Remember when Zack Snyder movies didn’t turn the internet into a battleground? Peacock does, because the streaming service is about to become home to one of Snyder’s earliest and best action movies. Before his “ahead of its time” action flick Sucker Punch, before Man of Steel and Batman vs. Superman divided DC fans, and before Zack Snyder’s Justice League divided them further, and even before Rebel Moon‘s attempts at being an edgy version of Star Wars came crashing down, Zack Snyder directed arguably his best action film to date. It should be obvious that we’re talking about his team-up with Gerard Butler for the timeless 300, and it’s about to strike on streaming.
300 will soon stream on Peacock. The epic Roman action film will begin streaming on Peacock from December 1. Snyder’s films are often criticized for being style-over-substance. But, with 300, that really doesn’t matter, because the style and the action are so good, that’s all you’re really there for. The film is based on the underrated graphic novel by comic book legend Frank Miller (The Dark Knight Returns), which is a loose adaptation of The Battle of Thermopylae during the Greco-Persian Wars in 480 BCE. Butler played King Leonidas, who led the 300 Spartan soldiers against the Persians’ seemingly unstoppable force. The official synopsis reads:
“In 480 B.C. a state of war exists between Persia, led by King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), and Greece. At the Battle of Thermopylae, Leonidas (Gerard Butler), king of the Greek city state of Sparta, leads his badly outnumbered warriors against the massive Persian army. Though certain death awaits the Spartans, their sacrifice inspires all of Greece to unite against their common enemy.”
While 300‘s action and visuals steal the show, the film’s cast doesn’t get enough credit. Alongside Butler, the film also stars Lena Headey, David Wenham, Dominic West, Rodrigo Santoro, Michael Fassbender, Tom Wisdom, Vincent Regan, and Peter Mensah. 300 was also one of Zack Snyder’s first box office wins. The film grossed over $450 million, against a budget of $65 million. As well as cementing Butler as an action star, the film also turned Snyder into a household name, leading to the likes of Watchmen, Man of Steel, and the recently canceled Twilight of the Gods series.
‘300’ Is “One of the Best Action Movies Ever Made”
It’s safe to say that 300 remains a firm fan favorite among Zack Snyder’s die-hard fan base. While critics thought the movie was decent, giving it a 61% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences are obsessed with the film, earning it an 89% user rating.
In 2025, 19 years after the film was released, audiences still can’t get enough of the film. “300 is one of the best action movies ever made and a true icon of the 2000s,” wrote one fan on Rotten Tomatoes. The praise just kept coming, as another wrote, “A testosterone-fueled war poem — loud, bloody, and unforgettable in its commitment to style over realism.”
- Release Date
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March 9, 2007
- Runtime
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117 minutes