History Main / GladiatorGames

* In the ''Franchise/DanganRonpa'' SpinOff series ''Manga/KillerKiller'' there's the Festival of Murder, an event in which [[VillainWorld a stadium full of]] {{serial killer}}s and mass murderers watch each other participate in death matches for their own amusement.

* ''Manga/Golgo13''. Two millionaires who've made a hobby of this decide to pay an assassin called Spartacus to kill Golgo 13 in the ruins of the Colosseum, while secretly watching their duel on hidden cameras. Suffice to say this makes them TooDumbToLive.

* ''LightNovel/KinosJourney'': Kino has to participate in a gladiator-esque tournament (held for the benefit of an insane emperor). She manages to win without killing any of her opponents.

* ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}}'':
** The episode [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_and_Circuses_(Star_Trek) "Bread And Circuses"]], the crew discover a planet identical to Earth except that that it's ruled by UsefulNotes/TheRomanEmpire with TV cameras.
** The episode "Arena" is so named because of this trope. Very powerful aliens trap Kirk and a Gorn alien on a planet together so they can go at it to the death. No Romans, no literal arena, but the concept is identical. Kirk [[spoiler: gets the upper hand, and refuses to dispatch the defenseless Gorn.]]
** In "The Gamesters of Triskelion" Kirk and co. are captured by the titular [[BrainInAJar disembodied intellects]] and forced to battle for their gambling enjoyment. Three hundred quatloos on the human!
* In the ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' episode "Tsunkatse", Seven of Nine is forced to battle an alien played by The Rock, and loses only because she hesitates. The crowd loves seeing a Borg drone being beat, and she is then put into a death match.

* ''VideoGame/Hades'' has the final area of Elysium, wherein you battle the Champion of Elysium, Theseus, and his [[HeterosexualLifePartner companion]] Asterius, aka the Minotaur. It takes place in an arena surrounded by excited Shades (including one who is actually a fan of yours) and is technically a fight to the death, though being in the Underworld you all get better afterward.

* ''Literature/TheToughGuideToFantasyland'': The other common fate of male characters who get enslaved besides becoming a GalleySlave. Characters forced to become gladiators will be treated fairly well as their owners desire a good show. After training and having proved themselves in minor bouts, they will then face a more seasoned professional gladiator. If offered their freedom as a reward, the Rule is the character must kill him. Otherwise, they will just beat him and then the pair can escape not long after.

* In ''ComicBook/TheWarlord'', Travis Morgan was captured and made into a gladiatorial slave. He eventually led a GladiatorRevolt that gained him the title of Warlord.

** In the Four Hills area, Cronley's Gang have set up a pit arena where the gang's champions fight captives for their amusement. The pit usually has one or more {{Bonus Boss}}es based off powerful fan-made [=PvP=] builds.

* Most games in the ''Franchise/RatchetAndClank'' franchise feature an arena level. Interestingly, as the games [[LighterAndSofter have progressed]], the tournaments have gone from being [[BloodSport entertainment]] hosted by the local MegaCorp to solely the purview of backwater criminals or ProudWarriorRace species.

* In ''ComicBook/TheWarlord'', Travis Morgan captured and made into a gladiatorial slave. He eventually led a GladiatorRevolt that gained him the title of Warlord.

* In ''Webcomic/YokokasQuest'', Mao asks if there's a dedicated place to train in the [[SpartanWay Darkness Clan]], in order to grow strong enough to [[PinocchioSyndrome break]] his [[CursedWithAwesome curse]], and Copycat tells him about an arena "[[https://yokokasquest.com/comic/chapter-8-page-45/ where you can fight to your heart's content]]". After a TimeSkip, the next chapter begins with him fighting a giant [[MixAndMatchCritter boar-goat]] in that arena.

*** Before King Riku Dolt III stepped down as king, the colosseum battles weren't deadly and taking the opponent down on the ground was enough to win a fight. The weapons were dull, minimizing the danger of receiving injuries.

* ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'''s 2009 line picks up on the world of Bara Magna, where gladiator games are used to settle tribal disputes. Though the games are regulated enough that it doesn't fall under BloodSport.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs'' episode "Gnoman Holiday", Brainy is forced to fight a muscular brute named Biggus in order to keep Smurfette from marrying Julius Geezer's son Nerdo during their time travels.

* In the ''Franchise/DanganRonpa'' SpinOff series ''Manga/KillerKiller'' there's the Festival of Murder, an event in which [[VillainWorld a stadium full of]] [[SerialKiller serial killers]] and mass murderers watch each other participate in death matches for their own amusement.

* In ''LightNovel/RakuinNoMonshou'' gladiator games are extremely popular in Mephius. Most gladiators are sword-slaves and are often former criminals, such as the main character Orba. Matches are almost always to the death and the managers aren't above gimmicks such as having a chained woman in danger of being devoured by a dragon.

