Summary

• Ancient Rome has been a popular subject in movies since the early days of silent films, with some of the world's earliest blockbusters being set in this time period.
• The best movies about Ancient Rome often have massive sets and budgets, which bring big risks but also awards recognition to the studios.
• From epic historical tales like Gladiator and Ben-Hur to unique stories like Risen and A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, there is a wide variety of movies about Ancient Rome across multiple decades, budgets, and genres.

Movies about Rome often bring to memory emperors, gladiators, Julius Caesar, and aristocrats. Many people also think of William Shakespeare, as the Bard himself wrote frequently on the subject in his plays. Outside of Shakespeare and adaptations of his work, Ancient Rome played a big role in massive studio movies since the early days of silent films. Some of the most renowned movies in cinema history have been set in Ancient Rome, including some of the world's earliest blockbusters with headline-grabbing budgets, such as Ben Hur's then-recording-breaking $15 million dollar production cost in 1959.

Movies set in the Roman Empire fall into the "sword and sandal" movie subgenre, though the movies set in this specific corner of the ancient world are renowned for their tendency to have massive sets and budgets to match. The increased budget brought with it big risks, but the best movies set in Ancient Rome often ended up bringing awards recognition to the studios that took a chance on them. With multi-award-winning movies like Gladiator and Ben-Hur to the smaller, yet critically-beloved releases like Titus and Life of Brian, there are a wide variety of movies about Ancient Rome across multiple decades, budgets, and genres.

20 The Robe (1953)

Richard Burton's Tale Of The Soldiers Who Crucified Christ

Released in 1953, The Robe is based on the Biblical tale of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Richard Burton stars as a Roman military tribune named Marcellus who commands the unit tasked with crucifying Christ. This was a movie that has the significance of being the first ever released in CinemaScope (via Academia.edu). When Marcellus comes to accept Jesus as the Son of God, he has to decide if he will denounce him or make a stand. The movie was a successful release concerning the box office and went on to pick up two Oscar wins in five nominations. While it was nominated for Best Picture, it only won for Art Direction and Costume Design.

The Robe is available to stream on Flix Fling.

19 Ben-Hur (2016)

Director Timur Bekmambetov's Take On One Of The First Epic Movies

In 2016, director Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) re-imagined the epic 1959 Ancient Rome movie Ben-Hur. Bekmambetov tried to push his movie at a much faster pace than the 1959 original, and the remake definitely feels more like a modern action movie than an epic historical tale at points. John Huston stars as Ben-Hur, a man betrayed by a childhood friend during Christ's crucifixion as he seeks both revenge and redemption. The movie is shorter than the 1959 version, and while this is mostly a good thing, it also lacks the true weight of Ben Hur's redemption compared to the original.

Ben-Hur (2016) is available to rent and purchase on a variety of platforms including Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+.

18 Pompeii (2014)

An Ancient Natural Disaster Gets A Modern Glow-Up

Pompeii is a disaster movie taking place in the Roman city of Pompeii during the devastating Mount Vesuvius eruption. There was little doubt what would happen in the plot of Pompeii, since the volcano destroyed the entire city, but director Paul W.S. Anderson filled the movie with some huge stars and created an enaging revenge tale to complement the inevitable volcanic destruction. Milo (Kit Harrington) is a man whose parents were murdered when he was a child by Corvus (Kiefer Sutherland), a former general turned senator. The movie won six awards at the Canadian Screen Awards, and Pompeii is fairly historically accurate to Roman history.

Pompeii is available to stream on Netflix.

17 Caligula (1979)

Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren, and Peter O'Toole Lead One Of History's Most Controversial Movies

Caligula is an interesting Ancient Rome movie, as it is a historical epic, but also an erotic drama with major stars. Malcolm McDowell stars as the Roman Emperor Caligula in the cinematic retelling of the infamous ancient tyrant's downfall, while Helen Mirren stars as his wife, and Peter O'Toole appears as Tiberius. Caligula was controversial partly because one of the main producers was Penthouse magazine founder Bob Guccione, while novelist Gore Vidal wrote the script. The movie's sex and violence caused protests, and it ended up being banned in several countries. It has since become a cult classic, though isn't a movie set in Ancient Rome for the faint of heart.

Caligula is currently unavailable for streaming.

16 Risen (2016)

Risen is another Ancient Rome movie based on the story of Jesus Christ and his crucifixion. The 2016 movie follows Joseph Fiennes is Clavius, a Roman Tribune who supervises the crucifixion of Jesus. When Jesus rises from the dead, Pontius Pilate orders Clavius to find who "stole" the body to stop a possible uprising. He sets out and interviews people with his aide Lucas (Tom Felton) and soon discovers that this situation is greater than he ever believed. The movie was a slight box office success and received positive reviews, and is a unique story among the many adaptations of historical events in the swords-and-sandles subgenre.

