Gladiator II has made an immediate impact on Netflix after arriving on the streaming platform, climbing to the top of the US daily movie chart and pushing Ben Affleck’s Animals into second place. The result puts Denzel Washington and Paul Mescal’s historical epic in the spotlight, but the latest rankings tell a more complicated story than a straightforward victory over Affleck’s thriller.
The real question is whether Gladiator II has genuinely overtaken Animals as Netflix’s bigger movie success. The US daily chart suggests one thing, while the global rankings and Netflix’s official weekly viewing figures reveal a different side of the competition.
Gladiator II Tops Netflix’s US Daily Movie Chart
Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II arrived on Netflix on October 21, 2026, nearly two years after its theatrical release in November 2024. The sequel joined the streaming service alongside the original Gladiator, giving subscribers access to both films at the same time.
The sequel wasted little time climbing the American daily rankings.
According to FlixPatrol-tracked data published by What’s on Netflix, Gladiator II ranked No. 1 among movies in the United States on October 22 and October 23, 2026. Animals, starring Ben Affleck, occupied the second position on both days.
That gives Gladiator II a clear early streaming achievement. However, the result applies specifically to Netflix’s US daily movie ranking. It does not establish that the sequel has overtaken Animals across every Netflix chart or attracted more total viewers worldwide.
The distinction matters because FlixPatrol tracks daily rankings across territories, while Netflix publishes its own official weekly Top 10 viewing figures. These systems measure different things and should not be treated as interchangeable.
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Animals Still Leads Netflix’s Global Daily Movie Ranking
Although Gladiator II secured the top position in the United States, Animals maintained its global lead.
On October 23, 2026, Animals ranked No. 1 on the global daily Netflix movie chart, according to FlixPatrol data published by What’s on Netflix. The film recorded 656 points, while Gladiator II did not rank above it on that global list.
This means the two films are leading different parts of Netflix’s daily chart picture.
| Netflix chart detail | Reported result |
| Gladiator II US daily ranking, October 22 | No. 1 |
| Gladiator II US daily ranking, October 23 | No. 1 |
| Animals US daily ranking, October 22 | No. 2 |
| Animals US daily ranking, October 23 | No. 2 |
| Animals global daily ranking, October 23 | No. 1 |
| Animals global daily chart points, October 23 | 656 points |
| Gladiator II Netflix debut | October 21, 2026 |
These daily positions do not independently establish which movie has accumulated the most worldwide viewing time or total views. Unless a chart explicitly reports viewership, its ranking should not be presented as a definitive measure of total audience size.
Consequently, the claim that Gladiator II has completely dethroned Animals across Netflix would be too broad.
Animals Already Has Two Weeks of Official Netflix Viewing Figures
One major difference between the films is the amount of viewing data already available.
Animals premiered on Netflix on October 9, 2026, giving it a head start over Gladiator II. Its opening performance was strong enough to put it at the top of Netflix’s official English-language film chart.
For the week of October 5 through October 11, Netflix reported that Animals was the No. 1 English-language film, recording 23.8 million views.
The film continued its run the following week. For the period from October 12 through October 18, it generated 30.8 million views, again taking the No. 1 position on Netflix’s English-language film list.
The figures show that Animals maintained its leading position across two consecutive reporting weeks, with its reported weekly views increasing from 23.8 million to 30.8 million.
These official viewing figures offer a more substantial measure of Netflix viewership than a single-day ranking in one territory.
By comparison, Gladiator II had only been available on the platform since October 21 when the latest daily rankings were reported. Its early US performance is notable, but Netflix’s subsequent weekly viewing data will be needed to establish how many views the sequel attracts.
For now, there is no verified basis for declaring Gladiator II the bigger overall Netflix success.
What Is Animals About? Ben Affleck’s Netflix Thriller Explained
Directed and co-written by Ben Affleck, Animals is a political thriller centred on Mark Kimball, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate whose son is kidnapped.
Affleck plays Mark, while Kerry Washington portrays his wife, Abigail. As the couple attempts to secure their son’s release, they face difficult choices, secrets and circumstances that threaten to unravel their lives.
Netflix’s official description focuses on their attempt to raise the ransom while navigating the escalating situation.
The film’s continued position near the top of the global daily chart is significant because its success began before Gladiator II entered the streaming competition.
