In 2000, Ridley Scott’s Gladiator pillaged Hollywood, bringing home $465.4 million in worldwide gross and five Academy Awards—including Best Picture, and a Best Actor win for the New Zealander Russell Crowe, who played the revenge-hungry Maximus. Considering that level of success, it’s surprising it took 24 years to see a sequel—then again, Gladiator II has cost over $200 million to produce. The stars this time around are Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Denzel Washington, as well as Derek Jacobi and Connie Nielsen, who both reprise their roles from the original. While Mescal delivers as Lucius, the son of Maximus, it is Washington who steals the show. He is Macrinus, a former slave who mentors Lucius and plots his own takeover of Rome. Here’s my prophecy: If you liked the first film, you’re going to like the second. —Jack Sullivan