically acclaimed drama captures the rise and fall of the Roman Republic through the eyes of two soldiers, Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo. It offers a detailed and gritty portrayal of the era’s historical events and personal stories.
Starring: Kevin McKidd, Ray Stevenson, Polly Walker, Kerry Condon, James Purefoy, Lindsay Duncan, Tobias Menzies, Indira Varma, Ciarán Hinds, Kenneth Cranham, Ian McNeice, Coral Amiga, Lidia Biondi, Nicholas Woodeson, David Bamber, Chiara Mastalli, Manfredi Aliquo, Suzanne Bertish, Max Pirkis, Lee Boardman, Esther Hall, Anna Fausta Primiano, Michael Nardone, Allen Leech, Guy Henry, Anna Francolini, Simon Woods, Zuleikha Robinson, Karl Johnson, Alex Wyndham, Paul Jesson, Camilla Rutherford, Daniel Cerqueira, Alessio Cuna, Lorcan Cranitch, Nigel Lindsay, Valery Usai, Lyndsey Marshal, Haydn Gwynne, Dominic Atherton, Julienne Liberto, Rick Warden, Amy Marston, Sara Pasqualone, Liliana Mele, Enzo Cilenti, Alan Williams, Kathryn Hunter, Alessio Di Cesare, Marco Pollak;
Production year: 2005;
Genre: drama, history, action, melodrama, war;
Age: 18+;
Rating: IMDB: 8,7;
“Agora”, 2009
Director: Alejandro Amenábar
Set in Roman Egypt, this historical drama revolves around the life of Hypatia, a female philosopher and mathematician, as she navigates the tumultuous religious conflicts of the time. The film explores themes of science, faith, and the struggles for knowledge in a time of great upheaval.
Starring: Rachel Weisz, Max Minghella, Oscar Isaac, Ashraf Barhom, Michael Lonsdale, Rupert Evans, Homayon Ershadi, Sami Samir, Richard Durden, Omar Mostafa, Manuel Cauchi, Oshri Cohen, Charles Thake, Harry Borg, Yousef «Joe» Sweid, Clint Dyer, Sam Cox, George Harris, Sylvester Morand, Paul Barnes, Amber Rose Revah, Jordan Kiziuk, Francis Ghersci, Jonathan Grima, Edward Caruana Galizia, Chris Dingli, Stephen Buhagiar, Joseph Camilleri, Charles Sammut, Michael Sciortino, Joe Quattromani, Alan Meadows, Peter Borg, Paul Portelli, Robert Ricards, Alan Paris, John Montanaro, Malcolm Ellul, Ray Mangion, Mary Rose Bonello, André Agius, Frederick Testa, Sean Buhagiar, Theresa Celia, Frank Tanti, Anthony Ellul, Pierre Stafrace, Christopher Raikes, Clare Agius, Mario Camilleri;
Production year: 2009;
Genre: biography, history, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 126 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,1;
“Centurion”, 2009
Director: Neil Marshall
This action film follows a group of Roman soldiers who find themselves trapped behind enemy lines in ancient Britain after their legion is ambushed. They must fight for survival and find a way to escape, showcasing the harsh realities of war and survival.
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Dominic West, Noel Clarke, David Morrissey, JJ Feild, Dimitri Leonidas, Riz Ahmed, Paul Freeman, Axelle Carolyn, Dave Legeno, Ulrich Thomsen, Imogen Poots, Rachael Stirling, Eoin Macken, Liam Cunningham, Andreas Wisniewski, Dhafer L'Abidine, Lee Ross, Simon Chadwick, Ryan Atkinson, Jake Maskall, Dermot Keaney, Dylan Brown, Michael Carter, Tom Mannion, Peter Guinness, Greg Bennett, Jerome Boyle, Connor Byrne, James Currie, Warren Harrington, Philip Harvey, Chris Luck, Hamish Moir, Robert Roman Ratajczak, Dan Raynham, Steve Saunders, Sebastian Tarlach, Chuen Tsou;
Production year: 2009;
Genre: action, thriller, drama, adventure, war, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 97 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,3;
“The Eagle”, 2010
Director: Kevin Macdonald
Set in 140 AD, this adventure film follows a young Roman officer who seeks to restore the honor of his father by finding the lost eagle standard of the Ninth Legion in Britain. The film explores themes of loyalty, honor, and the clash of cultures.
