 FACT: The movie suggests that Marcus Aurelius had made the gladiator  fights come to an end for ethical reasons. In fact they were  considered as religious events, beneficial for the youngsters  morals. It would not be until Christianity became the official  religion of the Empire, some 200 years in the future, that  gladiatorial fights would be abolished. It is more likely that  Marcus Aurelius greatly reduced the frequency of gladiatorial games  for fiscal reasons; they were drains upon the public treasury.  Marcus Aurelius was not so much a good person as a wise  administrator. Money saved by not squandering money on gladiatorial  games could be out to better use, such as defense against barbarians  or public sanitation to combat epidemics. The story line indicates  that Commodus depletes the treasury with his excessive sponsorship  of the gladiatorial games.