Rather than suggesting that Animals has suddenly lost its audience, the available figures show that it remains a strong recent Netflix movie performer while competing with a major franchise sequel that has just arrived on the service.
Affleck’s wider relationship with Netflix also adds another dimension to the comparison.
His previous Netflix film, The Rip, which also starred Matt Damon, became one of the platform’s major recent movie performers. In 2026, Netflix also acquired InterPositive, the filmmaking technology company founded by Affleck. The acquisition brought the company’s team into Netflix, while Affleck became a senior advisor. InterPositive focuses on technology intended to support filmmaking and production.
However, the acquisition should not be confused with Netflix’s assessment of Animals or its chart performance.
There is no verified Netflix statement establishing that future investment in Affleck’s films will depend on whether Animals remains ahead of Gladiator II in daily rankings. Any suggestion that the company will make a particular decision about Affleck’s future projects because of this chart comparison would be speculation.
Why Gladiator II Is Attracting Attention on Netflix
Gladiator II continues the story of the world introduced in Ridley Scott’s original Gladiator, the 2000 Best Picture winner. The sequel takes place roughly two decades after the events of the first film.
Paul Mescal stars as Lucius, who is forced into slavery and becomes a gladiator after his home is conquered. The cast also includes Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Connie Nielsen and Fred Hechinger.
Washington plays Macrinus, a wealthy and politically ambitious figure who becomes closely involved in Lucius’ story. Netflix describes the sequel as a continuation of the original film’s world, with Lucius confronting both the brutality of the arena and the political forces controlling Rome.
The film has a runtime of approximately 148 minutes, or 2 hours and 28 minutes, according to Netflix’s listed runtime.
Its theatrical release took place in November 2024, before the movie arrived on Netflix on October 21, 2026.
The streaming debut creates another opportunity for the sequel to reach people who did not watch it in cinemas, as well as viewers returning to the franchise after seeing the original.
Netflix’s decision to add both Gladiator and Gladiator II on October 21 is also relevant to the release.
The original film stars Russell Crowe as Maximus, while the sequel follows Lucius, played by Mescal. With both titles available simultaneously, subscribers can revisit the original before watching the sequel or watch the two films consecutively.
The timing may help explain why Gladiator II appeared near the top of the US daily chart so quickly. However, the available rankings do not establish why individual viewers selected the movie or prove that the presence of the original directly caused the sequel’s rise.
Gladiator III: Is Ridley Scott’s Third Film Confirmed?
The sequel’s Netflix performance has also brought attention back to Scott’s previously discussed plans for a possible Gladiator III.
In 2026, Scott said that work on a potential third-film script was underway and that he already had several pages written. Reports also noted that the concept would take inspiration from Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part II in how it could approach its story and characters.
This development goes beyond the earlier speculation that Scott merely had an idea for another sequel. Writing work has begun, meaning the project is being developed rather than existing solely as a hypothetical possibility.
However, a script in development is not the same as an official studio greenlight.
There is no verified announcement establishing that Gladiator III has been approved for production, received a release date or entered principal photography.
As a result, Gladiator II’s current Netflix ranking cannot be described as having secured a third movie. Strong streaming performance could potentially become one factor in future business decisions, but no evidence establishes a direct connection between the current chart position and a production greenlight.
Could Denzel Washington Return as Macrinus?
Washington’s character in Gladiator II presents another important consideration for a possible continuation.
Macrinus does not survive the events of Gladiator II. Based on the story presented in the sequel, a conventional return as the same character would therefore not be expected.
Nevertheless, because Gladiator III has not been officially greenlit and Scott’s plans remain in development, definitive claims about the eventual cast would be premature.
The established information is that Macrinus dies in the sequel and Scott has discussed continuing the franchise. The final direction of any future film has not been officially established.
Denzel Washington Has Two Other Major Projects in Development or Confirmed for 2027
Washington’s current streaming spotlight comes as two other major projects connected to the actor are also on the horizon.
Christopher McQuarrie’s Untitled Thriller Gets a 2027 Release Date
Amazon MGM Studios and Scott Stuber’s United Artists have greenlit an untitled thriller starring Washington and directed by Christopher McQuarrie. The film is scheduled to open theatrically on October 1, 2027.