Starring: Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland, Mark Strong, Dakin Matthews, István Göz, Bence Gerö, Denis O'Hare, Paul Ritter, Zsolt László, Julian Lewis Jones, Aladár Laklóth, Marcell Miklós, Bálint Magyar, Ferenc Pataki, Bálint Antal, Lukács Bicskey, Douglas Henshall, James Hayes, András Faragó, Simon Paisley Day, Pip Carter, Ben O'Brien, Róbert Bánlaki, Briain Gleeson, Jon Campling, Tahar Rahim, Thomas Henry, Ned Dennehy, Ralph Aiken, Granville Saxton, Walter van Dyk;
Production year: 2010;
Genre: drama, history;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 114 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,2;
“Pompeii”, 2014
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
A historical disaster film that centers on the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, the story follows a slave turned gladiator who must save his true love amidst the chaos. It combines romance and action against the backdrop of a catastrophic event.
Starring: Kit Harington, Emily Browning, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kiefer Sutherland, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jared Harris, Jessica Lucas, Currie Graham, Joe Pingue, Sasha Roiz, Dylan Schombing, Jean-Francois Lachapelle, Rebecca Roberts, Jean Frenette, Maxime Savaria, Ron Kennell, Tom Bishop Sr., Dalmar Abuzeid, Emmanuel Kabongo, Brock Johnson, Kristina Nicoll, Janine Theriault, Mark Whelan, Anaïs Frenette, Donna Christo, Thomas Stumpo, Cyrus Aazam, Rodney Alexandre, Harrison Astroff, Jonathan David Bedard, Melantha Blackthorne, Zachary Burke, Milan Carmona, Jimmy Chimarios, Jay Da Costa, Adam Eldon, Chris Gonsalves, Derek Herd, Peter Hewitt, Shane Clinton Jarvis, Patrick Kerton, Johnny Larocque, Ben Lewis, Rick McFadden, Constantine Meglis, Alain Moussi, Jon Rhys, Attila Sebesy, Joe Vercillo;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: action, drama, melodrama, adventure;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 105 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 5,5;
“Hannibal”, 2013
Director: Michael Rymer, Guillermo Navarro, Vincenzo Natali, David Slade
Although primarily focused on the infamous Carthaginian general, this film depicts the Second Punic War and the conflict between Rome and Carthage, highlighting the tactics and battles that defined this turbulent period in Roman history.
Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Hugh Dancy, Laurence Fishburne, Caroline Dhavernas, Lara Jean Chorostecki, Gillian Anderson, Scott Thompson, Aaron Abrams, Hettienne Park, Kacey Rohl, Raúl Esparza, Vladimir Jon Cubrt, Katharine Isabelle, Kalen Davidson, Eddie Izzard, Richard Armitage, Gina Torres, Rutina Wesley, Joe Anderson, Fortunato Cerlino, Cynthia Nixon, Tao Okamoto, Anna Chlumsky, Nina Arianda, Krista Patton, Alana Bridgewater, Michael Pitt, Dan Fogler, Daniel Kash, Glenn Fleshler, Mark Rendall, Torianna Lee, Patrick Garrow, Rinaldo Rocco, Jeremy Davies, Chris Diamantopoulos, Zachary Quinto, Giorgio Lupano, Ellen Muth, Mark O'Brien, Ryan Field, Gabriel Browning Rodriguez, Dwight Ireland, Demore Barnes, Ted Ludzik, Toni Ellwand, David Calderisi, Jonathan Tucker, Trudy Weiss, Tom Wisdom;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: detective, thriller, crime, drama, horror;
Age: 18+;
Rating: IMDB: 8,5;
These films, each with their unique perspectives and storytelling styles, provide insight into the fascinating world of ancient Rome and its enduring legacy in popular culture.
In conclusion, films about Romans not only bring to life the grandeur and complexity of one of history's most influential civilizations but also explore timeless themes of power, betrayal, love, and sacrifice. These cinematic portrayals, from epic battles to intimate dramas, invite audiences to reflect on the human experience through the lens of Roman culture and mythology. Whether they focus on historical accuracy or take creative liberties, these films serve as a testament to the enduring allure of ancient Rome and its capacity to inspire stories that resonate across generations, reminding us of the lessons we can learn from the past.
