You Can’t Stream the 2004 ‘Spartacus’ Miniseries Anywhere

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With the premiere of the new Starz series, Spartacus: House of Ashur, on December 5th, fans are getting excited for more Spartacus. However, that’s still a bit of a wait, and many have already re-watched the original four seasons multiple times. Luckily, there’s another series available to keep fans occupied until then, though it might take some searching to find.

The 2004 USA Network miniseries Spartacus is a largely overlooked but worthwhile watch. Inspired by Howard Fast’s 1951 novel of the same name, it shares a similar visual style with both Stanley Kubrick’s film and the later Spartacus series on Starz. This version of Spartacus tells the story of the gladiator’s life and his fight to start a slave rebellion. While it was well-received by viewers at the time, it’s now hard to find – it’s not on any streaming services and can only be watched by purchasing physical copies.

‘Spartacus’ (2004) Follows the Book Closely


USA Network

As a movie buff, I recently checked out the Spartacus miniseries, and it’s really like one long, epic film split into two parts – each episode is around an hour and a half. Goran Višnjić, who I remember from ER, is fantastic as Spartacus. The series also gives a lot of focus to his relationship with Varinia, played by Rhona Mitra – you might recognize her from Boston Legal. And Angus Macfadyen, who’s been in Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1, is chillingly good as Marcus Crassus, the Roman general tasked with crushing Spartacus’ rebellion.

This two-part series is based on Howard Fast’s novel, Spartacus, which tells the story of a slave revolt led by the historical figure of the same name. While inspired by real events, Fast’s novel takes some creative freedoms compared to other depictions of Spartacus. Before this series, the story was famously adapted into a 1960 film directed by Stanley Kubrick, only nine years after the book was published. Interestingly, Fast was originally supposed to write the screenplay for the Kubrick film, but couldn’t deliver it quickly enough, leading to changes from the novel. This 2004 series, like the Kubrick film, features the same characters and setting, but aims to be a more accurate adaptation of Fast’s original book.

Even though you can’t currently watch Spartacus on streaming services, it still has a large online following. Viewers have given it an average score of 68% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on over 5,000 reviews. IMDb shows a similar number of reviews, with an average rating of 6.6 out of 10.

It’s Not Related To Other ‘Spartacus’ Shows


Starz

It’s easy to get the two Spartacus series mixed up – the 2004 miniseries and the popular show on Starz. They both feature characters based on real historical figures, but that’s where the similarities end. It’s not even clear if the earlier miniseries had any impact on the Starz version, as they are quite different. The Starz show goes far beyond Howard Fast’s original novel, expanding the story to allow for many seasons and adding more detail. Also, the USA Network miniseries has significantly less sex and violence compared to the Starz series.

Even though the 2004 Spartacus series isn’t directly connected to the later Spartacus: Blood and Sand and its sequels, that’s actually a good thing. It’s a great way to enjoy more of Spartacus’s story while you wait for House of Ashur. Plus, at only three hours long, it’s a quick and easy watch without needing to revisit the entire Starz series.

Where To Watch ‘Spartacus’ (2004)


USA Network

Watching the miniseries Spartacus can be surprisingly difficult, not because of the show itself, but because it’s not available on any streaming services. However, you can find DVDs for sale on Amazon by searching for “Spartacus 2004” from various sellers. New copies typically cost between $23 and $33, while used copies are more affordable. If you’re interested, it’s best to buy soon, as supplies are limited.

I’m a huge fan of Spartacus and I know it can be tough to find! You don’t have to spend a fortune on Amazon, though. I’ve seen used copies on eBay for around ten bucks. It’s also worth checking your local library or a used bookstore – you might get lucky with a free rental or a really cheap set. If enough of us show interest – by buying DVDs or searching for it online, especially with Ashur coming up – maybe a streaming service will pick it up. But if it’s a rights issue, it looks like owning a physical copy is probably the way to go.

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2025-11-08 02:09