Gladiator II, starring Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal, has reached the No. 1 spot on Netflix’s movie chart, despite its underwhelming theatrical performance. The sequel grossed more than $462 million worldwide against a reported $250 million production budget. Its latest streaming success has brought the film back into the spotlight after its theatrical release.
Gladiator 2 is topping Netflix’s streaming charts
Pedro Pascal’s Gladiator 2 has claimed the top position on Netflix’s U.S. movie chart. According to FlixPatrol, the film ranked No. 1 among Netflix’s top 10 movies in the United States on October 23, 2026.
The film’s rise on Netflix comes despite its box office run falling short of expectations. With a reported production budget of $250 million, Gladiator II was expected to generate a higher box office return. According to Box Office Mojo, the sequel earned more than $462 million worldwide, including over $172 million in domestic theaters and close to $290 million internationally.
Directed by Ridley Scott, Gladiator II follows on directly from the events of the 2000 film Gladiator. The sequel centers on Lucius Verus Aurelius, whose life is transformed after Roman forces seize his home and he is forced to fight as a gladiator.
Set in 209 AD, the film depicts Rome under the rule of Emperors Caracalla and Geta. Lucius, who witnessed Maximus’s death at the hands of his uncle years earlier, now lives as an enslaved fighter known as Hanno. Compelled to compete in the Colosseum, he must confront the harsh realities of the arena while facing the consequences of the emperors’ rule.
Paul Mescal leads the cast as Lucius Verus Aurelius, also known as Hanno. The film also stars Pedro Pascal as Acacius, Connie Nielsen as Lucilla, Denzel Washington as Macrinus, Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta, and Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla, among others.
Gladiator II received generally positive reviews from critics. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a critics’ score of 70 percent, while its audience score is stronger at 80 percent.
