The phrase "gladiatorial games" refers to ancient Roman events where gladiators, or fighters, battled in an arena for entertainment and spectacle. Full definition
There are challenges, from a journey through a maze to a hedonistic forest leader with an army of topless women who holds gladiatorial games in which participants must face a hydra manipulated by his hand. (markreviewsmovies.com)
Free from all pretense of constraint by historical fact, the writing team of David Franzoni, John Logan, and William Nicholson crafted a simple but stirring action - adventure yarn cloaked in the pomp of the Roman Empire and the grizzly spectacle of gladiatorial games. (dvdtalk.com)
I know that analogy may be a bit of a stretch, but the goal of the two is to manipulate the citizens with fear and desperation, yet mask it all with gladiatorial games like Roman Caesars. (fatmovieguy.com)