** In Creator/JamesSwallow's Literature/BloodAngels novel ''Deus Encarmine'', Rafen reflects back on his own induction and the games there.

* ''WebComic/GurralTheSmasher'': An alien species fittingly called the Arena Lords has a monopoly on making giant monsters fight to the death for mass entertainment, even bioengineering bigger and better monsters. The protagonist, Gurral, was one such creation but was deemed a failure until exposure to the rare mineral Impervium mutated him into a hulking behemoth.

%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1330100783005840100
%% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.

* * Data East's ''VideoGame/{{Hippodrome}}'' is a gladiatorial game where your barbarian must do battle against creatures such as giants, medusa and lizard men. This would be followed by ''Mutant Fighter'' (Deathbrade in Japan), where monsters and brave warriors are wrestling inside a colosseum. ''Mutant Fighter'' may be most memorable for having your fighter wrestle the Hydra (which gives you its equivalent of "draw and quarter" as a special move).

* Coinciding with the success of ''Film/{{Gladiator}}'', the [=PS2=] had a trend of making gladiator-style games of varying realism including ''VideoGame/{{Gladius}}'', ''VideoGame/ColosseumRoadToFreedom'', ''Gladiator - Sword of Vengeance'' and ''Circus Maximus''
* [[TheEmpire Noxus]] in ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' has a gladiatorial circuit, of which egotistical GloryHound Draven is the all-time champion. The "Awaken" cinematic has [[DefectorFromDecadence Riven]] forced to fight in the arena, starting out unarmed and with a chain limiting her mobility, whereupon [[ActionGirl she takes out multiple armed gladiators fairly quickly]]; [[WorthyOpponent Draven, being Draven, immediately flings her preferred weapon so that it severs her chain and dives into the arena for a fight]].
* ''VideoGame/HollowKnight'' has the Colosseum of Fools, an optional area that offers three challenges of brutal enemy waves to fight. It features all of the hallmarks of gladiatorial bloodsport: A vicious crowd of onlookers that cheer the fighters on (and laugh when you die), a large creature sitting atop a throne (now dead for that signature Hollow Knight dark fantasy vibe), and a nice variety of warriors and monsters to fight to the death. Many of these foes appear exclusively in the Colosseum, and these are either warriors styled after actual Roman gladiators, or souped-up versions of animalistic beasts you see elsewhere, explicitly outfitted and trained to kill on the arena. The situation of these warriors is unclear: Their flavor text on the Hunter's Journal speculates that they could be either slaves or willing challengers, but it does not confirm one or the other. You, as the player, partake willingly without no-one forcing you to do so. However, [[spoiler: Zote is indeed kept in a cage and forced to fight. They eventually let him leave, probably because of how [[JokeCharacter pitiful he is as a fighter]].]]
* ''VideoGame/DoomEternal'' has the Coliseum of Sentinel Prime. In ages past, it was used as a place of honorable combat, a proving ground for outsiders and prisoners to join the front lines of the Sentinels, and was how [[spoiler:the Doom Slayer originally found his way into the ranks, back when he was just Doomguy]]. But since being taken over by Hell, it has become a place of blood sport, with the Hell Priests encaging a powerful demon known only as the Gladiator into the arena in direct transgression of Sentinel law, using it as an executioner to enact judgement of their own decree.
* The newest (free) DLC for ''VideoGame/DarkestDungeon'' is the Butcher's Circus, a [[PlayerVersusPlayer PvP]] game mode where your party of heroes (separate from your Hamlet) battles other parties of heroes controlled by other players for the amusement of the Ringmaster and her troupe. This is portrayed as fairly horrific, as both parties are subject to Stress and can easily go insane in the arena, and the heroes' (often [[BloodyHorror horrifically mutilated]]) corpses imply that they [[CruelAndUnusualDeath die in horrific ways]] (for example, the Crusader is impaled through the head with his own sword, the Arbalest is screaming in agony, and the Houndmaster's dog is weeping over her partner's body).
* The Corneo Colosseum in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake'', which is owned by the crime lord Don Corneo and provides entertainment to the residents of Wall Market. The player has to fight in it as part of the story and can later fight in it for rewards. It features a variety of enemies: humans, monsters and even robots.
* ''VideoGame/GrimDawn'':
** Gladiator combat was a common practice in the old, corrupt, and decadent Arkovian Empire, and you can even visit a ruined colosseum. You can also find an ApocalypticLog of a spectator who witnessed an execution where a prisoner was forced to fight a mighty champion of the arena. Midway through the fight, the Arkovians were cursed by the powerful [[{{Necromancer}} necromancer Uroboruuk]] to become mindless undead, and the account by the spectator mentions the champion and the prisoner cutting each other repeatedly with neither being able to die.
** In the Four Hills area, Cronley's Gang have set up a pit arena where the gang's champions fight captives for their amusement. The pit usually has one or more {{Bonus Boss}}es based off powerful fan-made [=PvP=] builds.
* ''VideoGame/VambraceColdSoul:'' There is a secret fighting pit in the Entertainment District, where you can fight for money. Gaining access to it requires reading a letter in the district's final dungeon.
* VideoGame/KirbySuperStar: [[BossRush The Arena]] is set in a colosseum for the mid-bosses and regular enemies, while also acting as a rest area in-between bosses. It’s remake introduces The True Arena, which is set in a much more threatening looking colosseum, which only gets more threatening once you reach the Final Four.

* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': Xykon [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0541.html loves this]].
** So does [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0734.html the Empire of Blood]], after a KangarooCourt.
** [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0736.html A few strips later]], it goes on to discuss every single trope associated with Gladiator Games.
** Belkar dreams of watching people "fight to the death for his amusement". A few times, he thought he gained power over some group and immediately ordered them to do so (as soon as they provide him with some hookers). (Un)fortunately, he didn't actually have any power in any of those cases.
* ''Webcomic/{{Drowtales}}'' has [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=4338 The Black Dragon]], which hosts these and also serves as a convenient dumping point for certain political prisoners who need to "disappear" and make most of their income off of breeding dragons for the ruling Vel'Sharen clan, using those fighters who lose too often as meat for the hatchlings.
* ''Webcomic/LastRes0rt'': It's a ''futuristic reality show for criminals'' [-WITH AN ARENA!-], f'God's sake. At least the monsters in this one are justified in their relentless assault by being robots.

* ''Webcomic/TehGladiators'' is a [[ParodySatirePastiche pastiche]] of the Arena battles in [=WoW=].

* The [[http://www.impurebloodwebcomic.com/Pages/Chapter001/ib001.html opening setting]] of ''Webcomic/ImpureBlood''

* ''Webcomic/{{Oglaf}}'' [[http://oglaf.com/sport/ parodies the Gladiator Games]]. (very NSFW)
* in ''Webcomic/KarateBears'' a guy Gladiates to save a [[http://www.karatebears.com/2012/03/good-fight.html lady]].
* In ''Webcomic/YokokasQuest'', Mao asks if there's a dedicated place to train in the [[SpartanWay Darkness Clan]], in order to grow strong enough to [[PinocchioSyndrome break]] his [[CursedWithAwesome curse]], and Copycat tells him about an arena "[[https://yokokasquest.com/comic/chapter-8-page-45/ where you can fight to your heart's content]]". After a TimeSkip, the next chapter begins with him fighting a giant [[MixAndMatchCritter boar-goat]] in that arena.

* ''Podcast/PretendingToBePeople'' features The Scrap Pit, where contestants employed by (or captured by) [[SuperMobBoss Marvin Glass]] square off against suitably-strong opponents.

[[folder:Live-Action TV ]]

* ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}}'':
** The episode [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_and_Circuses_(Star_Trek) "Bread And Circuses"]], the crew discover a planet identical to Earth except that that it's ruled by UsefulNotes/TheRomanEmpire with TV cameras.
** The episode "Arena" is so named because of this trope. Very powerful aliens trap Kirk and a Gorn alien on a planet together so they can go at it to the death. No Romans, no literal arena, but the concept is identical. Kirk [[spoiler: gets the upper hand, and refuses to dispatch the defenseless Gorn.]]
** In "The Gamesters of Triskelion" Kirk and co. are captured by the titular [[BrainInAJar disembodied intellects]] and forced to battle for their gambling enjoyment. Three hundred quatloos on the human!
* Titus Pullo's averted execution from ''Series/{{Rome}}'' took this form. ('''THIRTEEN!''')
* An episode of ''Series/{{Angel}}'' featured a demon arena where all the captured demons had bets taken on them. Angel is captured as well, and spends the episode trying to free them... and then realizes that he's unleashed a whole gang of demons on Los Angeles.
** One of the novels had Buffy and Angel being forced to fight each other like this for a while.
* Sylvester Stallone appeared as a gladiator fighting a lion in a sketch on ''Series/TheMuppetShow''. As it happens, the lion doesn't want to fight and the two decide to sing and dance "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" instead.

* ''Series/SpartacusBloodAndSand'': For reasons that should be obvious.
* Gladiators appear in multiple ''Series/HorribleHistories'' sketches such as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfSTZUEH95Q when they run out of animals]].
* ''Series/TheSaint'' episode "The Man Who Liked Lions" has Simon Templar running afoul of a thuggish Roman revivalist.

