You Can't Stream the 2004 'Spartacus' Miniseries Anywhere Actorsvaultpro

It’s the season for all things Spartacus with the new Starz series, Spartacus: House of Ashur, starting on December 5. That’s a long wait for eager fans, as they can only watch the other four seasons of Starz’s Spartacus so many times. Thankfully, there’s one more series that can keep fans entertained while they wait, though accessing it may require some effort.

USA Network’s 2004 miniseries Spartacus is a forgotten gem. The show is inspired by the 1951 novel Spartacus by Howard Fast and shares many of the same aesthetics as Stanley Kubrick’s film and the Starz franchise. USA Network’s Spartacus focuses on the titular character’s time among the gladiators and his role in sparking a slave revolution. The miniseries received mostly positive audience reviews, but it is now difficult to access. The series is not available on streaming services and must be watched on physical media.

‘Spartacus’ (2004) Follows the Book Closely

USA Network

Spartacus is a two-episode miniseries, with episodes lasting about 1 hour and 30 minutes each. Combined, the two episodes essentially form a feature-length movie. The series stars ER actor Goran Višnjić as Spartacus. He’s joined by Boston Legal actor Rhona Mitra, who plays his wife, Varinia, and the series explores their relationship in depth. Angus Macfadyen (Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1) is the other stand-out cast member, playing Marcus Crassus, the general who puts an end to Spartacus’ revolt.

The two-part series is directly based on the Howard Fast novel of the same name. The book highlighted Spartacus’ role in leading a slave revolt. Although the book is based on history, Fast took liberties while writing the novel, which distinguishes it from other media about Spartacus. Before the novel was adapted into the 2004 series, Spartacus was adapted into a 1960 Stanley Kubrick film, just nine years after the novel’s release. The multi-Oscar-winning Kubrick film was originally supposed to be written by Fast, but he couldn’t write fast enough, which led the film to deviate from the book. The 2004 Spartacus retains the same setting and characters as the Kubrick film, presenting them in a manner more faithful to the novel.

Although viewers cannot stream Spartacus, thousands have shared opinions about the two-part series online. On Rotten Tomatoes, Spartacus has an average audience rating of 68% with more than 5,000 reviews. IMDb has roughly the same number of reviews, averaging 6.6/10.

Spartacus holds a sword in Spartacus with cuts and blood on his body

Don’t confuse the 2004 Spartacus miniseries with the popular Starz show. The only connection between the two is the characters, who are based on historical figures. It is unclear whether the 2004 Spartacus miniseries influenced Starz’s own Spartacus series, as the two differ significantly. Starz’s show isn’t just an adaptation of Howard Fast’s novel; it presents a much longer story that embellishes the history and allows for multiple seasons. USA Network’s Spartacus doesn’t have nearly as much sex or blood as the Starz show, either.

The 2004 Spartacus series not connecting to Spartacus: Blood and Sand and its following seasons might sound like a bad thing to fans of the Starz series, but it’s not. The 2004 Spartacus series can act as a palette cleanser while waiting for House of Ashur to arrive. It’s a chance to see more of the character Spartacus without having to rewatch the Starz series all over again. The show only lasts three hours, so it doesn’t take long to finish.

Where To Watch ‘Spartacus’ (2004)

Romans ready to go to war in the 2004 Spartacus miniseries

Spartacus isn’t the easiest miniseries to watch, and that’s not because of its content. It simply isn’t available to stream anywhere. Luckily, there’s hope for interested audiences. A search for “Spartacus 2004″ on Amazon reveals various DVDs sold by third-party vendors. Most of these DVDs cost $23 to $33 new, with cheaper used options. If you want a chance to watch the series, you’d better hurry, as most of these listings have limited quantities in stock.

There are ways to watch Spartacus without spending that much money on Amazon. eBay has a few used listings of the series that cost around $10. It’s also worth checking your local library or secondhand store to see if there’s a free rental or a cheaper, used version of the miniseries. If the series gains enough attention — through DVD sales or spikes in online searches prior to Ashur‘s release — a streaming service may take notice and consider adding it to its platform. However, if rights issues are the reason for the show’s limited availability, then physical copies may be your best bet.