A peek behind the scenes of our favorite high-octane action flicks.

Action Movies in the Making

Gladiator

Gladiator won the Academy Award for&nbsp;Best Picture in&nbsp;2001. If you&#39;ve seen the film, it makes sense. From the time of its release, the movie was critically acclaimed and embraced by audiences. Once you know some of the things that went on behind the scenes, that Oscar win seems less likely. It&#39;s nothing short of a miracle that this Ridley Scott-directed historical epic turned out&nbsp;as good as it did. The production was beset with problems that, by all measures, should have derailed it.

Of course, all movies have challenges, but this one had massive challenges. The script was barely written when filming commenced, star Russell Crowe nearly got mauled by a tiger, and, worst of all, one actor passed away mid-production. Somehow, cast and crew rallied together, overcoming these hurdles to create something that would continue to resonate two decades later (although, if you&#39;re looking for a truly accurate representation of ancient Roman life, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historical-errors-in-gladiator/setareh-janda" target="_blank">you might want to look elsewhere</a>).&nbsp;

Which of the following Gladiator behind-the-scenes stories will continue to&nbsp;echo in eternity? You get to decide with your votes.&nbsp;

FKA Pushable Teams

GraphExclude NoValue

Tier 2

WH Team

Apple News

Trainer Exclude

Weird Ancient History

primis_weirdhistory

Tag Wizard

Archive Ignore

Do Not Delete - Account

Revite - Discover

It Sounds Like The Set Of ‘Gladiator’ Was Actual Hell For Russell Crowe

General

14 Behind-The-Scenes Stories From ‘Gladiator’

Anthony Barstow

Rome

You likely know the name Commodus as the bad guy from Gladiator, the Best Picture winner from 2000. Played as a pervy psychotic by <a href="http://www.ranker.com/review/joaquin-phoenix/1294213?q=Joaquin%20Phoenix" target="_blank">Joaquin Phoenix</a>, Emperor Commodus is portrayed as a man with insecurities motivating his actions. And while that may be an accurate, historical understanding of the emperor's persona, there's a lot more to Commodus’ biography than the made-up bits starring <a href="http://www.ranker.com/review/russell-crowe/1951181" target="_blank">Russell Crowe</a>.&nbsp;Who was Commodus? Believe it or not, the movie version of the Roman emperor was actually white-washed to cover up his degenerative insanity. Born into a world that prepared him to be a ruler, Commodus grew up believing some pretty fantastic things about himself. Sure, Commodus fought in the arena with&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/ancient-roman-gladiator-facts/aaron-edwards">ancient Roman gladiators</a>, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the atrocities Commodus inflicted on the people around him. If you were fascinated by the profoundly creepy emperor in Gladiator, you haven’t seen anything yet - read on to discover insane tales about Commodus.&nbsp;

Srch

Tier 3 beg 2024

Ranker Prime

Genre

Nerd Audience

Trending on Ranker

Images Audited

SEO Content Team

Finished Forever

Archive Future Social

Do Not Delete - Cleaned

Joaquin Phoenix's 'Gladiator' Villain Was Even More Terrifying In Real Life

The True Story of Commodus, Joaquin Phoenix's Villain Emperor In 'Gladiator'

Leah Collins

Explainer

Göbekli Tepe just doesn’t make sense. The neolithic&nbsp;archaeological ruins were first uncovered in the '60s, but their significance wasn’t truly realized until 1994. The site&nbsp;is&nbsp;located in southeastern Turkey -&nbsp;although it predates the establishment of the country by a significant amount of time. In fact, Göbekli Tepe is so old&nbsp;and complex&nbsp;that it is <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.ranker.com/list/archaeology-that-changed-history/nathan-gibson">rewriting our understanding</a> of not just Turkish history, but the entire history of humanity. Based on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.ranker.com/list/archaeological-misunderstandings-and-mistakes/stephanroget">everything we know</a> about how modern&nbsp;civilization got its start, Göbekli Tepe should not exist. However, exist it does, and&nbsp;has for nearly 12,000 years.Archaeological study of Göbekli Tepe has been going on for quite some time - even though the modern political climate in Turkey has made matters slightly more difficult. Some sections are even in the process of being restored. The site has become a tourist attraction and a source of local pride, and there are&nbsp;plenty of good reasons for that. Göbekli Tepe is, after all, the oldest site of significance created by human beings, and that makes it one of the most important <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.ranker.com/list/facts-about-peat-bog-bodies/laura-allan">archaeological discoveries</a> ever made.

cleanup_exclude

instagram_posted

Archive Needs SEO

Archive Needs Editorial

Do Not Delete - Quality Filters

This Archaeological Site Is Rewriting Our Entire Understanding Of Human History

15 Insane Facts About Göbekli Tepe That Everyone Should Know

Stephan Roget

People have been living all around the world for literally thousands of years. Here are some of the most interesting things human beings have ever done (that we know about).