* ''Series/BloodTies2007'' episode "Necrodrome" featured a necromancer using rites based on Egyptian mythology to re-animate dead athletes to perform in bouts.
* ''Series/BeingHumanUK'' episodes "Lia" and "The Pack" have cage matches with captured werewolves, run by vampires.
** A popular variation is to pit a werewolf against a human armed only with a knife. After all, what fun is it without giving him a sporting chance?
* The ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' episode "Dominion" had Clark Kent and Oliver Queen sent to the PhantomZone, where they find that General Zod has taken over and organizes these. Naturally, Clark and Oliver were forced to participate.
* In the ''Series/MaxHeadroom'' episode "Rakers", Edison Carter investigates the rise of the violent sport of raking, which involves skateboard riders with weapons fighting each other.
* In the ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' episode "Tsunkatse", Seven of Nine is forced to battle an alien played by The Rock, and loses only because she hesitates. The crowd loves seeing a Borg drone being beat, and she is then put into a death match.

* ''Series/AmericanGladiators'', of course. This was more evident during the [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness first half of the first season]], when the spectator stands were elevated around the arena and a hooded executioner served as referee. This was dropped quickly, but the concept of the Gladiators vs. contenders was always there. The show became a phenomenon, and spawned international versions, most notably the UK ''Series/{{Gladiators}}'' (and the international crossovers). However, it wasn't a BloodSport, though there were plenty of injuries; crash mats and foam pads helped to prevent real messiness, and weapons, when used, were things like pugil sticks (those giant Q-tips) and tennis-ball cannons.

* From Literature/AesopsFables, "Androcles and the Lion". After he took a thorn from the paw of a lion, Androcles was thrown into the games. Fortunately, the lion to which he was thrown was the same lion, and [[AndroclesLion remembered]].

* "In The Colosseum" from ''Music/BoneMachine'', by Music/TomWaits.

* In ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'', the primarch Angron's BackStory (leading to a GladiatorRevolt).
** Dark Eldar Wyches live and breathe Gladiator games. The main reason they go along on raids is to acquire captives to use as opponents/victims.
* ''TabletopGame/HcSvntDracones'' has Pulse-owned arena for gene-forged monsters in the "Clash Event" expansion. Moreover, Guide (DM) is encouraged to let players control the monsters for the fights in arena, if they desire so.
* The ''Star Wars'' role-playing game kept the tradition seen with Jabba in ''Return of the Jedi'', mostly in published scenarios: From West End Games's ''TabletopGame/StarWarsD6'' (happens in ''Secrets of the Sisar Run'') to Creator/WizardsOfTheCoast's ''TabletopGame/StarWarsD20'' alternative (''Reckonings'') to Wizards's Saga Edition (''Dawn of Defiance''). It's easy to use this trope in a role-playing game scenario, satisfying the players' need for AttackAttackAttack!
* ''TabletopGame/YuGiOh'' has the Gladiator Beasts, a set of monsters that are ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin, and has the gimmick of "tagging out" with each other after a battle. Bonus points for Konami [[ShownTheirWork showing their work]] by using the real gladiator types and weapons/battle tactics for most of the cards, as well as real-life Roman figures for the namesakes of the most powerful Beasts.

* In the ''TabletopGame/{{Mystara}}'' setting of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', gladiatorial combat is prominent in the empire of Thyatis, and is even core to the adventure modules ''Arena of Thyatis'' and ''Legions of Thyatis''.
* In ''TabletopGame/RocketAge'' many Martian principalities have arenas where prisoners fight each other and great beasts for the entertainment of the crowd. Some rulers have even imported [[TRexpy Thunder Lizards]] from Venus. One such arena in the state of Ustanik even features in the Trail of the Scorpion campaign.

* ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'' has the Game World, Solaris 7, where Mechwarriors, spectators, and bookies gather to fight in 'Mech combat, watch 'Mech combat, and make a killing taking bets on 'Mech combat. The battles are live combat with fully powered weapons, and deaths in the ring are not unusual (though rarely intentional). Most people watch and bet on the official games within Solaris City, but for people who just want to see ''anything'' fight, safety or protocols be damned, there's the brutal "Blood Pits" outside of the city. There, any warrior with enough of a 'Mech and adequate desparation can enter into no-holds-barred brawls for a shot at fame, prize money, and the posibility of being noticed by more respectable operations.

* ''VideoGame/SuikodenV'': There's an important sub-plot involving traditional gladiatorial games. They're more humane than most of the examples on this list, thanks to some new laws introduced by the RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething in the backstory, and by the end of the game they've been abolished entirely.

* In ''VideoGame/DungeonKeeper 2'' the combat pit is used to train fighters past level 4.

