Best movies like The Arena
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Female gladiators fight to the death. Inspired by the story of Spartacus, follow the adventures of a bevy of slave girls who, upon finding themselves thrust into the gladiator ring, mount a vicious rebellion to fight their way to freedom.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Adventure
Country: Italy, USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: stylized, rough, serious, realistic, psychotronic, grindhouse, political, sexy, independent film, cult film
Best tv shows and movies like The Arena (1974):
Similar in 90%
Revenge of the Gladiators (1964)
Plot Summary:
In 454 A.D. barbarians led by the Vandal king, Genseri, besiege Rome which is ruled by the ineffectual Valentinian III and his wife, Calpurnia. The Roman general Ezio manages to temporarily halt the Vandals' advance. Now arriving on the scene is Ezio's son, Fabius, who had been reported as killed in battle. Fabius falls in love with Valentinian's daughter, Priscilla, while coming to the realization that Rome is weak and corrupt. Genseri now hatches a plan to take over Rome by marrying his son to Priscilla, To prevent this, Fabius hides Priscilla but is then captured and tortured by Genseri who wants to know the young woman's whereabouts. Priscilla comes forward and agrees to marry Genseri's son if Genseri will free Fabius. Genseri agrees but, at the wedding, he breaks his word and shows Priscilla a cross where Fabius has been crucified with ropes. Priscilla is outraged but then relieved when Fabius' friends arrive to save Fabius and to defeat the Vandals in battle.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 57
Genere: Adventure
Country: Italy
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, realistic, campy
Similar in 83%
Friday Foster (1975)
Plot Summary:
Friday Foster, an ex-model magazine photographer, goes to Los Angeles International airport to photograph the arrival of Blake Tarr, the richest black man in America. Three men attempt to assassinate Tarr. Foster photographs the melee and is plunged into a web of conspiracy involving the murder of her childhood friend, a US senator, and a shadowy plan called "Black Widow".
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: neo noir, grindhouse, hood, crime drama, independent film, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 89%
The Seven Magnificent Gladiators (1983)
Plot Summary:
A bandit leader endowed with supernatural powers by his sorceress mother makes yearly raids on a peasant village. However, the women of the village come into possession of a magic sword, and go in search of a hero who is able to wield it and save their village from the evil bandit.
IMDB Rating: 3.7
IMDB Votes: 587
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: Italy
Duration: 83 min
Plot tags: fantasy adventure, grindhouse, independent film, fable
Similar in 87%
Ironmaster (1983)
Plot Summary:
A tale that takes place at the dawn of history. The movie tells the story of a tribe that discovers how to fashion weapons out of iron and use them for their own survival. However, the creation of iron also causes the tribe to battle for possession of the new weapons.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Adventure
Country: Italy, France
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: fantasy adventure, cult classic, exciting, serious, psychotronic
Similar in 75%
Kingdom of Gladiators (2011)
Plot Summary:
A king makes a pact with an ancient demon and after years of ruling his kingdom in peace, the demon has come to collect. Now a group of rival gladiators must fight for the survival of the kingdom.
