Since the early days of film, the epic battles, turbulent politics, and culture of Ancient Rome have provided filmmakers with sufficient material to produce captivating stories.

DE EN ES FR IT PT RU

DE EN ES FR IT PT RU

30 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, 1966

In ancient Rome, some neighbors live in three adjacent houses. In the center is the house of Senex, who lives there with wife Domina, son Hero, and several slaves, including head slave Hysterium and the musical’s main character Pseudolus. A slave belonging to Hero, Pseudolus wishes to buy, win, or steal his freedom. One of the neighboring houses is owned by Marcus Lycus, who is a buyer and seller of beautiful women; the other belongs to the ancient Erronius, who is abroad searching for his long-lost children (stolen in infancy by pirates).

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29 Ben-Hur, 2016

A Jewish nobleman, Judah Ben-Hur, and his adopted Roman brother Messala are best friends despite their different origins. Messala enlists in the Roman army and fights in the Roman Empire’s wars in Germany. Ben-Hur also develops feelings for the family slave Esther although their different station in life compels him not to pursue her. But when her father Simonides seeks to marry her off to a Roman, Ben-Hur declares his love for her and takes her as his wife. Three years later, Messala returns as a decorated Roman officer. His return coincides with a rising insurrection by the Zealots, Jews who are opposed to the oppressive nature of Roman rule…

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28 The First King (Il primo re), 2019

Romulus and Remus are 18-year-old shepherds brothers living in peace near the Tiber river. Convinced that he is bigger than gods’ will, Remus believes that he is meant to become king of the city he will found together with his brother. But their tragic destiny is already written. This incredible journey will lead the two brothers to creating one of the greatest empires the world has ever seen.

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27 Nero (Imperium: Nerone), 2004

Lucius Claudius Nero is a young boy when his father, Enobarbus, is assassinated for plotting against the mad Emperor Caligula. His mother, Agrippina, is exiled and the boy sent to live in the country among slaves. There he learns to play music and sing, and grows to love Ecte, a slave girl, but is unable to marry her because of his patrician blood. Nero is recalled to the household of Emperor Claudius, where his mother intrigues to obtain the throne for Nero. Under his mother’s control, Emperor Nero’s idealistic aim to reform Rome is frustrated, and he gradually evolves away from his healthy upbringing and the love of Ecte, becoming enmeshed in palace intrigue and lust, and having both his half-brother and his mother assassinated along the way.

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26 Pompeii 3D (Pompeii), 2014

Set in 79 A.D., POMPEII tells the epic story of Milo, a slave turned invincible gladiator who finds himself in a race against time to save his true love Cassia, the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant who has been unwillingly betrothed to a corrupt Roman Senator. As Mount Vesuvius erupts in a torrent of blazing lava, Milo must fight his way out of the arena in order to save his beloved as the once magnificent Pompeii crumbles around him.

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25 Risen, 2015

Follows the epic Biblical story of the Resurrection, as told through the eyes of a non-believer. Clavius, a powerful Roman Military Tribune, and his aide Lucius, are tasked with solving the mystery of what happened to Yahshua in the weeks following the crucifixion, in order to disprove the rumors of a risen Messiah and prevent an uprising in Jerusalem.

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24 The Last Legion, 2006

Circa 460 A.D. Mira was born in a warrior-family in Kerala, India, was well versed in martial arts and self-defense, so much so that she was recruited by the Spanish royalty and re-located to Constantinople. From there she was instructed to assist Roman Commander Aurelius to plan the escape of 12-year old Romulus Augustus Caesar from a prison in Capri after his parents had been killed by the leader of the Alliance in turmoil-stricken Rome that has seen the deaths of five emperors in five years. Mira, Aurelius, and a Priest, Ambrosinius, along with a handful of loyal soldiers were successful in the escape plan and deliver Romulus to Roman Senator Nestor. What the crew do not realize is that their task is not over yet, for Nestor is all set to betray Romulus, leaving them with no alternative but to flee to Britannia, where they will be forced to confront a seemingly invincible Vortygn, whose main aim is to obtain a powerful sword that was meant for defense and defeat, and also ensure the death of Romulus at any and all costs.

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23 Mary Magdalene, 2018

Judea, 33 AD. Mary is a faithful young girl from the village of Magdala near the sea of Galilea. Reluctant to follow the traditions and destiny reserved to women, living only as wife and mother; she wishes to be free. After she rejects the marriage proposal of family friend, Ephraim, her brother Daniel and father Elisha, believing she is possessed by a demon, arrange an exorcism. Elisha consults Jesus, a healer who is earning fame among the local Jewish people with his speeches about a kingdom of peace and love, free of hate, tyranny, oppression, and persecution. Jesus comes to see Mary and shares his gospel. Astonished by Jesus’words, charisma, and personality, Mary decides to follow him despite her family’s strong opposition. She meets several men who also walk with Jesus: Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Judas, who have their personal interests and ideas about Jesus’ words and his revolution. At the same time that Mary feels more passionate about Jesus and his vision of the world and people, Peter develops a progressive resentment of her, believing that her presence among them weakens Jesus and his message; Peter notices that Jesus pays more and more attention to her. When they arrive at Jerusalem, Jesus and his apostles try to transmit the message against Roman Empire and Jews’ authorities, but the events soon turn dramatically against Jesus, and the confrontation between Mary and Peter about Jesus not only changes them both but will change the whole world.

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22 Paul, Apostle of Christ, 2018

Roma, 67 AD. After the great fire that burnt a great part of the city, Emperor Nero points Paul, Jesus’ apostle, as guilty of the fire, arresting him and taking him to Mamertine Prison. There prefect Mauritius struggles between his daughter Caelia, who suffers an unknown disease, and his job as warden of the prison commanded by own Nero, that he is considers as a failure on his military carrier. Despite the risks for the Christians, physician and medicine man Luke arrives Roma from Greek Islands to find Paul, living in the house of Aquila and Priscilla, two former Romans turned in Christians that they use their home as shelter for others Roman Christians to save them from Nero’s soldiers, who kill all Christians they find, torturing and using them as human candles to light Roma’s streets at night.

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21 Quo vadis, 2001

Marcus Vinicius meets Lygia in Rome and falls in love. But she is Christian and doesn’t want anything to do with him. Marcus decides to kidnap her but Ursus, her bodyguard, catches Marcus. After that, Lygia falls in love, but Marcus must go to meet Nero. After the meeting somebody told Marcus that Nero burnt Rome. Marcus decides to go back to Rome and find Lygia.

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