Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.
A former Roman General named Maximus seeks vengeance against Commodus, the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery. Maximus fights his way as a gladiator and gains popularity, eventually leading him to face Commodus in an epic duel. In the end, Maximus defeats Commodus and restores Rome to a Senate-based government.