300is a 2007 fantasy war movie directed byZack Snyder, which is based on a graphic novel of the same name byFrank Miller. The graphic novel and the movie tell the true story ofKing Leonidas I(Gerard Butler), the King of Sparta who fought in the Greco-Persian Wars in the Fifth Century BCE, roughly 2,500 years ago. When Persian invaders came to conquer Greece, King Leonidas personally led a small contingent of just 300 fighters to meet them at the mountain pass of Thermopylae.
The mission was a death sentence, and every single one of the Spartans knew that they wouldn’t be returning home before they even left. But they made the decision to go because they knew that delaying the invaders would allow the rest of Greece to prepare for the coming storm. In the end, King Leonidas and all of his Spartans were killed by the Persians.300is a movie brimming with action and is highly stylized, though possessing many historical inaccuracies. Still,this exciting flick may leave many fans searching for similar films to scratch the itch for more. Luckily, if you’re one of those people, Hollywood has got you covered with a collection of movies similar to300.
10’Spartacus' (1960)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
Spartacusfollows the adventures of the titular gladiator, played byKirk Douglas. This movie was made byStanley Kubrick, who always produces masterful works that are full to the brim with perfection—that’s all the movie needs for audiences to know that it’s a good movie. This action-packedswords-and-sandals epicfollowsSpartacus, a former Thracian gladiator who led a massive slave uprising against the Roman Empire from 73-71 BCE, which became known as the Third Servile War.
For its time, this movie was a huge deal, as the large-scale battle sequences that are displayed unseen were unlike anything anyone had seen before on film, and even 60 years later, they are still remarkably well done and visually impressive. Historical accuracy might not be on point, butin terms of sheer spectacle and the retelling of a heroic and inspiring story from ancient history, this one is definitely a winner.
9’Clash of the Titans' (1981)
Directed by Desmond Davis
1981’sClash of the Titansis not to be confused with the 2010 travesty starringSam WorthingtonandLiam Neeson. The 1981 version might not be as visually stunning, but it is noticeably better in pretty much every other department. It follows an ancient myth about the Greek hero, Perseus (Harry Hamlin), who embarks on a quest to save his lover, Andromeda (Judi Bowker), but must battle his way past many iconic creatures from mythos, including Medusa and the Kraken.
Since CGI wasn’t as advanced as it is today, many of the monsters were made using stop-motion animation, but that’s okay, because it shows how much care and effort went into the making of the movie.Those wholove Greek mythology, and love300in turn will be sure to love the 1981 version ofClash of the Titansfor how underrated, yet powerful and captivating it is with its story of heroism and sacrifice.
Clash of the Titans
8’Gladiator' (2000)
Directed by Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott’sGladiatoris fresh in everyone’s minds again with the recently-released sequel coming out just a few short months ago. The movie starsRussell Croweas the fictional character of Maximus Decimus Meridius, a former military leader who is forced into slavery and serving in gladiatorial combat after he tries to seek revenge on the current Roman Emperor, who caused the deaths of Maximus' family, and the Emperor before him.
Gladiatorwon five Oscars, including Best Picture, and though it was criticized for its lackluster character development, and less-than-impressive dialogue, pretty much everything else was absolutely stunning, from the drama to the action. It’s a movie that totally deserved a sequel, one that has become a standout film in Ridley Scott’s impressive repertoire. Of course,with its setting and genre, it also happens to be a perfect match for300fans.
7’Ben-Hur' (1959)
Directed by William Wyler
Ben-Huris actuallya religious movie, but one wouldn’t know it for how popular and well-received it was by pretty much everyone, regardless of faith or lack thereof. Best known for its pulse-pounding chariot chase sequences,Ben-Hurtells the story of a Jewish noble who is wrongfully convicted of a crime and enslaved, being forced into the gladiator arena. His story happens to intertwine with the stories in the New Testament of the Bible, which is where the religious aspect comes from.
Out of its 12 Oscar nominations,Ben-Hurmanaged to secure a whopping 11 of them, making it one of the biggest Oscar winners in history.For its outstanding action sequences and production value that was way ahead of its time,certain aspects tend to feel a lot like300, especially its swords-and-sandals theme and spectacle.
6’Troy' (2004)
Directed by Wolfgang Petersen
Troytells the story of the legendary Trojan War, during which the Greeks laid siege to the city. Most people know the legend by now: none of the Greek strategies are working, so they devise a plan to pretend to leave a gift for the gods behind in the form of a giant wooden horse. The Trojans confiscate this gift, thinking it to be innocuous, only to discover that they have sealed their fate, as several Greek soldiers concealed within it emerge at night and open the city gates for the rest of the army.
