As far as ancient civilizations and superpowers go, the Roman Empire is one of the biggest and most well-documented. Their contributions to Europe and the Mediterranean are readily apparent and still present up to this day. Artists, to this day, seek inspiration from ancient Rome, despite its history of imperialistic aggression.
The Roman Empire, for that matter, has always been a fascinating grand subject in film. It's an inexhaustible pool of ideas, both for action and period pieces. For those who just can't get enough of Rome's romanticization, whether in classics or modern action flicks, some movies about Rome ought to present a more dramatic perspective than documentaries.
Updated on December 27th, 2021, by Hannah Saab: The fascination around ancient Rome only continues to grow and more viewers are discovering some of the best Roman movies that masterfully depict the exhilarating and often chaotic period of history.
Caligula (1979)
Caligula follows the wild story of the eponymous Roman Emperor who finds his life completely turned around after a bad omen. Betrayal, a forbidden marriage, and violence soon ensue, which almost seem too outrageous to have happened to any one person.
While some of the film's aspects are undoubtedly outdated, it has become a cult classic that has been praised for its audacious portrayal of the Emperor's many faults and flaws. It's a movie that's so bad, it's good, which definitely isn't for everyone, but those who do enjoy it won't soon forget its characters' incredible stories.
Pompeii (2014)
• Available on Tubi
Pompeii is one of Kit Harrington's big splashes in Hollywood, fresh from his popularity in Game of Thrones. It might not have been well-received by the critics because of how unrealistically it portrays the ancient period, but there's no doubt that Pompeii is an entertaining sword-and-sandal action flick.
As the title implies, Pompeii is about the titular city within the Roman Empire that perished after Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 62 AD. As such, this film transcends many genres, being a drama, action, and a disaster movie, because it had to stay true and accurate to the end result of the calamity. Everything else is just an appetizer, including the gladiator journey.
The Eagle (2011)
• Available on Starz
Despite mixed reviews surrounding Channing Tatum as lead actor in the film, The Eagle is actually an enjoyable film that touches a locale not usually featured in films about ancient Rome, which is Britannia or the British Isles when a big part of the said islands was under the Roman Empire's rule.
The plot is quite unconventional, as Tatum's character, Marcus Aquila, only wanted to restore his father's honor by finding the lost golden eagle emblem of their legion. Marcus eventually finds something more valuable than the Roman eagle, such as the friendship and loyalty of a local who used to be an enemy.
Agora (2009)
• Available on Prime Video
When it comes to tackling Roman history, it's not just the combat and the military aspect that's important, but also the social structures. In the Roman Empire's case, democracy was still a crucial element, as well as religion. This is what the film Agora explored.
Agora takes place in Alexandria, where a violent feud between Christians and pagans is about to come to a boiling point. At the heart of it all is the female astronomer and philosopher Hypatia, who challenges tradition and even faith with science. To make things more conflicted and interesting, Hypatia is also stuck in a love triangle with other authoritative Romans.
Cleopatra (1963)
• Available on fuboTV
Based on Carlo Maria Franzero's 1957 novel The Life and Times of Cleopatra, 1963's Cleopatra retells the familiar story of the eponymous queen, whose rebellious nature and intelligence were years ahead of her time. She refuses to bow down to imperialist Rome, which gets her in serious trouble with powerful officials.
The film's brilliant narrative and well-written dialogue are only made even more impressive by the grand scale of the epic movie. While it does have its dull parts, it more than makes up for those with well-acted and dramatic scenes that transport viewers to Cleopatra's time.
Centurion (2010)
• Available on fuboTV
Much like The Eagle, Centurion is also another peek at the foray of the Roman Empire into the untamed lands of Britain. It also depicts the Picts, one of the native tribes on the island, as they defeated and slaughtered a hapless legion roaming around their ancestral lands.
The Picts also happened to capture a Roman general and it's now up to a surviving centurion to rescue him in a bid for survival and liberation. Michael Fassbender provides another intense performance as the aforementioned centurion, making parts of the film feel more like an entertaining period drama than an action flick.
Titus (1999)
Shakespeare's first-ever tragedy, Titus Andronicus, is brought to the big screen through 1999's Titus. The film adaptation faithfully retells the story from the source material, which revolves around the story of a troubled Roman general.