IMDB Rating: 1.7
IMDB Votes: 886
Genere: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Country: USA, Italy
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: serious, suspenseful, exciting, stylized, independent film
Similar in 89%
Shogun Assassin (1980)
Plot Summary:
A Shogun who grew paranoid as he became senile sent his ninjas to kill his samurai. They failed but did kill the samurai’s wife. The samurai swore to avenge the death of his wife and roams the countryside with his toddler son in search of vengeance.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Action, Adventure
Country: Japan
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: bloody, grindhouse, visual, atmospheric, stylized, psychotronic, retro, educational, manga, exciting
Similar in 84%
Muscle Heat (2002)
Plot Summary:
In the year 2009, a young policeman must collapse a Yakuza family whose members make a large profit with a new drug.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 295
Genere: Action, Adventure
Country: Japan
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: rough, realistic, suspenseful, exciting, serious, crime drama, fast
Similar in 83%
Hundra (1983)
Plot Summary:
Born in a tribe of fierce warrior women, Hundra has been raised to despise the influence of men. An archer, fighter and sword fighter, Hundra is superior to any male. Hundra finds her family slain and takes a vow of revenge until one day she meets her match.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Adventure, Fantasy
Country: Spain, USA, Italy
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: fantasy adventure, sexy, cult classic, exciting, rough, serious, suspenseful, stylized, crying, psychotronic
Similar in 84%
Gladiators 7 (1962)
Plot Summary:
Framed for the escape of five gladiators from the arena, the son of one of Sparta's leading citizens is sentenced to the arena as gladiator himself and forced to fight for his life in the Roman Colosseum. Years later he manages to escape and return to Sparta, only to find out that his father has been murdered--even though it was ruled a "suicide"--and the woman he loves is about to marry the evil king who has usurped the throne. He sets out to find six of his fellow gladiators and return to Sparta to save his woman and place the rightful king on the throne.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 199
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama
Country: Italy, Spain
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: epic, exciting, serious, captivating, stylized, cult film
Similar in 84%
Falcon Rising (2014)
Plot Summary:
Chapman is an ex-marine in Brazil's slums, battling the yakuza outfit who attacked his sister and left her for dead.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Action, Adventure
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, suspenseful, rough, realistic, motivational, scenic, crime drama, perverse, independent film
Similar in 80%
Richard The Lionheart (2013)
Plot Summary:
King Henry II tests the loyalty and honor of his son Richard sending him to a secret castle known as the Knight's Martyr. There, the Prince must fight against adversaries representing the virtues of a knight.
IMDB Rating: 2.3
IMDB Votes: 785
Genere: Action, Adventure
Country: USA, Italy
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: exciting, epic, serious, realistic
Similar in 88%
The Norseman (1978)
Plot Summary:
An 11th-century Viking prince sails to America to find his father, who on a previous voyage had been captured by Indians.
IMDB Rating: 3.5
IMDB Votes: 895
Genere: Action, Adventure
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: grindhouse, independent film, exciting, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 83%
Reign of Assassins (2010)
Plot Summary:
Set in ancient China, Zeng Jing is a skilled assassin who finds herself in possession of a mystical Buddhist monk's remains. She begins a quest to return the remains to its rightful resting place, and thus places herself in mortal danger because a team of assassins is in a deadly pursuit to possess the remains which holds an ancient power-wielding secret.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Action, Adventure
Country: China, Taiwan, Hong Kong
Duration: 117 min
Plot tags: atmospheric, suspenseful, exciting, serious, captivating, stylized, fast
Similar in 82%
Deathstalker (1983)
Plot Summary:
The warrior Deathstalker is tasked by an old witch lady to obtain and unite the three powers of creation - a chalice, an amulet, and a sword - lest the evil magician Munkar get them and use them for nefarious purposes. After obtaining the sword, Deathstalker joins with other travelers going to the Big Tournament to determine the strongest warrior. The false king holds the true princess in captivity, and plots to have Deathstalker killed, and Deathstalker must fight to free the princess.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Country: Argentina, USA
Duration: 80 min
Plot tags: fantasy adventure, funny, perverse, cult classic, independent film, exciting, bleak, serious, futuristic, suspenseful
Similar in 81%
Barbarian Queen (1985)
Plot Summary:
Set during the days of the Roman Empire. A simple village is raided by Roman troops, and most of the people are whisked off to be slaves or killed. Three women survive and set off to liberate their people. When they arrive at the Roman city, they team up with the local underground to seek vengeance and liberation of the slaves.
IMDB Rating: 4.1
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Adventure, Fantasy
Country: USA, Argentina
Duration: 74 min
Plot tags: sexy, fantasy adventure, cult classic, sex comedy, perverse, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, independent film
Similar in 86%
Barbarian Queen II: The Empress Strikes Back (1990)
Plot Summary:
In a final and epic battle in the thrilling sequel to the now classic "Barbarian Queen", Althalia, leads a revolt of peasants and female warriors against the wicked ruler, Arkaris, to regain her throne.
IMDB Rating: 3.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Country: USA, Mexico
Duration: 80 min
Plot tags: fantasy adventure, psychotronic, independent film, grindhouse, cult film
Similar in 89%
Amazons and Gladiators (2001)
Plot Summary:
During the Roman Empire, General Crassius ruled a small province with an Iron fist. Serena, a young girl in a village, watches Crassius kill her parents. Crassius and Serena's destiny would lead them to the Gladiator ring; the Amazons Warrior vs the Roman General.