It’s not exactly clear whether or not this story is true, butTroybrings the timeless and extraordinary story to life with a star-studded cast, great action, and some seriously impressive set design. Critics may have felt the movie was pretty average, but most viewers felt it was very good, and continue to talk about the film 20 years after its release.If you’re into seeing the Greek armies in battle,Troyis a movie that will show the tactics of ancient warfareand the fighting prowess of the ancient Greeks as they seek to overtake the eponymous city.
5’The 300 Spartans' (1962)
Directed by Rudolph Maté
The 300 Spartansis a bit of an older film, but it’s one that tells pretty muchthe same story as300. It follows the King, Leonidas (Richard Egan), who takes a small contingent of warriors to meet the Persian invaders at Thermopylae, in a mission that will certaimly spell doom for the Spartans, but that will delay the Persian advance enough to buy the rest of Greece valuable time to prepare for war.
300is a fine movie, but let’s face it, it’s not very educational. There were many historical inaccuracies in the film, which many felt was one of its weaker aspects.The 300 Spartansmight not have anywhere near the same amount of flair, but it’s a bit more realistic and much more informative than the film that came out 45 years later.For a more detailed, less fantastical version of the same events, look no further thanThe 300 Spartans.
The 300 Spartans
Rent on Apple TV
4’Ulysses' (1954)
Directed by Mario Bava and Mario Camerini
Ulyssesonce again stars Kirk Douglas, this time not as Spartacus, but as the Greek hero King Ulysses, who appeared inHomer’s epic poemThe Odyssey. Ulysses has spent ten years overseas fighting wars on behalf of his kingdom of Ithaca, but has finally come home only to be met with more conflict. His wife has been captured by suitors and many ambitious young upstarts are all gunning for the throne in his absence, and Ulysses is the only one who can stop it.
Kirk Douglas, as always, does a spectacular job as the main character, but unfortunately, the movie remains critically underrated in spite of good (albeit not great) reviews.For anyone looking for a new angle on Greek mythos or for an adaptation of a classic literary work,Ulyssesreally hits the spot, as it likely will with any who loved300.
3’Jason and the Argonauts' (1963)
Directed by Don Chaffey
Jason and the Argonautsfollows the Greek hero known as Jason (Todd Armstrong), who travels across the sea in search of the magical Golden Fleece, leading a ragtag band of seafarers with him on this perilous quest. It has become a movie synonymous with its action, particularly with its exhilarating clifftop battle with a bunch of skeletons, all of whom fall toJason’s mighty swordsmanship in the film.
Naturally, for all of its aspects of Greek mythology and its far-reaching adventure and scope,300fans are sure to loveJason and the Argonauts, which hasn’t aged a bit in spite of its 60-plus years. This movie is definitely more on the fantastical side, but it’s still a brilliant journey through time to one of the most beloved settings in any form of media that became the basis for many fantasy stories.
Jason And The Argonauts
2’The Return' (2024)
Directed by Uberto Pasolini
The Returnis super recent, coming out in December in 2024. Veteran actorRalph Fiennesplays Odysseus in a film that tells much the same story asUlysses, only in a more modern way.The film picks up at the end of the poem, after a span of 20 years spent travelling the world. Instead of finding himself welcome by celebrations back in his home of Ithaca, Odysseus returns from his journey to find his family has been torn apart by political instability.
Despite how exhausted he is and how he has aged, Odysseus makes it his personal mission to right everything that has gone wrong, which is totally understandable–coming home just to find more chaos when you’ve been on a dangerous quest for the last 20 years has got to be disheartening. Somebody give this guy a break! In any case,critics and audiences were pretty unanimous in their acclaim for this one, which is one that300fans should definitely check outwhile it’s still in theatres due to the shared setting.
The Return
1’Sin City' (2005)
Directed by Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez
Sin Cityactually has nothing to do with300. It’s set in the modern day, in Las Vegas, and is a neo-noir action crime flick rather than a historical epic. It’s also an anthology film, telling several stories all at once. So what exactly makes it a good fit for fans of300? Well, the main reason is that bothSin Cityand300are based on graphic novels by Frank Miller, and that Miller himself served as one of the directors forSin City.
Another thing is thatSin City, like300, is highly stylized, and uses a lot of bold techniques and choices when it comes to the more technical aspects of the film.If you’re more of a fan of the way300is made and the actual auteurship behind it rather than what it’s about,Sin Cityis absolutely a film you will enjoy, and it may even help broaden your horizons a little bit.
