Greek & Roman Era / Mythological Epics
1. Gladiator (2000) – A Roman general turns gladiator to seek revenge and justice.

Gladiator is an epic historical drama directed by Ridley Scott , starring Russell Crowe in his iconic Oscar-winning role as Maximus Decimus Meridius , a loyal Roman general betrayed and forced into slavery, who rises to become a vengeful gladiator seeking justice.

Set in ancient Rome around 180 AD, the film begins with Maximus leading the Roman army to a decisive victory under the command of Emperor Marcus Aurelius . The aging emperor favors Maximus as successor over his own unstable son, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), sparking jealousy and betrayal.

After Commodus murders his father and seizes the throne, he orders the execution of Maximus and his family. Maximus narrowly escapes death and is sold into slavery, where he becomes a gladiator in the Colosseum. As he fights for survival and revenge, he gains fame and the attention of the Roman people — and eventually, Commodus himself.

What follows is a brutal clash between honor and tyranny, as Maximus battles not only deadly opponents in the arena but also the corrupt ruler who destroyed his life.

2. 300 (2006) & 300: Rise of an Empire (2014) – Stylized retellings of Greek resistance against the Persian Empire.

A companion piece and partial prequel to 300 , Rise of an Empire focuses on the naval war between Greece and Persia , told primarily from the perspective of Themistocles (Sullivan Stapleton), an Athenian general determined to protect his people from Persian domination.

While King Leonidas fights on land, Themistocles leads the Greek navy in a desperate campaign to stop Xerxes’ expansion. He faces off against the ruthless naval commander Artemisia (Eva Green), a fictionalized version of the real historical figure — now portrayed as a vengeful Egyptian-born Persian queen who leads the Persian fleet with brutal efficiency.

The film follows key naval battles including Artemisium and Salamis , where Themistocles uses cunning strategy to defeat the larger Persian fleet. It ends with the Greeks gaining hope and unity, setting the stage for the eventual Battle of Plataea.

3. Troy (2004) – The epic siege of Troy, featuring Achilles, Hector, and ancient glory.

The war begins when Paris (Orlando Bloom), prince of Troy, falls in love with Helen (Diane Kruger), the beautiful wife of King Menelaus of Sparta. Paris takes Helen to Troy, sparking outrage among the Greek kingdoms. In response, Menelaus’ brother, Agamemnon (Brian Cox), gathers Greece’s greatest warriors — including Achilles — to launch an invasion of Troy.

Achilles, a nearly invincible warrior who longs for eternal glory, joins the campaign reluctantly but soon becomes a central figure in the brutal conflict. As the Greeks lay siege to Troy, tensions rise between Achilles and Hector (Eric Bana), the noble and courageous heir to Troy’s throne.

Meanwhile, Hector must protect his city and family from both the invading army and the consequences of his brother Paris’ actions. The film builds toward a dramatic climax where honor, love, pride, and fate collide on the battlefield.

In the end, the Greeks use the famous Trojan Horse to infiltrate the city and bring the decade-long war to a devastating conclusion.

4. Alexander (2004) – The rise and conquests of Alexander the Great.

Alexander is a historical epic drama directed by Oliver Stone , starring Colin Farrell in the title role as Alexander the Great , the young Macedonian king who built one of the largest empires of the ancient world before his 30th birthday.

The film chronicles the life and conquests of Alexander, from his youth and education under Aristotle (Christopher Plummer), to his rise as king following the assassination of his father, King Philip II of Macedon (Val Kilmer).

Motivated by dreams of glory and inspired by Greek ideals, Alexander leads his armies across Persia, Egypt, and into India, defeating the mighty Persian Empire under Darius III (Jordi Mollà) and spreading Hellenistic culture throughout the known world.

However, as his empire grows, so do his inner struggles — with power, identity, loyalty, and mortality. The film explores not only his military genius but also his personal relationships, including with his mother Olympias (Angelina Jolie), his close friend and possible lover Hephaestion (Jared Leto), and his conflicted leadership style.

