Very hot take incoming: Gladiator II is better than Gladiator… in one vital area. Ridley Scott’s sword-and-sandals action film, starring Russell Crowe, is a timeless classic. No one denies that. The film brought the Felix Legions and the Colosseum to the big screen with a heartbreaking story about family, duty, and revenge. Crowe’s performance as Maximus was outstanding and is still one of the best in his career. Ridley Scott’s direction is phenomenal, and his dedication to practical effects elevates the film to a whole new level. But (and it’s a big but), Emperor Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix, is a bad villain, especially in comparison to Denzel Washington in Gladiator II.