Epic Time Capsule: Variety Ranks 20 Sword-and-Sandal Films, From Troy to Ben-Hur

Variety counts down 20 sword-and-sandal films, tracing the genre’s evolution from ancient epics to modern spectacles, with Nolan’s Odyssey (2026) highlighted among the entries and Ben‑Hur topping the list at No. 1. The lineup spans Troy, Noah, Caligula, Conan the Barbarian, Jason and the Argonauts, Cleopatra, 300, Spartacus, The Ten Commandments, The Prince of Egypt, Gladiator and more, underscoring the enduring scale, spectacle and production ambition of these mythic adventures.