The Roman Empire fell many years ago, but the power and influence of this historic era lives on through some incredible movies and TV shows. These are our top picks of movies and TV shows about the Roman Empire, and where you can stream them online!
Top 10 Movies & TV Shows About The Roman Empire
I, Claudius
The brilliant BBC series, I, Claudius, stars Derek Jacobi as the famous Roman emperor Claudius. The show is an adaptation of Robert Graves’ 1934 novel of the same name, and his 1935 sequel ‘Claudius the God’. Siân Phillips, Brian Blessed, John Hurt, Patrick Stewart and John Rhys-Davies also feature.
Gladiator
No list about the Roman Empire would be complete without Gladiator. Ridley Scott’s masterpiece stars Russell Crowe as Maximus Meridius and won five Academy Awards with another seven nominations. Scott’s long-awaited sequel Gladiator II premieres in 2024.
Rome
This HBO historical drama series is set in the 1st Century BC during Ancient Rome’s transition from a Republic to an Empire. Rome features a huge ensemble cast, with Kevin McKidd, Ray Stevenson, Polly Walker, Kerry Condon and James Purefoy appearing in every episode.
Cleopatra
Elizabeth Taylor stars as the iconic queen, Cleopatra, in this epic spectacle. As Cleopatra struggles to hold on to her power, she seduces Roman emperor Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison), and then his general Marc Antony (Richard Burton).
Masada
Masada is a fictional account about the siege of the Masada citadel in Israel by the Roman Empire in 73 AD. Based on Ernest Gann’s 1971 novel ‘The Antagonists’, the miniseries stars Peter O’Toole as commander Lucius Flavius Silva.
Ben-Hur
Charlton Heston stars as Ben-Hur, a Jew living in ancient Judea in 25 AD, and an opponent to the occupying Roman Empire. When he is falsely accused of assassinating the Roman governor, he is enslaved.
Those About To Die
Those About To Die follows the world of gladiators in Ancient Rome. At the height of the Roman Empire, nothing satiates the crowds quite like a bloody, brutal fight amongst men and beast. Sir Anthony Hopkins stars as Emperor Vespasian.
Spartacus
Stanley Kubrick, Kirk Douglas and Laurence Olivier team up for the 1960 classic, Spartacus. Born and raised a slave, Spartacus is sold to a Gladiator trainer and taught to kill, while entertaining the crowds of Ancient Rome.
Plebs
This comedy sitcom is much lighter viewing. Plebs follows three young men who are desperate to get laid, keep their jobs and climb the social ladder in Ancient Rome.
Agora
A refreshingly female-focused film, Rachel Weisz stars in 2009’s Agora. Weisz plays Hypatia, a lady philosopher who must save the classical knowledge of the Empire from rampaging Christian mobs. The film also features Max Minghella, Oscar Isaac and Ashraf Barhom.
Where to watch the best movies and TV shows about the Roman Empire online
The truth is that there are loads of brilliant movies and TV shows about the Roman Empire, and they couldn’t all fit in our Top 10 list! Read on for our full list of movies and TV shows about the Roman Empire below, which includes all the streaming information (including where to watch) that you need to enjoy this content online.