Best "ancient world" Movies of All Time

25 movies found (page 1/1):

Gladiator(2000)

4.1/5 (with 8,130 votes)

In the year 180, the death of emperor Marcus Aurelius throws the Roman Empire into chaos. Maximus is one of the Roman army's most capable and trusted generals and a key advisor to the emperor. As Marcus' devious son Commodus ascends to the throne, Maximus is set to be executed. He escapes, but is captured by slave traders. Renamed Spaniard and forced to become a gladiator, Maximus must battle to the death with other men for the amusement of paying audiences.

Directed by Ridley Scott - With Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Richard Harris, Oliver Reed, Djimon Hounsou, ...

Rent Apple / iTunes Store | Buy Apple / iTunes Store

Spartacus(1960)

| 3h 17min | History, War, Drama, Adventure

3.8/5 (with 914 votes)

The rebellious Thracian Spartacus, born and raised a slave, is sold to Gladiator trainer Batiatus. After weeks of being trained to kill for the arena, Spartacus turns on his owners and leads the other slaves in rebellion. As the rebels move from town to town, their numbers swell as escaped slaves join their ranks. Under the leadership of Spartacus, they make their way to southern Italy, where they will cross the sea and return to their homes.

Directed by Stanley Kubrick - With Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, Tony Curtis, ...

Troy(2004)

| 2h 43min | Adventure, History, War, Action

3.6/5 (with 4,528 votes)

In year 1250 B.C. during the late Bronze age, two emerging nations begin to clash. Paris, the Trojan prince, convinces Helen, Queen of Sparta, to leave her husband Menelaus, and sail with him back to Troy. After Menelaus finds out that his wife was taken by the Trojans, he asks his brother Agamemnom to help him get her back. Agamemnon sees this as an opportunity for power. So they set off with 1,000 ships holding 50,000 Greeks to Troy. With the help of Achilles, the Greeks are able to fight the never before defeated Trojans.

Directed by Wolfgang Petersen - With Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger, Peter O'Toole, Rose Byrne, ...

Rent Apple / iTunes Store | Buy Apple / iTunes Store

The Croods(2013)

| 1h 38min | Animation, Adventure, Kids & Family, Fantasy, Comedy, Action

3.5/5 (with 3,195 votes)

The prehistoric Croods family live in a particularly dangerous moment in time. Patriarch Grug, his mate Ugga, teenage daughter Eep, son Thunk, and feisty Gran gather food by day and huddle together in a cave at night. When a more evolved caveman named Guy arrives on the scene, Grug is distrustful, but it soon becomes apparent that Guy is correct about the impending destruction of their world.

Directed by Kirk DeMicco, Chris Sanders

300(2007)

| 1h 57min | Action, Adventure, War

3.6/5 (with 6,466 votes)

Based on Frank Miller's graphic novel, "300" is very loosely based the 480 B.C. Battle of Thermopylae, where the King of Sparta led his army against the advancing Persians; the battle is said to have inspired all of Greece to band together against the Persians, and helped usher in the world's first democracy.

Directed by Zack Snyder - With Gerard Butler, Dominic West, Rodrigo Santoro, Andrew Pleavin, Andrew Tiernan, David Francis, ...

Buy Apple / iTunes Store

Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra(2002)

1h 48min | Kids & Family, Fantasy, Comedy, Adventure

3.7/5 (with 1,486 votes)

The Egyptian Queen Cleopatra bets against the Roman Emperor, Julius Caesar, that her people are still great, even if the times of the Pharaohs has long passed. She vows (against all logic) to build a new palace for Caesar within three months. Since all her architects are either busy otherwise or too conservative in style, this ambivalent honor falls to Edifis. He is to build the palace and be covered in gold or, if not, his fate is to be eaten by crocodiles. Edifis calls upon an old friend to help him out: The fabulous Druid Getafix from Gaul, who brews a fantastic potion that gives supernatural strength. In order to help and protect the old Druid, Asterix and Obelix accompany him on his journey to Egypt. When Julius Caesar gets wind of the project succeeding, he has the building site attacked by his troops in order to win the bet and not lose face. But just like the local pirates, he hasn't counted on Asterix and Obelix.

Directed by Alain Chabat - With Christian Clavier, Gérard Depardieu, Jamel Debbouze, Monica Bellucci, Alain Chabat, Claude Rich, ...

Alexander(2004)

| 2h 55min | War, History, Action, Adventure, Drama, Romance / Love

3.0/5 (with 1,451 votes)

Alexander, the King of Macedonia, leads his legions against the giant Persian Empire. After defeating the Persians, he leads his army across the then known world, venturing farther than any westerner had ever gone, all the way to India.

