Ridley Scott's Gladiator culminates in an epic battle between Maximus and Commodus in the arena, with the former general eventually triumphing – yet his victory is only possible after a surprising betrayal with real historical roots. Despite vividly bringing the world of Ancient Rome to life, Gladiator plays fast and loose with history. Many characters are created specifically for the film, while others are distorted reflections of their historical counterparts. Despite this, however, the movie does provide some accurate insights – especially in its dramatic ending.
https://screenrant.com/gladiator-movie-ending-praetorian-betrayal-real-history/