IMDB Rating: 3.5
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Action, Adventure
Country: USA, Germany
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, exciting, tense, realistic, independent film
Similar in 80%
The Arena (2001)
Plot Summary:
In an age of Gladiators, the power that was Rome held its empire together with the might of its armies, the sweat and tears of its conquests, and the cheers and bloodlust of its citizens - glorified in the deadly spectacle of The Arena. Stolen from their homelands, the fiery Druid maiden Bodicia, exotic slave girl Jessemina, and the powerful barbarian Flavius, are pitted against each other as gladiators by the sadistic Roman Governor Timarchus. Banished by Caesar, Timarchus unleashes his frustration on his gladiators, staging extravagant spectacles of combat, orgy and death. In a violent world where only the strong survive, love and hate, life and death, are separated by an instant.
IMDB Rating: 3.0
IMDB Votes: 808
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Action
Country: Russia, USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, exciting, suspense, rough, realistic, independent film, period piece, remake of cult film, cult film
Similar in 79%
Crusade of Vengeance (2002)
Plot Summary:
In 1190, the knight Elizabeth leaves her young son Peter in England, battles, and is wounded in the Third Holy Crusade. She must return to her village, where she is informed by the local priest that Peter was abducted by the wicked tyrant Grekkor and his powerful knights. Elizabeth decides to build an army to fight against Grekkor, but all the local men are afraid to join. For her crusade of revenge, Elizabeth only counts with the support of three other women: Hunter and her bow and arrows; the prostitute Eve; and the gypsy Sybil and her powders and herbs. Later, the strong Luke also joins her desperate struggle against Grekkor.
IMDB Rating: 4.1
IMDB Votes: 385
Genere: Action, Adventure
Country: USA, Ireland, Lithuania
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, captivating, disturbing
Similar in 81%
The Archer: Fugitive from the Empire (1981)
Plot Summary:
The hero is given his mentor's bow (the Heartbow) which chooses its new owner when passed on. It fires arrows that blow up like grenades, but can only be wielded by the one chosen to wield her. The hero is a member of a nomadic tribe wiped out by the Draikian Empire's forces. He attempts to find the wizard Lazar-Sa who might be able to help him. He is joined by a thief looking for adventure and cash, and the daughter of a goddess, Estra, looking to revenger herself on Lazar-Sa for crimes against her mother.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 447
Genere: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious
Similar in 89%
War of the Arrows (2011)
Plot Summary:
13 years after the King Injo Revolt, the Chosun Dynasty is attacked by the Chung Dynasty of China. A young man named Na-mi leaves his demolished village to find his young sister, Ja-in, and her finance Su-koon, who were to wed on the very day of the attack. While on his mission to rescue her, he is being traced by Jushinta, a fierce Chung Warrior, and his band of malicious men who are out to stop him. Na-mi has but a day to rescue his sister before she is taken away to be a slave. When Na-mi finally finds his sister, Jushinta comes between them and a fierce battle between two of the finest warriors unfolds.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Action, Adventure
Country: South Korea
Duration: 122 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, realistic, captivating, stylized, suspense, scenic, historical drama, twisted, epic
Similar in 90%
Clash of Empires: The Battle for Asia (2011)
Plot Summary:
Based loosely on the 16th century historical document entitled ‘The Malay Annals’, ’The Chronicles of Merong Mahawangsa’ is an action-packed epic feature film, with mythical characters, magical moments and dazzling visual-effects sequences. Merong Mahawangsa was a descendant of Alexander the Great, a renowned naval captain and traveler who came to Asia several hundred years ago.