The eponymous Titus lives a life full of pressure from all sides, whether it's political or in his personal life. The movie does an excellent job of portraying larger-than-life battles and seamlessly switching to more intimate, tear-jerking scenes. It may drag on for a tad too long in some parts, but some would argue that's to be expected from a Shakespearean adaptation.
Gladiator (2000)
• Available on Netflix and Paramount+
One can't go wrong with Ridley Scott when it comes to historical epics, even though he does tend to take some liberties in them. One of the best films he made that he has yet to top with his other period pieces is none other than Gladiator. As it is, Gladiator is probably among the most popular films set in ancient Rome, thanks to its stellar cast and originality.
It depicts the struggle of Maximus Decimus Meridius, a Roman general who was betrayed by his emperor's successor and was reduced to a mere gladiator. Gladiator, for that matter, is a revenge tale that's told differently, thanks to the dynamics of the Roman blood sport, as well as its politics.
Satyricon (1969)
1969's Satyricon (also known as Fellini Satyricon) is a Roman Empire movie unlike any other. It doesn't exactly depict life in ancient Rome as audiences would often expect but is rather inspired by it in a strange and enchanting way.
The movie is divided into episodes, each more outrageous than the last. From paper masks to silver paint, the costumes in the film serve to exaggerate and perhaps ridicule the animalistic nature of human desire. It's not a movie that may appeal to everyone, but should be considered essential viewing for film buffs with a penchant for the wild and absurd.
Ben Hur (1959)
• Available for purchase on Prime Video
Ben Hur is a similar story to Gladiator but it existed several decades before, though it did have a rather critically disappointing remake. In any case, it is an undeniable must-watch classic about ancient Rome and its abusive tribunes and officials.
It's about a drama between an aristocratic Jew and his former childhood friend who is angry at him. It just so happens that the same childhood friend grew up to be a Roman tribune and so forced the Jew protagonist into a life of slavery, all culminating in an exhilarating and award-winning chariot race.
Barabbas (1961)
• Available on Prime Video
1961's Barabbas is one of the great religious epics that also happens to be among the best movies about Rome. It continues the tale of the eponymous Barabbas, who is often last seen in religious films after he is chosen over Jesus during the Passover.
What follows is a genuinely fascinating story of Barabbas' struggle in the hands of slavemasters and his eventual transformation into a formidable gladiator. It's a unique perspective that showcases the culture and atmosphere of that time, while also telling a biblical story that's not often featured on the big screen.
Spartacus (1960)
• Available on The Criterion Channel
There's no doubt that Rome's torture methods and tolerance for slavery put them in a bad light. But one legendary slave and gladiator rose to the challenge and took the eagle by its beak. That man is Spartacus and he became one of the most impressive icons of rebellion in history.
That's why a proper tribute to him in the form of the Spartacus movie from 1963 should be a mandated watch for anyone looking for a grand film set in ancient Rome. As usual, it follows the exploits of Spartacus as he goes up against the tyrant of Italy with nothing but a rag-tag band of slaves. It's a tale worth seeing unfold visually, due to its epicness.
Julius Caesar (1953)
• Available on Night Flight Plus and BroadwayHD
Not many films successfully capture the essence of Julius Caesar because his tenure in Rome was so successful and filled with achievements that one film probably wouldn't be enough. Still, Julius Caesar from 1953 is a true story movie that takes the highest (and also lowest) point of Caesar's life and turns it into a beautiful motion picture.
This point in time is Caesar at the height of his power as emperor of Rome. It was also around this time when most of his allies planned to betray him in what would be a turning point in Rome's history and its establishment as a fully-fledged empire.
The Fall Of The Roman Empire (1964)
• Available to rent on Prime Video
By far the highest-rated among all the films about ancient Rome, The Fall of the Roman Empire is another solid classic that also works well as a dramatic retelling of the turning point of Rome's golden period streak. It's one of the primary inspirations for Ridley Scott's Gladiator movie.
This is because The Fall of the Roman Empire's main plot is the background story of the Gladiator - the coronation of Commodus as the Roman Emperor as Marcus Aurelius inches closer toward the end of his reign. It's a power struggle and cutthroat Machiavellian politics at its most visceral and something that changed the course of European history.