Before Spartacus aired on Starz, there was a similar historical action series on TV, and it’s currently seeing a resurgence on the streaming charts. Spartacus debuted in 2010 and starred Andy Whitfield (and, later, Liam McIntyre) as the titular slave-turned-gladiator. Created by Steven S. DeKnight, the series aired for three seasons (as well as a prequel), earned rave reviews from fans (with a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes) and received nominations at the Emmys and SAG Awards.
Five years earlier, HBO launched its own historical drama, Rome, starring Ray Stevenson, Kevin McKidd and Polly Walker. It was only on the air for two seasons due to its enormous budget but, similar to Spartacus, had positive reviews. It has an 86% among critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a 96% among audiences, and went on to win several Emmys. Years ago, there were reports that a film would be made to continue the story, but nothing ever materialized.
Rome Is Officially One Of The Biggest Shows Streaming Right Now
Despite the movie never getting made, audiences are still discovering Rome almost two decades later, thanks to streaming. The historical drama is No. 2 on the Apple Store’s Top 10 TV shows chart in the United States, as of October 14, 2026. HBO is flooding this chart right now, with The Sopranos leading them all in the top spot. Below Rome are The Wire (No. 3), Six Feet Under (No. 4), Veep (No. 5), True Detective (No. 6), True Blood (No. 7), Silicon Valley (No. 8) and Barry (No. 10). The only non-HBO series on the list is the iconic sitcom I Love Lucy, which is at No. 9.
Several of these shows are on sale right now on the Apple Store, which might explain why they’ve suddenly entered the Top 10 out of nowhere. The complete series of Rome, for example, is currently selling for $10, down from its original price of $35.
Rome’s Streaming Success Comes Amid A Historical Drama Resurgence
While the deals on Apple are likely why Rome shot up to No. 2 on the streaming charts, its current success comes as the historical drama genre is seeking a resurgence on cable and streaming platforms. In recent months, Netflix released shows like the Little House on the Prairie reboot and Florence Pugh’s East of Eden adaptation. HBO is about to bring back The Gilded Age for its fourth season on November 1. Then Netflix has a new Pride and Prejudice miniseries in December, and Prime Video will debut the new Viking historical drama Bloodaxe in January 2027.
Rome may have only had two seasons, but its impact continues to be felt to this day, with streaming platforms leading the charge.
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