Fascinating Ancient History

Weird History

The 6th century boasted many exceptional&nbsp;events, people, and historical contributions. The exception, however, was&nbsp;one year that was particularly burdened with a level of tragedy and strife&nbsp;most historians say surpassed any other moment in history: 536 CE. This was the worst part of the Dark Ages.&nbsp;

Calling the medieval period the &quot;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/reasons-dark-ages-were-not-dark/melissa-sartore" target="_blank">Dark Ages</a>&quot; may seem to be a&nbsp;bit of an exaggeration to the period overall, but scientists and historians recently determined the worst time to be alive was, in fact, during one of these so-called dark years. Across the globe, from Europe to Asia to South America, civilization stalled as people dealt with hardships brought on by horrific natural events.

Plagues, famines, and natural disasters all contributed to the challenges of 536, as did messy political shifts and cultural upheavals. <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-life-was-like-in-medieval-castles/shanell-mouland" target="_blank">Living in medieval Europe</a> was anything but easy, and the 6th century appeared&nbsp;exceptionally difficult to survive.&nbsp;Don&#39;t worry, though - about 100 years later <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/how-did-humans-survive-536-ad-worst-year/genevieve-carlton" target="_blank">everything recovered as best it could</a>.

Top Tier

longtail_search

Google News

Going Medieval

instream

Historians Agree 536 Was The Worst Year To Be Alive - What Happened?

Reasons 536 CE Was The Worst Year To Be Alive

Melissa Sartore

In the year 79, in the Campagnia region of modern Italy, Mount Vesuvius positively blew its stack, releasing molten rock, ash, and 100,00 times the thermal energy of the Hiroshima-Nagasaki blasts at the rate of 1.5 million tons per second.

The Walls Kept Tumbling Down

Pompeii

In 79 CE, volcanic Mount Vesuvius erupted&nbsp;and buried Pompeii, Italy. Hidden from the world beneath&nbsp;pumice and ash, it was all but forgotten for nearly 1,500&nbsp;years. But that&nbsp;changed in 1738&nbsp;when excavation workers discovered the site preserved&nbsp;beneath dust and debris.In 1860, Italian archaeologist Giuseppe&nbsp;Fiorelli&nbsp;took charge of the site and began a proper excavation. Fiorelli recognized the soft ashes on the site were actually cavities <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-it-was-like-at-pompeii/setareh-janda?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">left from the dead</a>, and he&nbsp;is responsible for filling them with high-grade plaster. Thus, the preserved bodies of Pompeii were born. Nearly 150 years later, modern science revealed strange facts about the bodies thanks to&nbsp;CT scans.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/modern-archaeological-facts/zach-seemayer">Archaeological discoveries</a> like this are constantly refining our beliefs about the ancient world. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/07/science/archaeology-dna-pompeii.html">As recently as 2024</a>, scholars upended long-held beliefs the demographics at Pompeii and how adults and children, as well as men and women, interacted with each other.Among the many <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.ranker.com/list/facts-about-pompeii/theodoros-karasavvas">things most folks don't know about Pompeii</a> is&nbsp;that the bodies themselves, more than almost any other existing artifacts, provide archaeologists with vital information about what life was like in the ancient city.&nbsp;Take a look at these little-known Pompeii facts.

exclude_in_feed_os

dfp_policy_violation

Disaster: Natural

Meta Exclude

Xbox Exclude

Archive Node Image Cleanup

15 Bizarre Things Most People Don't Know About The Bodies Preserved At Pompeii

15 Things You Didn't Know About The Bodies Preserved At Pompeii

Andy Miller

History

Many civilizations throughout history have erected enormous buildings and other structures to secure their place in both the present and posterity. Indeed, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-historic-landmark-facts/alby-thompson">these landmarks</a> are sometimes the only evidence left of past cultures - mute testaments to their greatness.&nbsp;Throughout the world,<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/ancient-monuments-still-standing/pierce-nahigyan"> impressive monuments from antiquity</a> still stand, and they are important not just as archaeological remains, but&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/ancient-tourism-facts/jim-rowley">also for tourism.</a> Every year, more fascinating facts emerge from these constructions of stone, brick, and mortar,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-monument-facts/mallory-weiler">shedding important light</a> on the people who produced them, allowing those in the present to gain some insight into the aspirations of those who came before.

