Gladiator

Director Ridley Scott's Oscar-winning period epic stars Russell Crowe as Maximus, a capable Roman general and trusted advisor to ageing emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). When the elderly man dies, his devious son Commodus takes his place on the throne, determined to become the greatest ruler his country has ever seen. Commodus's concern that Maximus poses a threat to his power prompts the ruthless new emperor to order the killing of him and his family, but Maximus escapes his captors and goes on to become a gladiator in the Colosseum. However, he never loses sight of his prime goal - to exact revenge on the man responsible for the murder of his wife and son. Joaquin Phoenix plays the twisted villain, with support from Derek Jacobi, Connie Nielsen and a fine swansong performance from Oliver Reed, who died during production