McQuarrie is best known for his work on the recent Mission: Impossible films, and the project marks his next collaboration with Washington.
The screenplay was written by Scott Barkan and Gregg Zehentner.
According to the official logline reported by TheWrap, Washington will play a former police detective serving a life sentence who is diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. He receives compassionate release with six months to live and returns home hoping to reconnect with his estranged daughter and a grandson he never knew.
His attempt to make amends is complicated by the criminal past he hoped to leave behind.
The film is being produced by McQuarrie, Heather McQuarrie, Stuber, Nick Nesbitt and other producers associated with United Artists, Hungry Bull Productions and Mainstay Entertainment.
This project has an official 2027 theatrical release date and is separate from the question of whether Washington could appear in a future Gladiator instalment.
The Take Is Also Expected on Netflix in 2027
Washington is also set to star alongside Robert Pattinson and Daisy Edgar-Jones in Netflix’s The Take, formerly known as Here Comes the Flood.
The film is expected to arrive in 2027.
Like the McQuarrie thriller, the project is separate from Gladiator II and any potential third instalment. Washington’s current slate therefore includes several major projects at different stages, rather than indicating that his next film must be another Gladiator movie.
What the Latest Netflix Rankings Actually Mean
The apparent competition between Gladiator II and Animals becomes clearer when the different measurements are considered together.
On October 22 and October 23, Gladiator II held the No. 1 position on Netflix’s US daily movie ranking, with Animals at No. 2. On October 23, however, Animals remained No. 1 on the global daily movie chart, recording 656 points.
Netflix’s official weekly figures also show that Animals had already collected 23.8 million views during its first reporting week and 30.8 million during its second.
These results are not contradictory. A film can lead a country-specific daily chart while another leads the global daily ranking, particularly when their streaming release dates differ.
For Gladiator II, the next significant indicator will be whether its strong US daily performance translates into substantial viewership in Netflix’s official weekly report.
Until those figures become available, it is too early to declare the sequel the bigger Netflix success.
The same caution applies to Gladiator III. Scott has discussed the project and indicated that writing has begun, but its future remains dependent on decisions and developments that have not been publicly established, including studio approval, financing, scheduling, creative development and cast availability.
The current rankings establish a strong early streaming result for Gladiator II, not proof that a third film has been secured.
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Conclusion: Gladiator II Wins in the US, but Animals Still Has the Global Edge
As of October 24, 2026, Gladiator II has taken the top spot on Netflix’s US daily movie chart following its October 21 debut, while Animals remains No. 1 on the global daily ranking.
Affleck’s thriller also has two weeks of official Netflix viewing figures behind it, with 23.8 million views in its first week and 30.8 million in its second. The sequel’s early US ranking is an encouraging result, but the available data does not prove that it has surpassed Animals in total viewership.
Meanwhile, Scott continues developing a potential Gladiator III without an official production greenlight or release date, and Washington has other projects lined up, including the Christopher McQuarrie thriller scheduled for October 1, 2027, and Netflix’s The Take, expected in 2027.
For now, the accurate headline is straightforward: Gladiator II leads in the US daily rankings, but Animals remains the global daily chart leader. Whether that balance changes will depend on the viewing figures that emerge next.
Source and research disclaimer: This article has been prepared based on research of the sources listed below and the information available from those materials at the time of writing. The reported daily rankings are based on FlixPatrol-tracked data published by What’s on Netflix and other cited reporting, while the weekly viewing figures are attributed to Netflix’s official Top 10 reports. These sources use different measurement systems. The article does not imply independent verification beyond what the cited material supports, and subsequent reports may change the comparison.
Sources
- Netflix Tudum: Gladiator and Gladiator II Are Now Streaming
- Netflix Tudum: Animals’ First-Week Top 10 Performance
- Netflix Tudum: Animals’ Second-Week Top 10 Performance
- What’s on Netflix: Daily Netflix Top 10 Data for October 23, 2026
- Periskopi: Gladiator II Passes Animals on the US Daily Netflix List
- TheWrap: Denzel Washington and Christopher McQuarrie’s 2027 Thriller
- Enstarz: Ridley Scott Says Gladiator III Script Has Begun
Featured Image Credit: Paramount Pictures / Netflix
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