Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- heroic
- earnest
- patriotic
- classic epic night
- history film marathon
What critics said
Critics recognized the film’s colorful authentic settings and committed historical melodrama but broadly found its dialogue stilted, its action limited, and its treatment shallow.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Leonidas and his small Spartan force knowingly hold the pass against the invading Persian army to give the Greek city states time to organize.
The film dramatizes fifth-century BC Greek and Persian warfare through heroic commanders, armies, armor, and classical landscapes.
The narrative presents Leonidas, Xerxes, and the opposing armies in heightened, theatrical terms characteristic of the classical epic.
The production was filmed in Greece and other locations, with the historical setting presented through colorful outdoor environments and period spectacle.
Films like The 300 Spartans, and why
Spartacus
shared ancient historical setting, sword-and-sandal spectacle, and heroic military drama
The Fall of the Roman Empire
shared classical-era warfare, epic scale, and tragic heroism
The Battle of Marathon
shared ancient Greek subject matter, military strategy, and historical adventure
The Last Days of Pompeii
shared sword-and-sandal tradition, stylized melodrama, and warrior-centered conflict
Movie Details
- Director
- Rudolph Maté
- Release Date
- 1962-08-01
- Runtime
- 114 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (159)
Cast
- Richard Egan
- Ralph Richardson
- Diane Baker
- Barry Coe
- David Farrar
- Anne Wakefield
- Donald Houston
- Anna Synodinou
- Robert Brown
- Laurence Naismith
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The 300 Spartans about?
- A classical Hollywood epic dramatizing King Leonidas and his three hundred Spartans’ defiant stand against the Persian invasion.
- What is The 300 Spartans like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The 300 Spartans as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The 300 Spartans violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The 300 Spartans as moderate.
- What did critics think of The 300 Spartans?
- Critics recognized the film’s colorful authentic settings and committed historical melodrama but broadly found its dialogue stilted, its action limited, and its treatment shallow.
- Which films are like The 300 Spartans?
- Films with a similar feel include Spartacus, The Fall of the Roman Empire, The Battle of Marathon, and The Last Days of Pompeii.
- How long is The 300 Spartans?
- The 300 Spartans runs 114 minutes.
- Where can I watch The 300 Spartans?
- In United States, The 300 Spartans streams on fuboTV.