Directed by Oliver Stone - With Colin Farrell, Angelina Jolie, Val Kilmer, Jared Leto, Rosario Dawson, Anthony Hopkins, ...

Beowulf(2007)

| 1h 55min | Adventure, Action, Animation

2.9/5 (with 1,244 votes)

A 6th-century Scandinavian warrior named Beowulf embarks on a mission to slay the man-like ogre, Grendel.

Directed by Robert Zemeckis - With Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Robin Wright, Angelina Jolie, Brendan Gleeson, ...

Centurion(2010)

| 1h 37min | Adventure, Action, Drama

3.1/5 (with 607 votes)

Britain, A.D. 117. Quintus Dias, the sole survivor of a Pictish raid on a Roman frontier fort, marches north with General Virilus' legendary Ninth Legion, under orders to wipe the Picts from the face of the Earth and destroy their leader, Gorlacon.

Directed by Neil Marshall - With Michael Fassbender, Dominic West, Olga Kurylenko, Noel Clarke, Liam Cunningham, David Morrissey, ...

The Last Legion(2007)

| 1h 42min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy, War

2.8/5 (with 376 votes)

As the Roman empire crumbles, young Romulus Augustus flees the city and embarks on a perilous voyage to Britain to track down a legion of supporters.

Directed by Doug Lefler - With Colin Firth, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Ben Kingsley, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Peter Mullan, Kevin McKidd, ...

The Eagle(2011)

| 1h 54min | Adventure, Drama

3.1/5 (with 573 votes)

In 140 AD, twenty years after the unexplained disappearance of the entire Ninth Legion in the mountains of Scotland, young centurion Marcus Aquila arrives from Rome to solve the mystery and restore the reputation of his father, the commander of the Ninth. Accompanied only by his British slave Esca, Marcus sets out across Hadrian's Wall into the uncharted highlands of Caledonia - to confront its savage tribes, make peace with his father's memory, and retrieve the lost legion's golden emblem, the Eagle of the Ninth.

Directed by Kevin Macdonald - With Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland, Mark Strong, Tahar Rahim, Denis O'Hare, ...

Agora(2009)

2h 7min | Adventure, Drama, History

3.5/5 (with 626 votes)

A historical drama set in Roman Egypt, concerning philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria and her relationship with her slave Davus, who is torn between his love for her and the possibility of gaining his freedom by joining the rising tide of Christianity.

Directed by Alejandro Amenábar - With Rachel Weisz, Max Minghella, Oscar Isaac, Michael Lonsdale, Rupert Evans, Ashraf Barhom, ...

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Aśoka(2001)

2h 35min | Action, Adventure, Drama, History, Romance / Love, War

3.2/5 (with 67 votes)

A young Prince Asoka works to perfect his skills in battle and also deals with family conflict. During a struggle with one of his step-brothers, his mother urges Asoka to escape to stay alive. While away, Asoka meets Kaurwaki and falls in love, but must use his skills as a warrior to protect her. A dangerous and heartbreaking web of conspiracy follows, which leads Asoka to embrace a Buddhist path.

Directed by Santosh Sivan - With Shah Rukh Khan, Asghar Nai Peeli Texy hai, Ajith Kumar, Danny Denzongpa, Rahul Dev, Hrishitaa Bhatt, ...

Subscription Netflix | Rent Apple / iTunes Store | Buy Apple / iTunes Store

Spartacus(2004)

2h 54min | Action, Drama

3.5/5 (with 28 votes)

Sentenced to spend out the rest of his adult life laboring in the harsh deserts of Egypt, the Thracian slave Spartacus gets a new lease on life when he is purchased by the obese owner of a Roman gladiator school. Moved by the defiance of an Ethiopian warrior, Draba, Spartacus leads a slave uprising which threatens Rome's status quo. As Spartacus gains sympathy within the Roman Senate, he also makes a powerful enemy in form of Marcus Lucinius Crassus, who makes it a matter of personal honor to crush the rebellion.

Directed by Robert Dornhelm - With Goran Višnjić, Alan Bates, Angus Macfadyen, Rhona Mitra, Ian McNeice, James Frain, ...

Kaashmora(2016)

2h 44min | Fantasy, Horror, Comedy

2.5/5 (with 10 votes)

Kaashmora, a present era black magic specialist; Rajnayak, an ancient era warlord and Ratnamahadevi is his queen. How these three are connected? What are the issues that arise?

Directed by Gokul - With Karthik Siva kumar

The Degenerates(1969)

2h | Comedy, Drama, History

3.4/5 (with 13 votes)

An adaptation of Petronius' satire about the decadent life in ancient Rome. "If you like the Fellini version, you should definitely see this one, too. It's every bit as good and in some ways better.".

