Ridley Scott is eying a big year in 2026 as he returns to the sci-fi genre for the first time in nearly 10 years with his latest epic, The Dog Stars. Scott has enlisted some big names like Josh Brolin and Jacob Elordi to star in his new dystopian epic, but only time will tell if this will translate to box office success. Scott has struggled to find box office greatness with his last two movies, both of which were historical epics that were criticized heavily by fans and critics. Scott reunited with Joaquin Phoenix for a biopic about Napoleon Bonaparte, and he also returned to the colosseum for Gladiator II, but neither film was able to overcome its bloated budget and return enough at the box office to become profitable.
One of Scott’s original hits that certainly didn’t struggle at the box office was the first Gladiator movie, which was released in 2000. Starring Russell Crowe, who won his first and only Oscar for his performance as Maximus in the film, Gladiator grossed well over $460 million at the box office against a $100 million budget, meaning it sailed past its break-even point by over $200 million. The film is perfect for fans of both The Odyssey and Braveheart, as it effectively captures the magic of a great historical epic while also centering around an inspiring leader. Gladiator has been streaming alongside its legacy sequel on Paramount Plus most of the year, but the film was recently added to Pluto TV’s streaming library, meaning it’s now streaming for free. Pluto TV is one of the most accessible free streaming platforms in the world — users who are interested don’t even need an account to watch some of the most popular movies and TV shows on the platform.
Is Ridley Scott Making Another ‘Gladiator’ Movie?
Around the same time that Gladiator II battled into theaters, it was reported that Ridley Scott had an idea for another Gladiator movie. However, since Paramount didn’t see any return on its near-$300 million investment on the legacy sequel, despite the addition of major stars like Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal, it’s unlikely the studio is interested in footing the bill for another Gladiator movie, unless Scott can make it for much cheaper. Scott is due for a box office hit soon after a few misses, and while budgeting information for The Dog Stars has not yet been revealed, his return to the sci-fi genre is at least drawing interest before its August 28 premiere.
Check out Gladiator for free on Pluto TV or on Paramount Plus, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of Ridley Scott’s future projects.
- Release Date
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May 5, 2000
- Runtime
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155 minutes
- Writers
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David Franzoni, John Logan, William Nicholson














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