Question 1

Is Gladiator II woke?

Accepted Answer

Gladiator II has a woke score of 43/100, which means it is mixed, with noticeable woke elements. Gladiator II is a 2024 epic sequel from Ridley Scott in which Lucius, the adult son of the original film's Maximus and Lucilla, watches his Numidian home conquered by Roman forces, loses his wife, and is enslaved before fighting his way through the Colosseum to confront Rome's tyrannical twin emperors. The core narrative follows a straightforward revenge-and-legacy arc centered on personal honor, family revelation, and restoring Roman glory against corrupt rule. Audience-visible identity elements appear in the prominent casting of Denzel Washington as the scheming power broker Macrinus and the explicit bisexual, androgynous portrayal of the villain emperors Geta and Caracalla (including mixed harems and effeminate styling), which fueled pre-release accusations of forced diversity and queer-coded villainy.

Question 2

Is there DEI in Gladiator II?

Accepted Answer

The biggest factors in our score are Anti-woke backlash / 'too woke' complaints, Representation / casting choices, Institutional / cultural critique. 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.

Gladiator II

Factors & Ratings

Summary

Main Cast

Director & Crew