As historically inaccurate as Braveheart

Rating: Null/10 (17 May 2000)

Although it's a fine film, they took huge liberties with "history", in the name of a great story. In reality, although Commodus was indeed Marcus Aurealis' son, and though his father had doubts about his ability to rule, he was only truly insane after his sister & a friend plotted against him, and he found out (and hung them from a tree).
Commodus was supposed to appear at a huge event, dressed as a gladiator, to shock conservatives & senators. This was the last in a long line of jokes that his peers considered in bad taste - so bad they poisoned him (and then strangled him, when the poison didn't work).
Marcus Aurelius died of the plague, while visiting a city, to decide how to improve sanitation in the city - he was considered a true "Philosopher King".