Spartacus
1960 · Movie · PG-13 · 197 min · ★ 7.5 · 90% critics
A rebel slave turned gladiator, sold into training for the arena, eventually turns against his owners. Leading a growing group of escaped slaves, he fights to secure freedom as their numbers swell from town to town, pushing toward southern Italy to cross the sea and go home.
Based on Spartacus
Also known as Spartacus: Rebel Against Rome · Spartacus Rebel Against Rome
Where to watch
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video — or rent from $3.99.
3 hours to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 1960
- Release date
- 1960-10-13
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 197 min
- Max quality
- UHD
- Critic score
- 90/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.5/10 (2,393 votes)
- Budget
- $12,000,000
About
If you want a sweeping, human-filled historical epic with major rebellion energy, Spartacus delivers; Not for you if you dislike long films or prefer purely realistic history, and if you’re into similar classics like Ben-Hur or The Great Escape.
Pros: sweeping epic scale; inspiring slave rebellion; standout performances | Cons: overlong runtime; early sections drag; some romantic notes
Themes
- gladiator
- roman empire
- gladiator fight
- slavery
- insurgence
- ancient rome
- historical fiction
- torture
- ancient world
- slave
- escaped slave
- 1st century
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Art Direction, Color · 1961
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor · 1961
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography, Color · 1961
- Academy Award — Best Costume Design, Color · 1961
- Golden Globe Award — Best Motion Picture – Drama · 1960
Show all 19 awards →
- Academy Award — Best Costume Design · 1961 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor · 1961 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Art Direction, Color · 1961 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Original Dramatic or Comedy Score · 1961 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Film Editing · 1961 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Costume Design, Color · 1961 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography, Color · 1961 · nominated
- BAFTA Award — Best Film · 1961 · nominated
- Golden Globe Award — Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture · 1960 · nominated
- Golden Globe Award — Best Motion Picture – Drama · 1960 · nominated
- Golden Globe Award — Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama · 1960 · nominated
- Golden Globe Award — Best Director · 1960 · nominated
- Golden Globe Award — Best Original Score · 1960 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Production Design · nominated
Cast & crew
Kirk Douglas
as Spartacus
Laurence Olivier
as Marcus Licinius Crassus
Jean Simmons
as Varinia
Charles Laughton
as Sempronius Gracchus
Peter Ustinov
as Lentulus Batiatus
John Gavin
as Julius Caesar
Tony Curtis
as Antoninus
Nina Foch
as Helena Glabrus
John Ireland
as Crixus
Herbert Lom
as Tigranes Levantus
Directed by Stanley Kubrick