Writer of Pop Culture

2000: Award-Winning ‘Gladiator’ Opens in Theaters

It never looks good for any movie that has a script that has to be rewritten numerous times and production delayed for a number of reasons (including the death of one of its actors), but 2000’s Gladiator is an exception to the rule.

Inspired by Daniel P. Mannix’s novel, Those About to Die, Gladiator was about the betrayal of Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) when the son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius murdered his father to take over the throne.

Directed by Ridley Scott, the movie also starred Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Tomas Arana, Ralf Möller and Oliver Reed in his final role. Grossing over $465 million around the world, the film became the second highest-grossing movie of the year. It was later nominated for a dozen Oscars and won five for Best Picture, Best Actor (Crowe), Best Visual Effects, Best Sound and Best Costume Design. (Image: Universal Pictures)

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1989: Disney’s Hollywood Studios Theme Park Opens

On this day in 1989, Disney’s Hollywood Studios (located about as far away from Hollywood as possible) opened its gates for the first time. Originally, this third Disney theme park in Orlando, Florida went by the title of Disney-MGM Studios until 2008 when the partnership of the two companies split ways. Though the intent was to feature the works of both studios, the park focused a lot more on Disney (with the exception of The Great Movie Ride which celebrated some of MGM’s greatest films and just a small nod to Disney).

When it opened, the park was sort of Disney’s answer to Universal Studios. The 135-acre park celebrates Hollywood with designs set in the style of 1930’s and 1940’s art deco. When it opened, some TV shows and movies were actually filmed, and a portion of animated movies were created on site. However, the park is no longer working studio.

In recent years, the park has added the Star Wars-themed land, Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land. (Images: Wikimedia)

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