Risen is available to rent and purchase on a variety of platforms including Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video.

15 Barabbas (1961)

A 1961 Epic Shot In Rome Itself

The religious epic Barabbas tells the story of Barabbas (Anthony Quinn), a New Testament biblical figure. Unlike many of the movies about Rome, this was actually shot in Rome, as well as in Verona, Italy. The 1961 movie has some huge and impressive set pieces, including a gladiatorial battle and a crucifixion shot during an actual solar eclipse. Barabbas earned $2.9 million at the box office and has received positive reviews from contemporaneous and modern critics alike. The National Board of Review named it one of the Top Foreign Films of the Year when it was released back in 1961.

Barabbas is available to rent and purchase on a variety of platforms including Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video.

14 A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (1966)

The Musical Comedy About One Of The First Comedians

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum is a bit different from other movies about Ancient Rome. For starters, it's a musical comedy. Based on the stage musical of the same name, which is based on the works of Roman comedic playwright Plautus, it tells the story of an enslaved man named Pseudolus, played by Zero Mostel, who attempts to earn his freedom by helping his master win the heart of the girl next door. With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum went on to win an Oscar for Best Music.

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum is available to stream on Hoopla.

13 Titus (1999)

Anthony Hopkins Leads A Hidden Thespian Gem

Helmed by Julie Taymor, Titus is a film adaptation of Shakespeare's play Titus Andronicus and stars Anthony Hopkins as the title character. Though it bends and at times smashes the bounds of historical accuracy (at least insomuch as it exists in Shakespeare's work), Titus is for the most part set in actual Ancient Rome. Hopkins is joined on-screen by Jessica Lange and Alan Cummings, playing Tamora, Queen of the Goths, and Saturninus, Emperor of Rome, respectively. The film made only $3 million at the box office on a budget of $25 million (via Box Office Mojo) and received mixed reviews from critics, but has since achieved cult status, making it easily one of the best movies set in Ancient Rome.

Titus is currently unavailable for streaming.

12 The Last Temptation Of Christ (1988)

Willem Defoe And David Bowie Lead Martin Scorsese's Controversial Take On The Crucifixion

Martin Scorsese took a break from his mafia movies to create his own Biblical epic in 1988. Set in the Roman Empire, The Last Temptation of Christ told the story of the eventual crucifixion of Jesus Christ at the hands of the Roman governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate. Unlike a later story of Jesus's execution, The Passion of the Christ, churches did not take well to Scorses's take and protested the movie thanks to a scene where Jesus was tempted by Satan. With Willem Defoe as Jesus and David Bowie as Pilate, the movie was still a critical success, with Scorsese picking up an Oscar nomination for Best Director.

Passion of the Christ is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

11 The Fall Of The Roman Empire (1964)

The 1964 Historical Drama That Helped Shape Gladiator

Spectacle, drama, political intrigue, and lust for power are the core elements of 1963's The Fall of the Roman Empire. Essentially a historical epic in its purest form, the 1964 film covers the might and expanse of Rome's greatest age and how it fell from within. This 1964 epic shares much in common with Gladiator, such as the presence of Marcus Aurelius, although it's much more grounded than Ridley Scott's interpretation of events. The movie picked up one Oscar nomination and won a Golden Globe for Best Music.

The Fall Of The Roman Empire is available to rent on Hoopla.

10 Satyricon (1969)

An Experimental Love Story Set In The Reign Of Nero

Satyricon is an episodic and fantastic story of life in Ancient Rome that is based more on the legends of hedonism and pleasure than actual facts. The colors, costumes, and general atmosphere are all exaggerated to match the equally fantastic time period that encompassed the chaotic reign of Emporer Nero. The movie doesn't tell a linear story in a conventional way but instead breaks up the narrative into nine different episodes that follow the main character as he tries to win back his young lover. Federico Fellini earned his third Oscar nomination for directing this highly stylized cinematic interpretation of Ancient Rome.

Satyricon is currently unavailable for streaming.

9 The Passion Of The Christ (2004)

Mel Gibson's Unflinching Recreation Of The Final Days Of Jesus

While The Last Temptation of Christ received more critical praise, Mel Gibson's 2004 movie about the death of Jesus Christ arrived almost two decades later to a slew of awards and box office success. In 2004, Mel Gibson directed The Passion of the Christ, which went into great detail about the torture and crucifixion of Jesus at the hands of the Roman governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate.

Unlike Scorsese's movie, The Passion of the Christ was less reliant on Jesus's journey to the cross and was more focused on the pain and bloody torture he suffered at the hands of the Roman Empire. What resulted was churches supporting it to the level of a $612 million box office take, the highest-grossing R-rated movie domestically (via Box Office Mojo).

The Passion of the Christ is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, and Hulu.

