This epic 2007 historical action movie was co-written and directed by Zack Snyder, who has truly come into his own as far as action films go. The movie was based on the comic series by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley, of the same name, which was released in 1998.
300, is a fictionalized retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae, in the Persian Wars. It was filmed with a technique that made it feel like a comic book come to life. It centers around King Leonidas, who leads a mere 300 Spartans to battle against the 300,000 strong of the Persian King Xerxes.
Critics gave the film less than favorable reviews; many called it one-dimensional and a mere fest of violence. However, audience members felt differently. At the box office, it performed exceptionally well, making $456.1 million on a budget of $60 million.
Our top picks for similar movies would have to be: Troy (2004), Clash of the Titans (2010), Gladiator (2000), and Braveheart (1995). For more on these and other great films, be sure to read on.
1. Troy
Troy is an epic 2004 historical war film which was directed by Wolfgang Petersen and was written by David Benioff and was loosely based on Homer’s Iliad. It follows the story of the assault on Troy, by the Greek armies which have united themselves.
The film was produced on a budget of $175 million which is understandable, especially considering the scale of the action sequences of the film, as well as all the moving parts. At the box office, it made a great return of $497.4 million. The film stars the likes of Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, and Orlando Bloom.
If you enjoyed the incredible action sequences and amazing battle scenes of 300 then you will definitely love what Troy has to offer. Also, just like in 300 there are underlying tensions between the relationships of certain characters as well as political and personal motives.
2. Clash of the Titans
Clash of the Titans is an action fantasy film of 2010, directed by Louis Leterrier, and was a remake of the 1981 movie of the same name. The film follows a demigod, named Perseus, who is the son of Zeus, who has to battle against the hoards of the underworld, to save both heaven and Earth. Starring in the film is Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, and Ralph Fiennes.
The film received mostly negative reviews from critics but did garner praise for its action sequences and visual effects. Audience members loved it though and it performed immensely well at the box office; turning a $125 million budget into a return of $493.2 million.
If you are a fan of mythology and enjoyed the incredible battle sequences of 300 then this one will not disappoint as the threats to our hero are just as, if not more great.
3. Braveheart
This 1995 epic historical war film is a fictional tale, directed and co-produced by Mel Gibson, who also stars in the leading role of Sir William Wallace, who was an actual 13th-century Scottish warrior.
The movie was made on a budget of $65 million, which was a rather great amount, even by today’s standards, and thankfully it managed to make a box office return of $213.2 million. Both critics and viewers found the film to be absolutely fantastic and although older, is still definitely worth a watch.
The film was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and managed to win 5 of them. So if you are looking for a high-quality production with great acting, story, and battles, then you have found one that will not disappoint you. As with 300, we follow a man who will stop at nothing to see his enemies defeated.
4. Gladiator
Directed by Ridley Scott, this 2000 epic historical film, which follows the story of a former Roman General, is about vengeance against a corrupt emperor, who had the man’s family murdered and had him forced into slavery.
The budget of the film was rather sizeable, at $103 million, but thankfully it was a box office hit, which earned $460.5 million. Critics decided to give the film good reviews, but audience members were the ones who hailed it.
Just as we watch Gerard Butler, as Leonidas, in 300 lead a small group of men into battle, in Gladiator, we see Russell Crowe playing Maximus Decimus Meridius who manages to lead gladiators in the coliseum, as they hope to stay alive.
5. Meet the Spartans
2008’s Meet the Spartans is a parody film, which was written and directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. The film mainly parodies the film 300, which was released the year before in 2007. However, there are also references to other movies, shows, and people of pop culture.
The film received abysmal reviews from the critics, however, audience members, particularly the ones who had seen 300, found it to be a comical jab at the original film and quite enjoyed the comical factors. The film was made on a budget of $30 million and gained back a fair $84 million.
If you enjoyed the original film, and are a fan of action, but also like the addition of comedy along with it, then you will certainly have fun watching this film.
6. The Last Samurai
This 2003 epic period action drama was directed as well as co-produced by Edward Zwick, who was also one of the writers who worked on the screenplay. The film stars Tom Cruise who plays an American military advisor who ultimately adopts the culture of the Samurai after he is captured in battle.
The film managed to gross $456 million at the box office after having spent $140 million. The film was very well received by critics and audience members and was praised for various aspects thereof. Additionally, it was nominated for 4 Academy Awards and 3 Golden Globe Awards.
The story of one person, with great conviction about something, is always something that we as the audience find intriguing and the shift in characteristics of a character is always interesting and just as they had to stand for what they held dear in 300 so it is with The Last Samurai.
7. Van Helsing
In 300 the Spartans must battle against the army of the God-King, but in Van Helsing, released in 2004 and directed by Stephen Sommers, the man must battle against Count Dracula, a werewolf, and other mystical creatures.
