The death of Oliver Reed during the filming of Gladiator led to some groundbreaking techniques used to finish the movie. Decades after its release, Gladiator has stood the test of time as a historical epic, along with being one of director Ridley Scott’s most widely acclaimed movies of his 21st-century work. Russell Crowe rose to mainstream stardom as the Roman general turned gladiator Maximus, whose arrival in the Roman amphitheater places the vicious new Caesar Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) in trouble, with Maximus determined to avenge his family and Commodus unable to execute Maximus due to his popularity.
https://screenrant.com/gladiator-movie-oliver-reed-scenes-finished-how/