Synopsis

In 480 B.C., Spartan King Leonidas leads 300 warriors to Thermopylae, where they confront the enormous Persian army commanded by Xerxes. Using the narrow mountain pass to offset their numerical disadvantage, the Spartans make a defiant stand while Queen Gorgo works to secure political support in Sparta. The film presents the legendary battle as a stylized historical fantasy.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film adapts Frank Miller and Lynn Varley's 1998 Dark Horse graphic novel, which itself takes major artistic liberties with the Battle of Thermopylae.
• Production relied heavily on blue-screen stages and digital environments rather than large practical locations. Most of the movie was filmed at Ice Storm Studios in Montreal.
• The 60-day shoot was completed in chronological order, an unusual approach for a large-scale action production.
• The visual design deliberately imitates the graphic novel's compositions, colors, exaggerated physiques, and heightened violence.
• The historical Leonidas did not become king by killing a wolf. That origin story was created for the comic and film.
• The real Greek force at Thermopylae included troops from several city-states. The film focuses almost entirely on the 300 Spartans for dramatic and mythic effect.
• Brad Pitt was reportedly considered for Leonidas before other film commitments prevented him from taking the role.
• The film's stylized treatment of Persian forces and its emphasis on Spartan heroism prompted discussion about its historical accuracy and political imagery.
• The opening Warner Bros., Legendary Pictures, and Virtual Studios logos were redesigned to resemble stone monuments against a dark, stormy background.
• The movie became a major commercial success and was followed by the 2014 companion sequel, 300: Rise of an Empire.