IMDB Rating: 3.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama
Country: Malaysia
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: exciting, epic, serious, captivating, suspenseful, dark comedy
Similar in 75%
Warriors of Heaven and Earth (2003)
Plot Summary:
A Chinese emissary is sent to the Gobi desert to execute a renegade soldier. When a caravan transporting a Buddhist monk and a valuable treasure is threatened by thieves, however, the two warriors might unite to protect the travelers.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama
Country: China, Hong Kong
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: epic, breathtaking, exciting, serious, lyrical, historical drama, atmospheric, realistic, contemplative, road movie
Similar in 79%
The Dead Lands (2014)
Plot Summary:
Hongi, a Maori chieftain’s teenage son, must avenge his father’s murder in order to bring peace and honour to the souls of his loved ones after his tribe is slaughtered through an act of treachery. Vastly outnumbered by a band of villains led by Wirepa, Hongi’s only hope is to pass through the feared and forbidden “Dead Lands” and forge an uneasy alliance with a mysterious warrior, a ruthless fighter who has ruled the area for years.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Action, Adventure
Country: New Zealand, UK
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: suspenseful, exciting, rough, serious, realistic
Similar in 79%
The Last Legion (2007)
Plot Summary:
As the Roman empire crumbles, young Romulus Augustus flees the city and embarks on a perilous voyage to Britain to track down a legion of supporters.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 37000
Genere: Action, Adventure, History, War
Country: UK, France, Bulgaria
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: epic, exciting, serious, stylized, arthurian, enigmatic, action adventure, psychotronic, costume drama, historical drama
Similar in 87%
Conan the Barbarian (1982)
Plot Summary:
A film adaptation of the classic sword and sorcery hero, Conan the Barbarian. A horde of rampaging warriors massacre the parents of young Conan and enslave the young child for years on The Wheel of Pain. As the sole survivor of the childhood massacre, Conan is released from slavery and taught the ancient arts of fighting. Transforming himself into a killing machine, Conan travels into the wilderness to seek vengeance on Thulsa Doom, the man responsible for killing his family. In the wilderness, Conan takes up with the thieves Valeria and Subotai. The group comes upon King Osric, who wants the trio of warriors to help rescue his daughter who has joined Doom in the hills.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 160000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Country: USA, Mexico
Duration: 129 min
Plot tags: dark fantasy, exciting, stylized, epic fantasy, visual, fantasy adventure, epic, psychotronic, inspirational, retro
Similar in 78%
Red Sonja (1985)
Plot Summary:
The tyrant Gedren seeks the total power in a world of barbarism. She raids the city Hablac and kills the keeper of a talisman that gives her great power. Red Sonja, sister of the keeper, sets out with her magic sword to overthrow Gedren.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 44000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Country: USA, Netherlands, Italy
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: dark fantasy, entertaining, light, serious, psychotronic, suspenseful, stylized, sexy, fantasy adventure, cult classic
Similar in 77%
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (2011)
Plot Summary:
Before Spartacus struck down his first opponent in the arena, there were many gladiators who passed through the gates onto the sand.'Spartacus: Gods of the Arena' tells the story of the original Champion of the House of Batiatus: Gannicus in a more ruthless time before Spartacus' arrival where honor was just finding its way into the arena.
IMDB Rating: 8.5
IMDB Votes: 144000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 331 min
Plot tags: exciting, epic, serious, realistic, stylized, rough, suspense, factual, sexy, tense
Similar in 86%
The Eagle (2011)
Plot Summary:
In 140 AD, twenty years after the unexplained disappearance of the entire Ninth Legion in the mountains of Scotland, young centurion Marcus Aquila (Tatum) arrives from Rome to solve the mystery and restore the reputation of his father, the commander of the Ninth. Accompanied only by his British slave Esca (Bell), Marcus sets out across Hadrian's Wall into the uncharted highlands of Caledonia - to confront its savage tribes, make peace with his father's memory, and retrieve the lost legion's golden emblem, the Eagle of the Ninth.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 73000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, War
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 114 min
Plot tags: exciting, absurd, intense, epic, bleak, serious, realistic, suspenseful, period piece, suspense
Similar in 89%
Gladiator (2000)
Plot Summary:
In the year 180, the death of emperor Marcus Aurelius throws the Roman Empire into chaos. Maximus is one of the Roman army's most capable and trusted generals and a key advisor to the emperor. As Marcus' devious son Commodus ascends to the throne, Maximus is set to be executed. He escapes, but is captured by slave traders. Renamed Spaniard and forced to become a gladiator, Maximus must battle to the death with other men for the amusement of paying audiences.
IMDB Rating: 8.5
IMDB Votes: 16000000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama
Country: USA, UK, Malta, Morocco
Duration: 155 min
Plot tags: epic, captivating, breathtaking, suspense, emotional, exciting, rough, realistic, atmospheric, period piece