* The trailer for ''VideoGame/TheForceUnleashed 2'' shows Galen Marek entering an arena and taking on some type of titanic beast that just ''picked up a rancor with one hand and threw it'' to the cheers of a bloodthirsty crowd.
* The Creator/LucasArts TurnBasedStrategy game ''VideoGame/{{Gladius}}'' is based around building a team for a gladiator circuit, though you wind up SavingTheWorld instead of becoming grand champion. Stupid SealedEvilInACan...
* ''VideoGame/RomeTotalWar'' allows you to put on (very abstracted) gladiatorial games in order to keep a city's population happy.
* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', a very prestigious sport for the dwarves of Orzammar. Combat in the Provings is not to the death, however, except in extremely rare cases. Oghren apparently accidentally killed a noble who challenged him in a battle to first blood, due to being [[TheBerserker a berserker]], and thus was banned from bearing arms and armor in the city.
* The ''VideoGame/MechWarrior 4'' Mercenaries expansion allows you to participate in arena matches where everyone is piloting a HumongousMecha ranging from 30 tons (for the lightest weight classes) all the way up to 100 tons, in a free-for-all of 8 (or more) competitors. None of the games are to the death, although competitors must bring their own personal mechs to the match, and are not reimbursed for losing their mech in the fight, leading to the upper weight classes being fought out completely by professional gladiators (with some lip service paid to corporate sponsorship).
* The premise of ''VideoGame/MadWorld'' is a spectator sport called Deathwatch, complete with the hilarity caused by [[LargeHamAnnouncer having announcers.]]
* ''VideoGame/SaintsRowTheThird'' features Professor Genki's Super Ethical Reality Climax, which hilariously mixes this with the vibe of a Japanese game show.
* This is the fundamental premise of the ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament'' franchise: the NEG and Liandri Corporation run the Tournament as a way of keeping the masses in order. Contestants include convicted criminals, mercenaries trying to win fame and fortune, and aliens and robots trying to prove their dominance over humanity. The original title included at least one economist, with the character bio saying, "people will pay good money to see economists, lawyers and other scum fight in the arena". Not to mention that the big champions like Xan Kriegor and Malcolm have become genuine celebrities for their Tournament exploits.
* ''VideoGame/Fallout3'''s The Pitt has the Hole, an irradiated Thunderdome-style arena in which the player must fight several slave opponents to regain his/her freedom and equipment.
** ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' plays this trope straight by having an actual Roman style fighting arena situated in Caesar's Legion's main camp where male characters can fight for glory and Legion fame. Female characters, however, cannot participate under normal circumstances. There's also The Thorn, a literal underground arena in the sewers under Westside where wasteland creatures are pitted against each other and human challengers.
** ''VideoGame/Fallout4'''s Wasteland Workshop DLC allows the player to build their own arenas and pit their settlers and companions against animals, mutants, imprisoned Raiders, or even other settlers.
* ''VideoGame/PerfectDarkZero'' has VR deathmatch apparatuses, and you must fight Mai Hem in one that is rigged so that the player who dies in the game [[YourMindMakesItReal dies for real]].
* Aksys Games's ''Gladiator Begins'' rather obviously features such fights. You're actually a slave fighting to earn your freedom, and when you do eventually earn enough money to do so, you can leave it all behind for an ending. But over the course of the game, you also can get involved in, and resolve, three separate storylines that bring you to the attention of someone influential if you decide to stay in the arena.
* ''VideoGame/Legend1998'' have a stage in a colosseum where you must fight your way through an arena full of enemies, right before a massive cheering crowd.
* ''VideoGame/LightningReturnsFinalFantasyXIII'' has The Slaughterhouse, where you can fight strong monsters for recovery items early in the evening, and weaker monsters or hostile people for lesser rewards as the night wears on. Some quests also require you to take part in matches.
* ''VideoGame/{{Gladiatrix}}'' has a female gladiator as the PlayerCharacter. Also, her fights to the death are with non-human opponents.
* One particular Last-Team-Standing map in ''VideoGame/PiratesVikingsAndKnights'' takes place in a Roman colosseum, although there are no spectators. (Might have something to do with the soon-to-erupt volcano)
* Most games in the ''Franchise/RatchetAndClank'' franchise feature an arena level. Interestingly, as the games [[LighterAndSofter have progressed]], the tournaments have gone from being [[BloodSport entertainment]] hosted by the local MegaCorp to solely the purview of backwater criminals or ProudWarriorRace species.
* The ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' series often features Arenas on certain maps, where characters can fight for extra gold and experience. However, {{Permadeath}} is still in effect here, so there's a lot of risk involved. In the ''Akaneia'' games, Ogma's backstory involves being a former gladiator ([[HarmfulToMinors from a very young age, it's implied]]), and some of his conversations in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem'' imply it was so horrific he still suffers from some form of PTSD over it.
* ''VideoGame/ForHonor'' has added elements of this over the course of the second and third seasons with two new Knight faction heroes, the Centurion, and well, the Gladiator. The Centurion is a Hybrid ostensibly based on Roman soldiers and uses a gladius as his weapon, but also incorporates a lot of punches and kicks in his repertoire; two of his purchaseable executions are also ''very'' gladiator-themed (including the thumbs up/down and playing to an imaginary crowd of spectators). The Gladiator is an Assassin character who appears to be a combination of the ''retiarius'' and ''hoplomachus'' types of gladiator (''retiarius''-like armour and a trident, but with a small shield in place of the net). Many Duel arenas also take on the form gladiator matches, including ones where you are fighting for the amusement of Knight or Viking nobles.
* ''VideoGame/FarCry4'' features the Shanath Arena, a gladiator tournament hosted by Noore Najjar (one of [[EvilOverlord King Pagan Min]]'s military governors). Here, men (including both slaves and volunteers) must fight against other warriors and dangerous animals in gruesome battles to the death. [[PlayerCharacter Ajay Ghale]] is briefly kidnapped and forced to fight there to earn his life and freedom back, though afterwards he may return to continue killing people and beasts with his own free will.
* Data East's ''Hippodrome'' is a gladiatorial game where your barbarian must do battle against creatures such as giants, medusa and lizard men. This would be followed by ''Mutant Fighter'' (Deathbrade in Japan), where monsters and brave warriors are wrestling inside a colosseum. ''Mutant Fighter'' may be most memorable for having your fighter wrestle the Hydra (which gives you its equivalent of "draw and quarter" as a special move).

