Screenwriting Tips

Screenwriting Tips

Screenwriting Tips

Anatomy of a Scene: Breaking Down an Iconic Movie Moment

Gladiator (2000): Maximus Refuses Commodus

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Andrew Devlin
May 23, 2025
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In today’s Anatomy of a Scene, we’re stepping into one of Gladiator’s most emotionally charged moments: when Maximus learns of Marcus Aurelius’ death and refuses to pledge loyalty to his murderer, Commodus.

It’s not just a turning point for the story—it’s a perfect example of a scene layered with character arcs, emotional tension, unspoken threats, and t…

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