Exclude All in One Blocks

Ticker Exclude

Exclude NodeTagged RLs

Facts About 14 Ancient Monuments We Can't Believe We're Just Now Learning

Location

Thomas West

Lists about customs, rituals, and daily life in Ancient Rome and the Roman Republic, which ruled the Mediterranean from 8th Century BC until its spectacular collapse in 476 AD.

Rome If You Want To

Roman Empire

<a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/biggest-empires-ever-history/melissa-sartore?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">The Roman Empire</a> extended throughout the Mediterranean, well into Europe, North Africa, and West Asia. From the early 1st century CE to the early 4th century, the Roman Empire spread its military and culture alike. Later shifting from Rome to Constantinople - where it continued on as the Byzantine Empire - the Roman Empire left an undeniable political and social legacy.&nbsp;

As individuals went about their daily lives in Rome, perhaps watching <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/roman-colosseum-experience/genevieve-carlton" target="_blank">an event at the Colosseum</a> or visiting the Forum to buy everyday items, life in the Roman Empire was a mixture of excitement and the mundane - not unlike today. Similarly, some popular things in the Roman Empire strongly resemble stuff you use day in and day out. There are some differences, of course, it was the ancient world. But take a look at Roman every day items compared to how they look now!

Reddit Scrape

Slot Hide

SEO Excluded

Pre-2024 'Tier 3'

20 Everyday Items From The Roman Empire Vs. How They Look Today

20 Everyday Items From Ancient Rome Vs. How They Look Today

Looking closer at actors and actresses who have played the *exact* same role.

Familiar Faces

Cleopatra

We’re ranking the best Cleopatra actresses of all time. As one of the most enigmatic and fascinating characters in antiquity, Cleopatra is often portrayed as being powerful, pragmatic, and sensual. Yes, she might have conquered Julius Caesar’s heart, but there’s still so much we don’t know about her. In fact, the mythos of Cleopatra has become so popular that it’s hard to separate fact from fiction.From the very first films, actresses have portrayed their own unique version of Cleopatra. While Vivien Leigh captured Cleopatra’s charm in 1945’s Caesar and Cleopatra, Sophia Loren brought the heat to the big screen in her breakout performance in 1954’s Due notti con Cleopatra, which translates to Two Nights with Cleopatra. Elizabeth Taylor also turned a few heads with her classic portrayal in 1963’s Cleopatra, and Monica&nbsp;Bellucci played Cleopatra in&nbsp;Asterix &amp; Obelix. Which actress is your favorite?Vote up the best Cleopatra actresses to see who tops the list.

Killers of the Flower Moon Sales Exclude 10/23

Revite Bulk Scrape

The Best Actresses Who Played Cleopatra, Ranked

Person

Ranking Every Actress To Play Cleopatra, Best To Worst

Ranker Entertainment

Watchworthy

The Roman Empire has captivated audiences for generations, so it comes as no surprise that filmmakers have often turned to this rich and storied past for inspiration. The resulting Roman war movies, often seen through the eyes of a Roman soldier, bring history to life in a grandeur that few other genres can match. This article, chiseled from the dense plaque of the past, is a carefully curated and expertly picked list filled with the best of the best when it comes to Roman Legion movies.Our roster of films presents an admirable gallery of Hollywood's exquisite grasp of the ancient era. They feature the ceaseless spirit of warriors, the electrifying chaos of battles, and the stratified society of one of the most influential civilizations in history. These films are timeless classics that have left an indelible print on the annals of film history, not only for critical acknowledgment but also because of their unwavering popularity among audiences.Movies like Gladiator speak to the grandeur and brutality of Roman life; Spartacus illuminates the tragic defiance of the downtrodden, while Ben-Hur enables us to experience the life course of a man betrayed and condemned. Other films like The Eagle and Centurion offer a unique vantage point of the Roman presence in British lands. Each of these films diligently unravels the tangled threads of history, giving us a taste of life as a Roman soldier during ancient times.To help make this historic journey lighter, we've included streaming options for each movie listed, with direct links to platforms such as Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, and Paramount+. Whether you're a cinephile wanting to soak up some Roman history or a history fanatic curious about Hollywood's rendering of the times, this selection is a Roman banquet you won't want to miss.Lastly, remember that your input matters to us. We encourage you to vote for your favorite movies from the list. Become a part of the conversation, weigh in with your thoughts, and make your voice heard. Prepare for a splendid immersion into the world of Roman legions on the silver screen.