%%* ''Film/{{Flash Gordon|1980}}''.

* Played for laughs (naturally) in ''Film/MontyPythonsLifeOfBrian'': first by showing the bloody aftermath of the "Children's Matinee," then in the next round, the stronger prisoner chases the weaker one around the arena, until the former collapses from a heart attack.
%%* ''Film/MadMaxBeyondThunderdome''.
%%* ''Film/{{Tron}}''. The Games.
* In ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982'', Conan had this as part of his backstory until he escaped.
* The Dutch film ''Temmink: The Ultimate Fight'' features gladiator style fights which almost always end in death in a modern setting. The participants are convicted criminals who chose this alternative over jail time, and have to keep participating in these fights until they die.
* ''Film/{{Airplane}}'' doesn't actually show any arena combat, but it lampshades the {{fanservice}} aspects of the trope (buff loincloth-wearing men getting sweaty) with the famous line: "Joey, do you like movies about gladiators?"

* ''Film/MadMaxBeyondThunderdome''. Although played straight as a spectator sport in an AfterTheEnd society, it also serves a dual purpose -- two men who have a dispute fight to the death inside TheThunderdome, ensuring their quarrel doesn't go any further.
-->'''Dr. Dealgood:''' Listen all! This is the truth of it. Fighting leads to killing, and killing gets to warring. [[WorldWarThree And that was damn near the death of us all]]. Look at us now! Busted up, and everyone talking about hard rain! But we've learned, by the dust of them all... Bartertown's learned. Now, when men get to fighting, it happens here! And it finishes here! Two men enter; one man leaves. ''(crowd chants "Two men enter, one man leaves" until Dealgood motions for silence)'' Right now, I've got two men, two men with a gut full of fear. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls... dyin' time's here.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheMansionsOfTheGods'': Treated as modern ProfessionalWrestling, complete with complicated named moves that require both participants to work and figurines.
* ''Film/{{Rollerball}}''. The brutal titular game, a combination of martial arts, roller derby, motorcycle racing, and that's just for starters -- is explicitly designed to distract the attention of an oppressed future proletariat.
* ''Film/TheHungerGames'' and ''Film/TheHungerGamesCatchingFire'' both have the titular games as a means to intimidate the downtrodden population and entertain the ruling class.
* The paid gunfight between Tenneray and Cross in ''Film/AGunfight'' is an updated version of this: two professional killers in a contest that will result in the death of one them.
* ''Film/ThorRagnarok:'' Grandmaster hosts those on Sakaar, and Thor is forced to fight Hulk on the arena when he becomes a slave.
* In ''Film/PrincessOfMars'', Tal Hajus sentences Carter to the fighting pits.
* ''Film/NoEscape1994'': Marek forces Robbins to fight one of his men for sport. He's impresses how Robbins kills the guy seconds after the fight's started. He offers Robbins entry into his gang, but the latter refuses and escapes. The next time he's captured, Marek makes him fight Casey, a friend of his.
* ''Film/FutureWorld2018'': The Drug Lord makes the Prince fight one of her men to get the cure for his mother's disease. He manages to win, but then has to dig it out of the dead guy's stomach, as she had him swallow it beforehand.

** ''Literature/TrialOfChampions'': In the first act of the adventure, you are sold as a slave to Blood Island, the domain of Lord Carnuss, who will put you and 41 other slaves into a coliseum where you are forced to partake in numerous gladiatorial games and combat situations until only one of you remains alive.

* ''Literature/CretanChronicles'': Being set in ancient Greece, your hero can partake in these games in Minos' island.

