A storied and timeless subgenre of cinema also referred to as peplum, sword-and-sandals films typically encom historical or mythological epics. From classic genre offerings from the Golden Age of Hollywood like Spartacus and Ben-Hur to modern contemporaries in the vein of Gladiator and Troy, this doesn't appear to be a brand of film that's going anywhere anytime soon. It's a status quo underlined by the recent success of 2024's Gladiator II, Ridley Scott's mega-hit sequel that will hopefully serve as the catalyst for similar future offerings from the genre.

While the subgenre is typically dominated by best movies of all time.

10 Immortals (2011)

Directed By Tarsem Singh Dhandwar

Led by the former star of The Witcher, Henry Cavill, in one of his earlier career roles, 2011's Immortals blends the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur with that of the Titanomachy; the epic war that ultimately saw the new generation of Olympians triumph over the older Titans for dominion over the universe. Director Tarsem Singh Dhandwar's take on the myths surprisingly received mixed reviews, with some critics arguing that the movie emphasized style over substance.

However, given the film's litany of jaw-dropping action sequences and the memorable performances from an ensemble cast, this seems like an exceedingly harsh critique of one of the most chaotically entertaining sword-and-sandals movies ever made. If anything, Immortals' stunning visuals and effects only serve to elevate the quality of what is a first-rate viewing experience, if not the most refined.

9 Clash Of The Titans (1981)

Directed By Desmond Davis

The final movie to feature the work of renowned stop-motion visual effects artist Ray Harryhausen, 1981's Clash of the Titans is one of the foremost swords-and-sandals offerings that cinema has to offer. Loosely based on the Greek myth of the demigod Perseus, the Harry Hamlin-led movie depicting the hero's encounters with Medusa and the Kraken inspired a commercially successful remake in 2010's Clash of the Titans.

A timeless classic, Clash of the Titans boasts all the attributes that make a great sword-and-sandals picture.

However, unlike the critically panned Sam Worthington-led offering, the 1981 original received positive reviews and is regarded as a groundbreaking number for the subgenre. A timeless classic, Clash of the Titans boasts all the attributes that make a great sword-and-sandals picture. Desmond Davis' fil is full of dashing heroes and grandiose duels to the death, a state of affairs that is complemented by the creative wildcard afforded by the movie's more fantastical elements.

8 Conan The Barbarian (1982)

Directed By John Milius

The movie that served as the breakout role for the future governor of California, 1982's Conan the Barbarian is universally viewed as one of Predator star Arnold Schwarzenegger's best movies. Despite only receiving middling reviews, the cult-classic film is still regarded as a seminal swords-and-sandals offering, chronicling the eponymous character's brutal mission to gain revenge on those responsible for his parents' murder.

Full of the cheesy one-liners and high-octane action sequences typically associated with Schwarzenegger's movies, Conan the Barbarian's graphic depiction of violence can border on gratuitous, but still makes for a rip-roaring viewing experience. Conan is arguably the role that Schwarzenegger was born to play, with the Austrian's foreign accent and formidable physique serving to lend authenticity to one of the subgenre's most memorable characters.

7 Gladiator II (2024)

Directed By Ridley Scott

Ridley Scott's Gladiator II had its fair share of sceptics prior to release; an understandable state of affairs given the fact that the original Gladiator had released more than two decades previously and ended with the death of its main character in Russell Crowe's Maximus. The highly anticipated sequel saw Paul Mescal take on the role Maximus' son Lucius, thrust into a desperate fight for survival as a gladiator while being caught up in a plot to overthrow Rome's despotic twin emperors.

While it doesn't come close to the dizzying heights of the original, Gladiator II serves as a worthy follow-up to the greatest sword-and-sandals movie of all time; drawing parallels with the likes of Blade Runner 2049 and Top Gun: Maverick for cinema's best movie sequels released more than a decade after the original. Leveraging some spectacular action sequences and a superb ing bow from Denzel Washington that is sure to land him in the Oscars conversation, Gladiator II is an excellent, if slightly unadventurous, peplum movie that pays respectful tribute to the iconic original.

6 Jason And The Argonauts (1963)

Directed By Don Chaffey

Based on the Greek myth of the hero Jason and his quest for the Golden Fleece, 1963's Jason and the Argonauts chronicles the perilous journey taken by the titular characters on their way to seek the legendary ram's skin and the fantastical adventures that they encounter along the way. The movie bombed at the box office upon release, but was critically acclaimed and has subsequently gone on to attain classic status.

The late Ray Harryhausen was also known for his work on the likes of Clash of the Titans and The 7th Voyage of Sinbad.

A triumphant adventure that holds up to this day, Jason and the Argonauts is a rip-roaring experience that never ceases to entertain. The timeless movie leverages an array of stunning visuals from legendary cinematic special effects artist Ray Harryhausen to bring the movie's mythological elements to life, with the unforgettable fight sequence between Jason and the skeleton warriors during the film's final act widely regarded as one of the most iconic movie scenes of all time.