The Fall of the Roman Empire

affiliate_intent

watchworthy_treatment

About Topic

Scalable Cleaned

SNet_Lists

Revite Title

Revite List Description Title

SEO Node Blather

The Best Roman Legion Movies

Film

The Best Roman War Movies, Ranked

Ranker Film

Aliens

Ancient&nbsp;history is filled with impressive human&nbsp;achievements -&nbsp;the Pyramids of Giza, the Mayan Long Count Calendar, beer&nbsp;- or maybe that&#39;s just what &quot;they&quot; want you to think. Since the 1960s, a growing&nbsp;contingent of people believes ancient civilizations were contacted by extraterrestrial beings who provided humanity with the knowledge and skills needed to create civilization. According to the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/21/style/ancient-aliens.html" target="_blank">Ancient Astronaut Theory</a>, aliens built grand monuments,&nbsp;left behind&nbsp;artifacts, and may have even caused certain civilizations to disappear <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/full-cast-of-without-a-trace-cast-list-for-the-show-without-a-trace/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">without a trace</a>.

Historians and archaeologists have criticized the theory since it started to gain mainstream popularity with Erich von D&auml;niken&#39;s 1968&nbsp;best-selling book Chariots of the Gods? -&nbsp;but what do you think? Did these ancient civilizations create&nbsp;genuine&nbsp;human marvels or were they the benefactors of&nbsp;interplanetary encounters?

Tier 1

What Ancient Civilizations Do You Believe Were Contacted By Aliens?

Brenden Donnelly

Rankings, theories, behind-the-scenes stories, and fun facts about the adventures of Indiana Jones, the archaeologist who can find anything—except the inner-strength to conquer his own fear of snakes.

X Never, Ever Marks the Spot

Indiana Jones

Since his debut in 1981, Indiana Jones has been doing his part to rescue relics and save history from unsavory characters who wish to use the artifacts for malicious means. Watching Indy save the day and the treasure is always a treat, but do you ever wonder if that <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/american-buried-treasure-still-missing/emily-mast">treasure</a> actually existed, and if so, what it would be worth?&nbsp;We looked at the artifacts, treasures, and relics <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/harrison-ford-on-making-indiana-jones/natalie-jonah">Indiana Jones</a> saved and/or found over the years. By comparing them to real-world counterparts, or making real-world guesstimates based on the time period and materials used to create the relic, we came up with how much each treasure might be worth. From the ark of the covenant to the Eye of the Peacock, here are a few artifacts found by Indiana Jones and what they might be worth in the real world. Please vote up the rescued relics whose price tags could launch a crusade of their own.&nbsp;

primis_weirdhistoryfood

The Actual, Real World Value Of All The Artifacts Indiana Jones Finds

How Much Are The Ancient Artifacts In Indiana Jones Actually Worth?

M. Muir

Ancient History

Alligator wrestling, bull leaping, and carcass polo all sound like made-up sports. And yet people in Central America lined up to watch horsemen grab a headless goat carcass, Seminole Indians wrestled alligators, and ancient Minoans jumped over bulls.