%%* These appear very prominently in Ben Kane's ''Literature/TheForgottenLegion''.
%%* In Chris Roberson's ''Literature/SonsOfDorn'', Rhomec's BackStory.
%%* In Simon Spurrier's Literature/NightLords novel ''Lord of Night'', the BackStory of GentleGiant Cog.
%%* In ''[[Literature/ShadowsOfTheApt Salute the Dark]]'', Tisamon's fate.

* In Creator/JohnCWright's ''[[Literature/MothAndCobweb Green Knight's Squire]]'', in the backstory, discussions of staging these were derailed by Ygrainne's suggestion that the elf knights should fight in [[TheTourney tourneys]] instead. She pointed out that merely human knights did, and they should be able to.

* By Creator/RosemarySutcliff:
** ''Literature/TheEagleOfTheNinth'''s Esca is rescued from the arena and becomes TheLancer to his new master.
** ''Literature/TheMarkOfTheHorseLord'''s hero is an ex-gladiator who masquerades as a tribal king. He wins his freedom in the opening scene by killing his best friend.

[[folder:Anime and Manga ]]
* ''Manga/YuYuHakusho'': The Dark Tournament is a martial arts tournament organized by the trillionaires and masters of shady companies dedicated to accumulating wealth through the dark arts. The fights don't necessary have to end in death (although it is highly encouraged), participants can win with a 10 second knockout or ringout.
* ''Manga/MobileSuitCrossboneGundam'': Tobia Arronax. [[spoiler: Tobia gets captured and is forced to fight in a gladiator ring. He's on foot armed with a machinegun. His opponent is armed with a ''mobile suit''. And '''he wins'''. '''''By hijacking the mobile suit''''', ''which he then uses to escape his captors''.]]
* ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'': The Gundam Fight is a HumongousMecha fighting tournament held every four years, with the nation represented by the winning Gundam Fighter earning the right to rule the world until the next tournament. The system is meant to avoid war among the space colony nations, but no effort is made to avoid the collateral damage caused by the matches.
* In ''Manga/KenganAshura'' there are Kengan Matches, events in which businessmen decide to settle their differences and market share not through courts but through appointing fighters to win it all. These fights are very brutal and can end up with one fighter dead or seriously crippled - there is a referee present but his presence is just for show and if a fighter is smart enough to cheat in a way that the referee and the audience can’t blatantly notice it then all is fair.
** In the sequel ''Kengan Omega'', the organization of Purgatory comes into prominence, which is a similar fighting tournament except held with stricter rules and with entertainment as the goal.

* ''Manga/BattleAngelAlita'' has gladiatorial combat between giant cyborgs as one of the major entertainments in the Scrapyard.
* The titular ''Manga/DeadmanWonderland'' and their horribly violent Carnival Corpse games. Those that lose get one of their organs removed. While they are awake.
* Double Subverted (in a sense) during the "Legendary Heroes" arc of the original ''Anime/YuGiOh''. Jonouchi had to take part in the Duel Monsters equivalent of a gladiator game to win a card the entourage needed in the virtual reality world they were in, which they were just starting to figure out [[MostDangerousVideoGame could be truly lethal]] due to the Big 5's tampering. Fortunately for him, [[spoiler:his opponent turned out to be Mai, who had been hired by the Big 5 as a beta tester.]]
* ''Manga/Golgo13''. Two millionaires who've made a hobby of this decide to pay an assassin called Spartacus to kill Golgo 13 in the ruins of the Colosseum, while secretly watching their duel on hidden cameras. Suffice to say this makes them TooDumbToLive.
* ''Manga/{{Dokuro}}'' has the Rumble Fish, in the sanatorium.
* In ''LightNovel/RakuinNoMonshou'' gladiator games are extremely popular in Mephius. Most gladiators are sword-slaves and are often former criminals, such as the main character Orba. Matches are almost always to the death and the managers aren't above gimmicks such as having a chained woman in danger of being devoured by a dragon.
* How final exams are depicted in ''Manga/AssassinationClassroom'' to the viewer. Armed with [[WeaponsKitchenSink hammers, swords, magical staves, and ray guns]], the students are thrown into a coliseum where they must slay a hoarde of gigantic, surreal monsters within a short time limit. In reality, they're just sitting in a chair, taking an exam on a piece of paper.
* In ''Manga/DragonGoesHouseHunting'', the eponymous dragon gets captured by a group of humans and made to fight in the "monster death battle" arena. However, the fights are actually rigged, with the monsters and the showrunner working in cahoots to ensure the maximum profits for the owner, so the gladiators actually live in luxury.

* ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'':
** Gladiatorial combat is a recurring element in the backstory of ''ComicBook/TheTransformersMarvel'' comics; specifically, Megatron is generally a former gladiator (well, a miner who became a gladiator) who rebelled.
** In IDW's ''ComicBook/TheTransformersLastStandOfTheWreckers'', the Decepticon [[PersonOfMassDestruction Mech of Mass Destruction]] [[FauxAffablyEvil Overlord]] takes over [[TheAlcatraz Garrus-9]] and essentially turns it into an arena of this sort just for the hell of it. Overlord had a cameo appearance in "[[StartOfDarkness Megatron Origin]]" as a member of Megatron's gladiator group. Seems he wasn't in it to fight corruption with superior firepower like Megatron's original mission statement said - he was just in it for the fun.
* ''ComicBook/PlanetHulk''. And a bit in ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk'' too.
* In ''ComicBook/TheWarlord'', Travis Morgan captured and made into a gladiatorial slave. He eventually led a GladiatorRevolt that gained him the title of Warlord.

* The [[ComicBook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesMirage Ninja Turtles]] had to fight in the Triceraton version of this in the original Mirage comics. The story is adapted and expanded upon in the [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003 second cartoon]]. They don't lose.

* A central point of the series ''ComicBook/{{Murena}}'', not suprisingly since the action unfolds in AncientRome.
* In ''ComicBook/{{Cavewoman}}: Oasis'', Meriem is kidnapped and forced to participate in gladiatorial combat in an arena called the 'Bowl of Bones'.

* ''ComicBook/RedSonja: Berserker'': Sonja is sentenced to the arena by a KangarooCourt.

* ''ComicBook/SuskeEnWiske'': Lambik fights as a gladiator in the album ''Het Geheim van de Gladiatoren'' (''The Secret Of The Gladiators''), again on orders of Emperor UsefulNotes/{{Nero}}.
* In ''[[ComicBook/JonahHex Hex]]'', gladiator-style pit fights are a popular entertainment in the post-apocalyptic future. In one story arc, Hex's girlfriend Stiletta is kidnapped [[BrainwashedAndCrazy brainwashed into becoming an arena fighter]] caled the Blonde Spitfire.

* ''ComicBook/HuntersHellcats'': In ''Our Fighting Forces'' #120, the Nazis have reinstated gladiator games at the Coliseum as a means of executing captured Italian partisans.
* ''ComicBook/SimonDark'': Gaius Publius was a gladiator before he refused to kill a defeated opponent when ordered to by Caligula and was given to a sorcerer to experiment on as punishment. The last bit of his final fight in the arena is shown in a flashback.
* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: Ares forces his captives to fight in the Martian arena for him and his lieutenants to laugh at as they die. When Diana is forced to fight she manages to avoid killing anyone, while also beating every other competitor, for whic Ares tries to have her flogged.

* In ''ComicStrip/FlashGordon'', Flash is forced into such combats repeatedly.

* The Demon Empire of ''Fanfic/SonicXDarkChaos'', essentially the Roman Empire in space, uses these as part of it BreadAndCircuses policies. In a similar vein to the Romans, they use recaptured slaves and criminals as fighters. However, [[ShownTheirWork lethal games are quite rare]].

[[folder:Film]]

* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
** Jabba the Hutt's technique for dealing with intruders.
** Same for the Geonosians in '' Attack of the Clones''. These guys apparently liked their fights a bit more one sided than they already are, given that they chained their victims up. Which ironically saved them all.

* Any film set in AncientRome.
** Such as the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin aptly named]] ''Film/DemetriusAndTheGladiators''.
** ''Film/{{Spartacus}}'' is premised on the titular character, a gladiator, leading a revolt of his fellow arena fighters which threatens to overthrow the Roman Republic until put down by Crassus' legions.
** The premise of ''Film/{{Gladiator}}''. In reference to the above mention of fighting animals, a rhino fight was planned. It was shelved due to both the cost, and for its implausibility. You'd have to piss off a rhino to an insane degree if you want a real fight out of it.
** ''Film/{{Centurion}}'': The protagonist's father was a gladiator. This is in no way relevant to the story, but if you've made a film about ancient Romans without mentioning gladiators at all, you've just wasted everyone's time.
** ''Film/TheEagle2011'', based on ''Literature/TheEagleOfTheNinth'', has TheLancer try to commit suicide by gladiator because he refuses to fight for Romans' amusement. He's deeply annoyed to be rescued by the Roman hero.
** The Italian film, ''Film/TheInvincibleGladiators'', starring Richard Harrison as a gladiator.

* In ''WesternAnimation/PlaymobilTheMovie,'' this is what [[BigBad Emperor Maximus]] needs the world's best {{Pirate}}, [[LadyLand Amazon]], space BountyHunter, [[OneMillionBC caveman]], [[HornyVikings viking]] (actually [[BalefulPolymorph Charlie]]) and a [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse Knight Templar that gets thrown first to the beast and gets replaced by Rex later]] for.

** "Chicken Jack" involves an [[BeastlyBloodsports animal-fighting]] variant. Not long after [[BalefulPolymorph being magically turned]] [[{{Animorphism}} into a chicken]], Jack is abducted and forced by his new "owner" to fight various monstrous creatures. But even as a small bird, [[KillerRabbit he's still just as deadly]].