8 Life Of Brian (1979)

One of Monty Python's most polished feature films, Life of Brian is one of the most accurate depictions of life in a Roman province ever put on the silver screen. When it comes to movies about Rome, it doesn't take place in the capital city itself but in the Roman province of Judea, and it includes a lighthearted but realistic look at life under Roman rule. It's not always funny, either, as sometimes the satire takes a biting turn when it comes to the tyranny of the Romans and the local Judean authorities. The movie remains one of the highest-ranking British comedies ever made on several best-of lists.

The Life of Brian is available to stream on Netflix.

7 Cabiria (1914)

The Early Historic Screened For President Woodrow Wilson

Cabiria is set during the Second Punic War and depicts many of the most famous moments of the conflict, including Hannibal's march across the Alps, the Siege of Syracuse, and Roman general Scipio's military campaign in Northern Africa, to name a few. Martin Scorsese credits this film as inventing the epic genre (via Roger Ebert). If he's correct, that makes Cabiria the spiritual ancestor of films like Ben-Hur and Gladiator. It was restored and re-released at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, and during its original release in 1914, it was the first film to ever be screened at the White House, showing on the lawn for President Woodrow Wilson.

Cabiria is available to stream on Vudu.

6 Quo Vadis (1951)

Often credited with saving MGM from bankruptcy, Quo Vadis is an epic historical drama that combines historical with fictional elements to tell the story of the Roman Empire's clash with Christianity and the treatment of early Christians. It stars Robert Taylor, Deborah Kerr, Leo Genn, and Peter Ustinov, with narration by Walter Pidgeon (Funny Girl, Forbidden Planet). It was both a box office and a critical success, earning $21 million on a $7 million budget (via Box Office Mojo) and mixed to positive reviews. The movie picked up eight Oscar nominations, although it didn't win any of them.

Quo Vadis is available to rent and purchase on a variety of platforms including Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video.

5 Julius Caesar (1953)

Before Don Corneole Marlon Brando Made His Name As Mark Anthony

There have been many movies about Ancient Rome based on the life of famed Roman Emperor Julius Caesar — including one in 1950 and one in 1970, both starring Charlton Heston. But it is the 1953 film starring Marlon Brando as Mark Antony, based on Shakespeare's stage play of the same name, that tops the list. Julius Caesar details the betrayal and assassination of the titular character by his allies and friends and received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics. The movie was a huge success, picking up five Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, and winning for Best Art Direction.

Julius Caesar is available to rent and purchase on a variety of platforms including Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video.

4 Cleopatra (1963)

Elizabeth Taylor's Iconic Take On The Queen Who Defied Rome

As one of Elizabeth Taylor's most iconic looks, roles, and performances, and it certainly gives the ancient world a powerful shock, Cleopatra deserves its spot in the history of cinema. As beautiful as she is manipulative, Cleopatra changes the tide of civilization as she seduces both Marc Antony and Julius Caesar, played by Richard Burton and Rex Harrison respectively. It almost bankrupted 20th Century Fox (via Los Angeles Times) despite the fact that it had a healthy box-office run, but it went on to win four Oscars with nine nominations.

Cleopatra is available to stream on HBO Max.

3 Spartacus (1960)

Stanley Kubrick's Timeless Take On Ancient Rome

The Starz's television series Spartacus owes its existence to the acclaim of the now-classic 1960 feature film of the same name, which remains one of the best movies set in Ancient Rome. Spartacus was directed by the legendary Stanley Kubrick and written by blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, and it remains one of the most influential films of all time. Spartacus' role in American history is perhaps even more interesting than the story it tells — President John F. Kennedy personally crossed picket lines in order to view it (via Chicago Tribune), helping to end the practice of blacklisting filmmakers. Spartacus won four Oscars and entered the National Film Registry in 2017.

Spartacus is available to rent and purchase on a variety of platforms including Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video.

2 Gladiator (2000)

Ridley Scott's Epic Tale Of Revenge In The Colosseum

Among the most famous of all movies about Rome, Gladiator is a Ridley Scott masterpiece that earned $460 million at the box office (via Box Office Mojo) and won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It was so successful that it created a phenomenon known as the "Gladiator effect," spawning a spike in interest in Ancient Roman literature and history. Gladiator stars Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius, a high-ranking Roman forced into slavery who seeks revenge against the cruel Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix).

Gladiator is available to stream on Paramount+.

1 Ben-Hur (1959)

The Chariot-Racing Cinematic Marathon That Helped Write The Rules For Historical Epics

Ben-Hur is a classic film that was remade in 2016, but the 1959 version (itself is a remake of a 1925 silent film) remains both the definitive version and among the very best Ancient Rome movies. It tells the story of Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston), a Jewish prince forced into Roman slavery who becomes a champion charioteer and swears revenge on a Roman citizen who wronged him. One of the best movies set in Ancient Rome ever made, Ben-Hur earned $146 million at the box office (via Box Office Mojo) and won 11 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor.

Ben-Hur (1959) is available to stream on Max.