Driven by a TikTok trend in September, the Roman Empire became a popular topic online, especially fueled by a trend that emerged on TikTok in early September. The trend consists of women asking their boyfriends and husbands how frequently they think about the Roman Empire and being surprised by the answer.
The TikTok trend primarily suggests a male inclination towards the Roman Empire. Looking at the audience demographic breakdown of popular shows in the genre, we can see that their audiences are mostly made up of men, but not overwhelmingly. Beside Starz’s “Spartacus: Gods of the Arena” and UK’s “Britannia,” shows that men made up almost two-thirds of the audience, the other shows on our list below have a balanced gender breakdown. In the case of Netflix’s docudrama “Roman Empire,” the audience is even slightly female-skewed.
Analyzing the generational demographics, it’s evident that the majority of these shows attract an older audience. While “Rome,” “Domina,” and “Britannia” appeal more to Generation Z+, “Spartacus: Gods of the Arena” and “Roman Empire” are more popular among millennials.
This array of demographic insights delineates a broad spectrum of interest in the Roman Empire, substantiating that not only men are thinking about (and consuming content related to) the Roman Empire.
So what are they watching? The modern perception of the Roman Empire have been highly based on Hollywood portrayals. Films such as 1959’s “Ben-Hur” and Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator” have become timeless pieces and laid basis for the visual and conceptual images of Ancient Rome for today’s audiences.
The proof is in the demand. “Gladiator,” for example has experienced an exceptional demand level in the U.S. It has reached more than 10.9 times the demand for an average show in August 2023, a distinction achieved by less than 2.7% of movies — according to Parrot Analytics‘ data, which takes into account consumer research, streaming, downloads and social media, among other consumer engagement.
In television, “Spartacus” stands out as the most recognized show set in Ancient Rome. Drawing inspiration from historical occurrences of a major slave uprising against Rome, “Spartacus” captivated audiences with its unfiltered depiction of the era, emphasizing the prevailing violence and hedonism. Although its miniseries prequel, “Spartacus: Gods of the Arena,” didn’t attain the same success, it nonetheless maintained substantial demand as well.
The show “Domina,” a relatively recent Italian and British production, has also witnessed outstanding demand. It unfolds Rome’s intricate power dynamics through the lens of one of its empresses. Not far behind on the demand ranking, HBO/BBC’s “Rome” has received acclaim for its meticulous portrayal of the lifestyle and landscape of Ancient Rome.
Several recent productions diverge by narrating not from the Roman viewpoint, but from those who opposed them. The British production “Britannia” explores the resistance of the British Isles’ inhabitants against Roman invasions, while Netflix’s German title “Barbarians” depicts the conflict between Germanic tribes and the Romans.
Daniel Quinaud is a senior data analyst at Parrot Analytics, a WrapPRO partner. For more from Parrot Analytics, visit their website. For more from WrapPRO’s partners, visit the Data and Analysis Hub.