Critics did not show the film and its creators favor, and from their side, there were mainly negative reviews, however, that did not faze the public who found the film to be absolutely thrilling. Resultantly the film was a box office success and turned its budget of $160 million into $300.2 million.
This action gothic horror certainly packs plenty of action and if you enjoyed the odds being stacked against our heroes in 300 you will surely be sitting on the edge of your seat for the duration of this movie.
8. 47 Ronin
47 Ronin is a 2013 fantasy action film, which was directed by Carl Rinsch and this was his directorial debut, and what a way to start. The film is a fictionalized version of a real-life group of samurai from the 18th-century. The film follows the band as they seek to avenge the death of their master.
The view of the critics was that the characters were one-dimensional and on top of that, Japanese audiences were not impressed with the final product. However, despite this, Western audiences responded well to the film. Unfortunately, this was not enough and the film bombed at the box office only making back $151.8 million of its $175 million budget.
Revenge and redemption are key themes within this film, so although 300 does not share these, there are similarities in the character’s convictions and their desire to fight for what they hold sacred.
9. King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
This 2017 epic fantasy action-adventure movie was directed by Guy Ritchie and is a highly underrated film, probably due to its rehashing of a story that has been done many times in the past and also due to its simple plot. We follow a young man who was robbed of his birthright and grew up in the back alleys of the city. However, once he pulls the sword from the stone, he must take on what he is destined for.
Charlie Hunnam and Jude Law play in this film which had critics torn between whether it was a poor remaking of a legendary tale or an exquisite use of modern storytelling tools. Either way, the audience members gave it a thumbs up, but this did not reflect at the box office where its $175 million budget only saw them gain a return of $148.7 million.
If you like the idea of one being destined for greatness and the fact that as in 300, a small number of strong-willed and determined people can make a huge difference against the forces of evil, you will be glad to know that you will find that here too.
10. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
The Lord of the Rings is an epic 3 film series which starts with The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) then was followed by The Two Towers (2002), and finally ended with The Return of the King (2003). All 3 of these films were directed by the incredible Peter Jackson. The first follows a Hobbit from the Shire as well as 8 companions you set out on an adventure to destroy the One Ring, in order to save Middle-earth from Sauron, the Dark Lord.
The movies which were based on the books by J. R. R. Tolkien received spectacular responses from critics and audience members and all the films won Academy Awards. They all did well financially, with the first kicking them off by making $897.6 million on a budget of $93 million.
If you enjoyed the battle sequences and the incredible action of 300 then you need to watch this franchise as it has gone down in history as being the series with arguably the best battle sequences ever.
11. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) is an epic fantasy adventure that, like The Lord of the Rings, was directed by Peter Jackson. This film is the first of three which act as prequels to The Lord of the Rings. The story follows a Hobbit, who is coerced into going along with a group of dwarves to reclaim their home at Lonely Mountain.
The films had bigger and better CGI involved and unfortunately, this did not play in their favor as many felt that the films were clunky and even “stumbled” their way through. Irrespective of this though, audience members flocked to see the first and later the other two films. The first installment managed to make an astronomical $1.017 billion, on a fairly large budget of $200 million.
Unlike 300, The Hobbit is not filled with nearly as much gratuitous violence and is actually more child-friendly. However, if your inner child is eager to see something that bears fighting and action scenes along with pure adventure, then be sure to give this a watch.
12. Saving Private Ryan
When it comes to war films, this is one of the films that have gone down in history. This 1998, epic war film was directed by Steven Spielberg and is set during the Invasion of Normandy in the Second World War. The film follows a group of U. S. soldiers who go behind enemy lines in order to find and retrieve a paratrooper whose brothers were killed in the line of fire.
The film stars names such as Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, and Tom Sizemore. With great direction and exceptional performances, the film received rave reviews from critics and audience members and was a total success at the box office, earning itself $482.3 million on a budget of only $70 million.
The film was nominated for 11 awards at the 71st Academy Awards. It speaks for itself that it is a film to watch, but in case you need convincing, you will enjoy the element of needing to complete a mission, no matter the difficulty or cost, as seen in 300.
13. Hercules
Hercules is an action-adventure fantasy, which was released in 2014 and was directed by Brett Ratner. The film stars Dwayne Johnson as the title character and we follow the Greek demigod, who lives as a sword-for-hire. He is scouted to aid the King of Thrace and his daughter to help fight against an opposing warlord.
Critics granted the film average reviews, but they were split in their consensus, as some saw it as a bold and refreshing take on the legend, while others found it to deliver little more than its face value. All in all, though, audiences enjoyed it and the film raked in $244.8 million, on its budget of $100 million.
