The plot parodically tells the story of the eponymous colossal; the emperor Marcus Aurelius wants to leave the empire to Massimo Decimo Meridio, but his son Commodus does not accept the decision, so Quintus the commander of the emperor's army plots against Maximus, poisoning Marcus Aurelius and blaming the future Gladiator, so Commodus becomes the new ruler of Rome. Senator Gracchus denounces the new emperor because he proclaimed himself without the vote of the senate. The beautiful Lucilla played by Benny Green, loves only power, at first she binds to Maximus, the gladiator who defeated Commodus in the arena. Maximus, however, renounces the office of emperor in favor of Gracchus. At this point Lucilla shifts her attention to the new emperor so that she can finally call herself empress.