Directed by Gian Luigi Polidoro - With Mario Carotenuto, Don Backy, Franco Fabrizi, Tina Aumont, Graziella Granata, Tito LeDuc, ...

Massacre in the Black Forest(1967)

1h 28min | Action, Adventure, War, Drama

3.3/5 (with 1 vote)

In the first half of the first century A.D., the Teutonic tribes, led by Arminius The Terrible, rebel against the cruel and conquering Roman Empire. In raging torments and blood curdling battles, the barbarian tribes and Roman Legions fight a war of attrition, so brutal and terrible that Arminius becomes a legend throughout the empire. Only Augustus, Emperor of Rome is evil and treacherous enough to enslave the Teuton barbarian and halt his murderous uprisings.

Directed by Ferdinando Baldi, Rudolf Nussgruber - With Cameron Mitchell, Antonella Lualdi, Hans von Borsody, Beba Lončar, Dieter Eppler, Peter Carsten, ...

Son of Sinbad(1955)

1h 31min | Adventure, Fantasy

3.1/5 (with 3 votes)

Legendary pirate and adventurer Sinbad is in single-minded pursuit of two things: beautiful women and a substance called Greek Fire--an early version of gunpowder.

Directed by Ted Tetzlaff - With Dale Robertson, Vincent Price, Sally Forrest, Frank Mills, Kim Novak, Woody Strode, ...

She(1925)

1h 38min | Fantasy, Adventure

3.0/5 (with 1 vote)

Mr. Blackwell discovers a relic that informs him about Blythe (as Ayesha, or "She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed"), who loved his father and others in the ancestral line. Blackwell accompanies pal Heinrich George and handyman Tom Reynolds to Arabia.

Directed by G. B. Samuelson, Leander de Cordova - With Betty Blythe, Carlyle Blackwell, Mary Odette, Tom Reynolds, Heinrich George, Jerrold Robertshaw, ...

Foe(2016)

1h 22min | Thriller

0.5/5 (with 1 vote)

A man who recovers ancient languages uncovers more than he expected when taking on a new client.

Germanikus(2004)

1h 26min | Comedy

1.7/5 (with 3 votes)

- No description / details available yet. -

Directed by Hanns Christian Müller - With Gerhard Polt, Gisela Schneeberger, Moritz Bleibtreu, Rufus Beck, Irm Hermann, Anke Engelke, ...

Song of Home(1925)

50min | Drama

2.6/5 (with 4 votes)

Mizoguchi’s 30th film is the earliest surviving example of his work, and his only film of the 1920s to survive complete. Song of Home finds the director already concerning himself with the collision of traditional and modern values. The film is structured around the contrast of two country-bred boys: a coach driver who has never left his home, and a student who returns from Tokyo with city-slicker affectations and Western jazz records. Produced by the Ministry of Education, the film has a simplistic lesson-plan at its heart, but what lingers in the mind after viewing are its more ineffable qualities: The dulcet, lyric, evocation of a disappeared rural past.

Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi - With Shigeru Mokudō

The Whisper of Ziggurat: Untold Secrets of Elamite Civilization(2020)

42min | Animation, Documentary, History

5000 years ago the ancient Elamites established a glorious civilization that lasted about three millennia. They created marvelous works in architecture and craftsmanship. These works of art depict the lifestyle, thoughts, and beliefs of the Elamites.

Lost Treasures of the Ancient World: The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World(1999)

50min | Documentary

This program presents the stories of the works of architecture regarded by the Greeks and Romans as the most extraordinary structures of antiquity: the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, The Statute Of Zeus, the Temple of Artemis, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, the Pharos of Alexandria and the Pyramids of Egypt and more.

National Geographic: Lost Kingdoms of the Maya(1993)

1h | History, Documentary

Long before Columbus, the Maya established one of the most highly developed civilizations of their time in the jungles of Mexico and Central America. Yet this advanced society of priests, astronomers, artisans, and farmers suddenly and mysteriously collapsed more than a thousand years ago. Accompany archaeologists to Copan, Dos Pilas, and other spectacular Classic Maya ruins as they unearth artifacts and huge temples of incredible beauty. Recently deciphered hieroglyphics and other new discoveries offer astounding clues to the lives of these ancient people. You'll hear the startling story of one kingdom's downfall and its final desperate hours of violent warfare. Through spine-tingling recreations, witness ancient rituals reenacted on sites where they originally occured. And meet the enduring Maya who still maintain many of their ancestor's traditions. You'll hear the voices of a magnificent civilization as you uncover LOST KINGDOMS OF THE MAYA.

With Susan Sarandon

Movies: Best "ancient world" Movies