If you liked the incredible feats seen in 300 then you will most certainly be impressed by those in Hercules, and just as Gerard Butler managed to offer such a great presence, so does Dwayne Johnson, if not more.
14. Seventh Son
A 2014 fantasy film, Seventh Son was directed by Sergei Bodrov. The story centers around the seventh son of the seventh son, Tom, who is recruited by a monster hunter called Spook. Together they must fight against the queen of witches, Mother Malkin, who has escaped from where she had been imprisoned.
Critics felt that the film, which has some well-known names such as Julianne Moore, Jeff Bridges, and Ben Barnes, was flat and that overall the film merely underperformed. Audience members were split in their sentiments over the film, with some thoroughly enjoying it and others finding it to be a drag.
At the box office, the film made $114.2 million after spending a budget of $95 million. If you found the call to destiny and the mysticism of the events in 300 then you’ll appreciate this film.
15. The Patriot
The Patriot is another epic historical war film, which came out in 2000 and was directed by Roland Emmerich. It is the second film on this list to star Mel Gibson, in the leading role. Along with him are Heath Ledger, Jason Isaacs, and Chris Cooper.
We follow a farmer who is forced into leading the Colonial Militia during the American Revolution.
The critics felt that the film relied too much on melodrama and is formulaic, and ultimately gave it average reviews. This was not the same opinion as far as viewers were concerned, who on average gave it a 9 out of 10. At the box office, it also did rather well and saw its budget of $110 million bring a return of $215.3 million.
Once again we have a film about men fighting for their convictions and defending what they love against evil outsiders, who threaten to take it all away. If you liked 300 but would like something with a little more dramatic substance then this is for you.
16. Fury
Fury is a war film directed by David Ayer and was released in 2014. The film stars an ensemble cast of big stars such as Brad Pitt, Logan Lerman, Shia LaBeouf, and Michael Peña among others. The film follows a U. S. tank crew who are fighting against the Nazis during the last days of the Second World War.
The critics deemed the film as being well-acted and of being a suitable depiction of the war. So on average, it received good reviews, but what the audience thought is always of utter importance and they loved it. At the box office, the film managed to turn its $68 million budget into $211.8 million.
Much like in 300 in Fury, particularly towards the end of the film, we see what it truly means to give one last stand against the evil members of the world and how no matter how dark things may seem, the light will always make itself known.
17. Black Hawk Down
Black Hawk Down is another war film directed by Ridley Scott (who also directed Gladiator), it was released in 2001 and was based on a non-fiction book of the same name that was published in 1999. The film is about 160 elite U. S. soldiers who went to Mogadishu in 1993, to locate and capture two top-ranking officers of a warlord, but ultimately found themselves facing large forces of Somalis.
The film stars an ensemble cast of Ewan McGregor, Josh Hartnett, Eric Bana, and Tom Sizemore among others. The film received generally favorable reviews and even managed to win 2 Academy Awards, among other awards.
Like in 300 this film is about a small group of soldiers who are faced with an enemy that is far greater in number than them. It is amazing to see how far people can go in an effort to fight back and push on, despite the odds.
18. Kingdom of Heaven
This 2005 epic historical fiction drama was directed and produced, once again, by Ridley Scott. The film stars big names such as Eva Green, Orlando Bloom, Ghassan Massoud, and Jeremy Irons, among others. The story is about Balian who makes his way to Jerusalem during the 12th century Crusades and finds himself as the one who needs to defend the people of the city.
The critics found themselves to be on varying opinions of the film, however, all had to agree that the cast was to be praised for their efforts. At the box office, it fared well enough for itself and made $218.1 million on a budget of $130 million.
Like with 300 this film follows a man, who has no choice but to lead the people he can and work with the limited resources at his disposal. It is filled with great action sequences and there are also deeper meanings to this film.
19. Exodus: Gods and Kings
This 2014 British-American film is a biblical epic, which, once again we have Ridley Scott in the director’s chair for. The film stars Christian Bale, John Turturro, and Joel Edgerton among others. The film is about the book of Exodus in the Bible where Moses led the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt.
Although the performances were praised, many critics felt that the film did not live up to the source material, and unfortunately they were not alone. Audience members were also torn about this film, with some praising it and others calling it out for its incorrect representations of the biblical story.
At the box office, it made back $268.2 million after having spent a budget of approximately $140 million. As with 300, there are inaccuracies to this film, but if you can overlook that, you will discover a film where a man finds himself having to lead his people with everything seemingly opposing him.
20. Robin Hood
The 2010 Robin Hood is an action film which is based on the legend of Robin Hood; a story that has had many interpretations and remakes. This time though the content was in the familiar hands of Ridley Scott, and working with him (also in Gladiator) is Russell Crowe. It is the 12th century in England and Robin and his band tackle corruption and the crown by rising up and taking up arms.
