Featuring a certified fresh 72% critical score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Ridley Scott's Gladiator II has managed to go toe to toe with two major contenders in the box office colosseum and has come out thus far with its head held high. Although not reaching the same global totals as Moana 2 and Wicked, Gladiator II has earned a more-than-respectable $369 million worldwide, with the likelihood of that figure reaching $400 million sometime soon very high.
Given Mescal has only been performing in movies for three years, this is an achievement definitely worth celebrating, even if it pales numerically to the totals of some of his co-stars. Alongside small hauls from the likes of The Lost Daughter, God's Creatures, and Foe, there are just two other movies in Mescal's filmography to have made a recognizable impact on the road to this major milestone. These two films are Charlotte Wells' moving masterpiece Aftersun and All of Us Strangers with Andrew Scott, with both proving not just popular with viewers but also with critics. Contributing a combined $30 million to the $400 million total, this pair of heartfelt triumphs showcase Mescal at his subtle best, with Gladiator II showcasing the actor as a potential future mainstay Hollywood frontman.
Denzel Washington Steals the Show in 'Gladiator II'
Among the many praise-worthy aspects of this long-awaited sequel, the supporting performance of Denzel Washington is at the top. As the former slave turned revenge-hungry businessman Macrinus — in a role based on a real-life figure — Washington steals every scene, with many already citing him as a front-runner for the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 2025 Oscars. Collider's Ross Bonaime was eager to point out in his review just how impressive Washington's performance was, saying:
"But as one might expect, all of these supporting performances are
overshadowed by Denzel Washington
, whose Macrinus is electric in every scene. Even though this is a supporting role, Washington commands our attention,
making even the best actors in any given scene seem like amateurs by comparison
. There’s a Shakespearian quality to Washington’s performance, and he’s delightfully devious in how he uses others to get what he wants. While everyone else in this film seems to be playing checkers, Washington’s Macrinus is playing political chess, and it’s wonderful to see Washington relish in a role that allows him to be this untrustworthy."
Gladiator II has helped Paul Mescal's career box office total to $400 million. You can catch the movie in theaters now.
Release Date November 22, 2024
CastPaul Mescal , Pedro Pascal , Denzel Washington , Connie Nielsen , Joseph Quinn , Fred Hechinger , Derek Jacobi , May Calamawy , Peter Mensah , Matt Lucas , Alexander Karim , Tim McInnerny , Lee Charles , Chidi Ajufo , Alfie Tempest , Riana Duce , Chi Lewis Parry , Paul Candelent , Hadrian Howard , Alexander Simkin , Mikhail Basmadjian , Matthew Charlery-Smith , Maxime Durand , Lior Raz
Image via Paramount Pictures
English (US) ·