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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

300 (film)

300 is a 2006 epic historical fantasy action film directed by Zack Snyder and based on Frank Miller and Lynn Varley’s graphic novel.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

300 is a 2006 epic historical fantasy action film directed by Zack Snyder. It presents a stylized retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae, based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley.

What it is

The film follows King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) as he leads 300 Spartans against the Persian army of Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) at Thermopylae. The story is framed by the narration of Dilios (David Wenham) and includes Queen Gorgo’s (Lena Headey) political struggle in Sparta.

How it connects to history

While inspired by the actual Battle of Thermopylae, 300 is not a strict historical account. Both the film and its source material take a highly stylized, fictionalized approach, emphasizing dramatic fantasy elements over factual accuracy.

The sequel and legacy

A sequel, 300: Rise of an Empire, was released in 2014, covering related events in the Greco-Persian Wars. The film is notable for its distinctive visual style and remains a widely discussed pop-culture reference in Canada and abroad.

In short

  • Directed by Zack Snyder.
  • Based on the 1998 comic by Frank Miller.
  • Fictionalized retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae.
  • Followed by sequel 300: Rise of an Empire in 2014.
Canadian angle

300 has been widely distributed and discussed in Canadian film and pop-culture coverage as part of the broader international release of major Hollywood films.

Quick questions

Who directed 300?
300 was directed by Zack Snyder.
Is 300 based on a true story?
It is based on the Battle of Thermopylae, but the film is a fictionalized and highly stylized retelling rather than a strict true-story account.
How many 300 movies are there?
There are two films in the series: 300 (2006) and 300: Rise of an Empire (2014).

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/300_(film)
    Supports: Director, basis on Frank Miller and Lynn Varley’s graphic novel, fictionalized Battle of Thermopylae plot, main cast, runtime, release year.
  2. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/300-film-by-Snyder
    Supports: Film identification, stylistic historical epic description, starring Gerard Butler as Leonidas.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/300
    Supports: Plot synopsis and cast identification.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/300:_Rise_of_an_Empire
    Supports: Existence of sequel film and its 2014 release.