It was found to have great acting and awesome action scenes, by the critics, but they felt that it was lacking some of the original “thrill of adventure” that made the legend of Robin Hood what it is. Most audience members rated it 8 out of 10 though and the box office reflected favorably with a return of $321.7 million against a budget of $155 million.
As with quite a few others on this list and 300 in particular, it is a matter of the smaller in number or abilities or status against the large and mighty. The tale of Robin Hood is all about bringing down the tyrannical powers that be, at whatever the cost may be.
21. Beowulf
Beowulf is different from the others on this list, as it is a 3D computer-animated action-fantasy film. It was released in 2007 and was directed and co-produced by Rober Zemeckis. The film follows the warrior, Beowulf, who has to defeat the monster, Gredel, who has been terrorizing Denmark. After this, he must fight Grendel’s mother, who is now out for revenge.
The film, for the most part, received positive reviews, and critics were quick to compliment the visual effects, but they did criticize the interpretation of the source material. Unfortunately, the film also did not perform exceptionally well at the box office, only making $196.4 million, after having spent $150 million on production.
If you enjoyed the different stylization of 300 then you will likely appreciate the aesthetics of this film, as well as the plot that it has to offer us.
22. Centurion
Centurion is a British historical action-war film, that was released in 2010 and both written and directed by Neil Marshall. The film stars Michael Fassbender, Olga Kurylenko, and Dominic West. The film is about a small group of Roman soldiers who have to fight for their lives, once they get stuck behind enemy lines after their legion is almost eradicated.
The film received mediocre reviews from critics and unfortunately underperformed at the box office; only making back half of its $12 million budget. Audience members who did see it though predominantly gave the film 8 out of 10.
As in 300 where there were a small group of people having to fight off hoards of enemy soldiers, our characters are in a very similar situation here. The biggest difference being though, that in 300 they were fighting on their territory and not the enemies.
23. Immortals
This 2011 fantasy action movie was directed by Tarsem Singh and starred Henry Cavill in the lead role. The film follows Theseus, a mortal, chosen by Zeus to lead a fight against King Hyperion, who is on a mission, traversing Greece to gain a weapon to destroy all humanity. The plot takes motifs from various Greek myths but does not resemble anyone exactly.
Although critics did praise the use of real sets along with CGI and complimented on the overall aesthetic, they were not impressed with the general storytelling. Audience members were also split in their feelings about the film.
However, if you are keen to see exciting visuals and action sequences, like the ones sported in 300 then you will surely not be disappointed by this one.
24. The Eagle
The Eagle is an epic historical drama, directed by Kevin Macdonald, and released in 2011. The film is set in Roman Britain and stars the likes of Channing Tatum, Donald Sutherland, and Jaime Bell. The story follows a young Roman officer who embarks on a quest to recover the Roman eagle standard, which was from his father’s legion.
Critics gave the film lower ratings than we feel it deserved, and most audience members agree with that statement. It can be quoted though, that the film “evokes the energy of traditional sword-and-shield movies”.
If you enjoyed the high stakes and terrible odds of those in 300 then you will be enthralled by the tensions built up in this epic film, which we found to deliver on all fronts.
25. Pompeii
A slightly different type of film to our list, but one we feel will still satisfy the fans of 300 is Pompeii. The film is a romantic historical disaster film, released in 2014 and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. The film is about a slave who becomes a gladiator and has to race against time in order to save the one he loves from being married to a devious Roman Senator.
The film was described as being no more than a “guilty pleasure” by critics and their ratings were not in the film’s favor. However, audience members were more forgiving, although the film, unfortunately, did not perform exceptionally well at the box office. It managed to make $117.8 million on a budget of $80 million.
If you liked the themes of finding hope even when there seemingly isn’t any to be had, as in 300, then this film will likely strike a chord with you.
Sources:
IMDB: 300
IMDB: Troy
IMDB: Clash of the Titans
IMDB: Braveheart
IMDB: Gladiator
IMDB: Meet the Spartans
IMDB: The Last Samurai
IMDB: Van Helsing
IMDB: 47 Ronin
IMDB: King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
IMDB: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
IMDB: Saving Private Ryan
IMDB: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
IMDB: Hercules
IMDB: The Seventh Son
IMDB: The Patriot
IMDB: Fury
IMDB: Black Hawk Down
IMDB: Kingdom of Heaven
IMDB: Exodus: Gods and Kings
IMDB: Robin Hood
IMDB: BeoWulf
IMDB: Centurion
IMDB: Immortals
IMDB: The Eagle
IMDB: Pompeii