5 300 (2007)

Directed By Zack Snyder

A shameless crowd pleaser of the highest order, Zack Snyder's 300 is a heavily embellished take on the Battle of Thermopylae. The 2007 historical epic depicts the efforts of 300 Spartan warriors to repel an enormous Persian invasion force, an army more than 1000 times their size. Spearheaded by Gerard Butler in the leading role of the Spartan king, Leonidas, Snyder's movie has gone on to attain cult classic status despite only boasting a 61% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

A gloriously violent spectacle of stylized gore and chest-pounding action sequences set against the backdrop of one of the best last stands in movie history, 300 is relentlessly silly fun from start to finish. It's Snyder at his most unashamedly Snyder-like, stuffed with visually arresting imagery and instantly quotable one-liners. The movie's heavy emphasis on macho elements and slow motion can come across as cheesy and ham-fisted at times, but 300 never lets up in of sheer riotous entertainment,

4 Troy (2004)

Directed By Wolfgang Peterson

Wolfgang Peterson's attempt at a historical war outing loosely based on Homer's Illiad, Troy is an epic retelling of the battle between the Greeks and the Trojans for the titular city. Boasting a star-studded ensemble cast, the 2004 movie features some awe-inspiring battle sequences to complement an electrifying lead turn from Brad Pitt in one of his best war movies as the preternaturally gifted swordsman and brooding Greek warrior, Achilles.

Troy decidedly takes some liberties with Homer's canon and historical accuracy in general, but this doesn't prove to be too detrimental in of enjoyment for the movie's audience. Aided by a brutally glorious depiction of warfare and some superb performances from the likes of Eric Bana, Diane Kruger, and Brian Cox, Troy's dramatic shortcomings are easy to overlook in the context of its status as a standout swords-and-sandals offering.

3 Spartacus (1960)

Directed By Stanley Kubrick

The fifth film from the legendary late filmmaker Stanley Kubrick, 1960's Spartacus is widely regarded as one of the greatest subgenre outings of all time. Winning four Academy Awards from six nominations, the movie chronicles the rise and fall of an epic slave uprising against the Roman Empire led by the titular character, a Thracian slave and gladiator brought to life by Kirk Douglas.

Peter Ustinov won the Academy Award for Best ing Actor for his portrayal of slave trader, Lentulus Batiatus.

Spartacus is now virtually synonymous with its legendary soundbite of "I am Spartacus!" to symbolize resistance, a quote that has been endlessly imitated and parodied over the years. Praised by experts for its historical accuracy, Kubrick's work is one of the most celebrated and influential films of all time, boasting powerhouse performances and a rousing premise. Furthermore, the movie's spectacular battle sequences are nothing short of remarkable, particularly given the time it was released and Kubrick's relative inexperience as a director.

2 Ben-Hur (1959)

Directed By William Wyler

Starring Charlton Heston as the titular character, 1959's Ben-Hur is a seminal piece of cinema from the Golden Age of Hollywood, as well as one of the finest swords-and-sandals offerings of all time. An epic tale of betrayal and vengeance with heavy religious leanings, William Wyler's movie tells the story of Judah Ben-Hur, a wealthy Jewish prince sold into slavery who becomes a famous charioteer and ultimately gains his revenge upon those who have wronged him.

Wyler's picture earned a record eleven Academy Awards and remains an awe-inspiring swords-and-sandals triumph to this day.

Clocking in with an official running time of 212 minutes, Ben-Hur is a lengthy epic, but it's worth sticking around for every second. The movie's epic chariot race was years ahead of its time, serving to elevate the impressive quality of what is already a glorious piece of vintage cinema. Boasting a nuanced and gripping narrative carried by some first-rate acting, Wyler's picture earned a record eleven Academy Awards and remains an awe-inspiring swords-and-sandals triumph to this day.

1 Gladiator (2000)

Directed By Ridley Scott

The best sword-and-sandal movie ever made, Ridley Scott's Gladiator remains the golden standard for the subgenre nearly twenty-five years after it was first released. Chronicling the epic tale of the gladiator known as "the Spaniard," Scott's movie follows Russell Crowe's Maximus Decimus Meridius. Gladiator can be perfectly summarised by the iconic soundbite issued by Joaquin Phoenix's Emperor Commodus when confronted with his nemesis; "The general who became a slave. The slave who became a gladiator. The gladiator who defied an emperor."

Spearheaded by a pair of powerhouse performances from Crowe and Phoenix which earned them a Best Actor and Best ing Actor Oscar win and nomination respectively, Gladiator is one of the most beloved movies of all time, irrespective of genre. An endlessly rousing revenge story carried by some thrilling action sequences befitting the movie's title, cinema has yet to produce a swords-and-sandals offering that can legitimately give Scott's picture a run for its money.