“Gladiator”: Athletic Shorts Blooper

Eagle-eyed viewers have caught several costume mistakes in the Oscar-winning film “Gladiator.” The previous one involved a film extra wearing jeans, but another notable error occurred during the Colosseum battle. As Maximus, played by Russell Crowe, loses his footing and tumbles in the dirt, you can see he’s wearing modern-day black athletic shorts under his blue slave clothing.

This is a glaring mistake because sporting shorts, as we know them, weren’t invented until the 20th century. Ancient Romans would have worn tunics or similar garments. These modern shorts, clearly visible, break the film’s historical immersion, providing a humorous slip-up for attentive fans.