5. Hercules (2014) – Dwayne Johnson stars in a grounded retelling of the Greek demigod’s legacy.

The film follows Hercules and his band of loyal warriors — known as The Nine — who are hired across ancient Thrace to fight wars, defeat monsters, and bring peace where they can. Rumors say he’s the son of Zeus, but Hercules himself never confirms or denies his divine origins, allowing the legend to grow and inspire fear in his enemies.

When a powerful Thracian king is killed and his kingdom falls into chaos, Hercules and his team are hired to help train the new army and restore order. But soon, they uncover a sinister plot led by the ruthless warlord Rhesus (Ian McShane), who plans to manipulate the region through fear, deception, and hidden forces.

As betrayal and conspiracy unfold, Hercules must rely on his strength, tactical genius, and unbreakable bond with his comrades to face the greatest threat yet — not only for Thrace, but for his own legacy.

6. Clash of the Titans (2010) & Wrath of the Titans (2012) – Mythological fantasy battles between gods and mortals.

Clash of the Titans is an action-fantasy film inspired by Greek mythology. It follows Perseus , a mortal warrior believed to be the son of Zeus, who must rise up and embrace his destiny to save humanity.

The story begins as the city of Argos faces destruction after angering the gods — especially Hades , the god of the underworld. The monstrous Medusa is unleashed upon the land, turning people into stone. When the fearsome sea creature Kraken is summoned to destroy Argos, Perseus steps forward to lead a desperate mission to stop it.

Guided by the gods but driven by his own will, Perseus gathers a team of warriors and faces deadly creatures, including Medusa and the Scorpion King , in a battle for survival. Ultimately, he must accept his divine heritage to become the hero the world needs.

7. Immortals (2011) – A stylized and violent take on Greek myth and war.

Theseus, a young warrior from Mycenae, refuses to bow to King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke), a ruthless tyrant determined to become a god. Hyperion seeks the Bow of Epirus , a divine weapon hidden in a sacred temple that can free the imprisoned Titans — ancient giants capable of destroying the world.

Guided by visions from the goddess ** Athena**, Theseus becomes the reluctant leader of a band of warriors tasked with stopping Hyperion’s army. As battles rage across the land, Theseus learns he must embrace his destiny not only as a fighter but as a symbol of hope for humanity.

The film follows his transformation from a vengeful man into a true hero, willing to sacrifice everything to prevent the Titans from being unleashed upon the world.

8. The Last Legion (2007) – A fictional tale linking the fall of Rome to the origins of King Arthur.

9. Ben-Hur (1959 / 2016) – A tale of betrayal, redemption, and one of cinema’s most iconic chariot races.

10. Spartacus (1960) – The legendary slave revolt against the Roman Empire.

11. Centurion (2010) – A Roman legion trapped behind enemy lines in ancient Britain.

12. The Eagle (2011) – A young Roman seeks to restore his family’s honor by retrieving a lost legion’s standard.

Ancient Egypt & Biblical Middle East
13. Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) – Christian Bale portrays Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt.

14. The Prince of Egypt (1998) – An acclaimed animated retelling of the story of Moses.

15. Gods of Egypt (2016) – A fantasy-action take on Egyptian mythology and divine conflict.

Celtic, Viking, and Early Europe
16. Braveheart (1995) – Mel Gibson as William Wallace, fighting for Scotland’s independence.

17. Kingdom of Heaven (2005) – Set during the Crusades, following a knight defending Jerusalem.

18. Valhalla Rising (2009) – A dark, atmospheric Viking saga with mythological undertones.

19. The Northman (2022) – A brutal Viking revenge epic inspired by Norse legend.

Ancient Asia
20. Hero (2002, China) – A beautifully choreographed film about assassination plots in the Qin dynasty.

21. Red Cliff (2008–2009, China) – A massive war epic set during the Three Kingdoms era.

22. Mongol (2007) – Chronicles the early life of Genghis Khan and his rise to power.