Synopsis for
300 (2006)

The Spartans inspect each infant born to ensure it is whole - if it is defective, the baby is destroyed. They raise their boys in the school of hard knocks - in combat training, a small boy's loss of his weapon earns a bloody lip from the hand of his own father. At age 7, each young boy is torn from his mother and makes his own way in the wilderness, to return a man. Even the King endures this rite of passage. At age 15, young King-to-be Leonidas (Tyler Max Neitzel) lures a wolf into a narrow passage so that he can kill it. He returns to civilisation as a King.

A Persian emissary visits Sparta. King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) refuses to make Sparta part of King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) empire, and kills the messenger. Later, as Xerxes army approaches, Leonidas must consult the oracles to obtain their favour before sending the Spartan army in battle. He explains his strategy (to repair the wall and defend at Hells Gate) to the uncaring priests. The word from the oracle (a drugged teenage girl who speaks in tongues to the priesthood) is not favourable. Leonidas leaves in anger, and we learn that the priests were bribed with Xerxes' gold via the Spartan traitor, Theron (Dominic West), to give a negative response.

Leonidas is reluctant to defy the corrupt clergy outright, but his wife (Lena Headey) encourages him to think outside the box. Leonidas elects to take 300 men as his "bodyguard" to the strategic location. His wife says goodbye, telling him to come back with his shield or on it, and gives him a necklace.

On the road they meet some allies, who are shocked that the Spartans are sending such a small force. Leonidas asks the professions of the allied army, who are craftsmen and artisans. He points out that he has brought more soldiers than they.

They arrive at Thermopylae, and strong storms destroy some of Xerxes fleet. However, it is only a small percentage of the massive army they will face.

Ephialtes (Andrew Tiernan), a horribly disfigured man, comes to see Leonidas to warn him of the goat path at the rear of his position. Ephialtes claims that his parents fled Sparta to save his infant life, and hopes to redeem them by fighting for Leonidas. However, he is unable to lift his shield high enough to properly defend his fellow warriors. Leonidas gently tells him to care for the fallen instead. Ephialtes fondest hopes are crushed.

An emissary arrives, and finds that the bodies of the previous scouting party now makes up part of the large rock wall. The Persian states that their arrows will blot out the sun, and the Spartans agree they will simply fight in the shade. The emissary's party is killed. The next visitor is Xerxes himself, but Leonidas refuses to bend the knee and worship his "divinity".

Xerxes sends his masked personal guard, "The Immortals", which name the Spartans also prove false. However, some of the brave warriors are killed, and it becomes clear that more will follow. Ephialtes goes to Xerxes, and agrees to show them the goat path in exchange for a uniform, along with promises of women and wealth.

When they learn they are betrayed, they know their fight is doomed. Leonidas sends one man home to tell Sparta what has happened.

Back in Sparta, Queen Gorgo has been trying to convince the council to send help to Leonidas. A friendly councilman arranges for her to speak, but explains that she will need Theron on her side. Theron agrees to help her if she will sleep with him - so she does. Naturally, in the council chamber he does not support her, but instead accuses her of adultery. However, she gets her revenge.

Surrounded by the Persian army, Leonidas removes his helm, drops his shield and falls to his knees. It would appear that he has given up. Suddenly he rises and hurls his spear at Xerxes. It rips the side of his cheek. Leonidas dies in a hail of arrows.

A year later, Sparta sends thousands of men and Xerxes is driven from Greece.