Nero (2004): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2004, Nero is a drama and war film directed by Paul Marcus, running about 181 minutes.

What it’s about. As a young boy, future emperor Nero witnesses the mad Emperor Caligula kill his father and exile his mother. While in exile in the pontine islands, Agrippina, his mother, sees a vision telling her that her son can become emperor, but she will have to die first. She accepts the proposal. Back in Rome, Nero, now being raised by emperor Claudius after Caligula's death, Agrippina returns. She poisons Claudius' food and Nero becomes emperor. At first, Nero cuts taxes and introduces successful programs and invades Brittania. Soon he meets a beautiful slave named Claudia Acte, and marries her, throwing off his engagement with Claudius' daughter, Claudia Octavia, telling her she can marry someone she will be happy with. Heartbroken, she arrives at an island and kills herself. Nero enjoys being married to Claudia Acte, but soon he gradually goes mad with power and sets fire to Rome.

Who’s in it. Nero stars Hans Matheson as Nero, Rike Schmid as Acte, Laura Morante as Aggrippina and Matthias Habich as Seneca, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.0/10, Nero has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video with Ads and rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Nero page.

If you liked it. Fans of Nero tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.