When it comes to extreme historical <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/all-extreme-sports-list/reference" target="_blank">sports</a>, that&#39;s just the beginning. Venetians brawled with each other to claim control of a bridge, Egyptian fisherman tried to drown each other, and Greek wrestlers broke each other&#39;s bones to win games. In ancient Sparta, teenagers played a &quot;game&quot; called krypteia that involved massacring unarmed slaves, and ancient Mayans had to win their game or be sacrificed to the gods.&nbsp;

Unlike modern sports, where players have to follow rules, many of these extreme ancient sports were no holds barred. Vote up the ancient sports that are absurdly extreme.

video_wall_test

Mens Lifestyle

13 Extreme Historical Sports, Ranked By How Made-Up They Sound

13 Extreme Ancient Sports That Sound Made Up But Aren’t

Genevieve Carlton

Ancient Americas

Today, monuments in the ancient world, from the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/how-ancient-egyptians-moved-pyramid-blocks/stephanroget">Pyramids of Giza</a> to the Roman Pantheon to Cambodia's Angkor Wat, are some of the world's most popular tourism&nbsp;destinations. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/secret-rooms-in-historical-landmarks/jim-rowley">Historical landmarks</a> like these&nbsp;allow visitors to imagine what life would have been like thousands of years before their time, which is a major part of their appeal.But this is not a modern phenomenon. Ancient peoples flocked to tourist destinations for the same reasons people do today: to be enlightened, entertained, and energized.

What Tourism Was Like In The Ancient World

Jim Rowley

Weird Nature

Living in the 21st century certainly has its perks&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;deoderant, Snapchat, Beyonc&eacute;, and the list goes on. Fortunately for us, we&#39;re aren&#39;t doomed&nbsp;to roam any prehistoric era, when not getting mauled and eaten by a saber-tooth tiger was the most success a person could ask for on any given day. One of the biggest benefit of the modern age would have to be the lack of gargantuan &ndash; and sometimes carnivorous &ndash;&nbsp;prehistoric animals. Creatures of land, sky, and sea <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/why-prehistoric-animals-were-huge/olivia-pasquarelli" target="_blank">were all significantly larger</a> back then, and although most of these age-old giants have some distant relative still living today,&nbsp;they&#39;re&nbsp;not necessarily what you would expect. Check out the list below for things that were terrifyingly bigger in the prehistoric era.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Things That Were Terrifyingly Bigger In Prehistoric Times

Animals That Were Terrifyingly Bigger in Prehistoric Times

Jacoby Bancroft

Exploring the folklore, stories, and teachings in different cultures around the globe and throughout history.

Mythology Around the World

For us mere mortals, mythology and the world of ancient Greece and the gods has been a fascinating subject for thousands of years. So it makes sense that filmmakers have been drawing inspiration from Greek mythology almost since the advent of the medium. Mythological stories tend to be rich with drama, action, and betrayal, none more so than Greek mythology where humans lived in harmony or discord with their gods.&nbsp;These interactions often led to grand adventures that make for great movies. Other films like Hercules in New York and Mighty Aphrodite take elements from Greek mythology and place them in modern settings. Ideas like these have also been the basis for many <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-shows-about-greek-mythology/ranker-tv">TV shows about Greek mythology</a> as well.It’s really no wonder why popular directors like Zack Snyder, Oliver Stone, and the Coen&nbsp;Brothers have all made movies that bring the Greek mythos to the silver screen. But which one of these movies is the best? You get to help decide by voting up your favorite Greek mythology movies. The best part is that you can vote for more than one, you’ll be helping other fans find out what to watch next. Thanks to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime, you can start watching a lot of these movies right now.

Oedipus Mayor

affiliatized

aff_digital_media

RETIRED - Revite

Revite Blather

The Best Movies About Greek Mythology

The 35 Best Greek Mythology Movies Of All Time

From Aphrodite to Zeus, all the Greek gods&nbsp;and goddesses&nbsp;oversaw every aspect of the ancient world from marriages and love to wars and plagues. These Greek deities&nbsp;fill tomes with rich stories of their exploits and affairs. Many stories reveal insight into the human condition while others explain the Earth as it is, even to this day. You might recognize Greek god&nbsp;and goddess&nbsp;names in everyday items such as on a street sign or a character in a book series like&nbsp;Percy Jackson and the Olympians. You can find a connection to Greek mythology gods almost anywhere you look.&nbsp;While they no longer hold as much sway as they did in the days of Athens and Sparta these gods still occupy a significant role in society and&nbsp;pop culture.

The family tree of the gods is varied and extensive but this list covers all 14 gods that were said to occupy Mount Olympus depending on stories and translations. Vote up the Greek gods and goddesses you identify with the most or just happen to like more than the others.

Scalable Cleanup

All The Greek Gods on Mount Olympus

Fictional Character

All Greek Gods, Ranked

Ranker Characters

Ancient History lists at Ranker - The ultimate source for hundreds of ancient history lists and rankings