Which 2006 epic film directed by Zack Snyder is based on the Battle of Thermopylae? The answer is 300.
The film dramatizes King Leonidas I and his 300 Spartan bodyguards as they defend the narrow pass of Thermopylae against the invading Persian army led by King Xerxes. It is adapted from Frank Miller and Lynn Varley's 1998 comic book, which itself was inspired by the ancient battle.
300 is deliberately a stylized historical fantasy rather than a strictly accurate reconstruction. The film uses a voice-over narrator, exaggerated creatures, fantastical imagery, and highly choreographed combat to reflect the comic's visual style. Zack Snyder directed the movie, which stars Gerard Butler as Leonidas and Lena Headey as Queen Gorgo.
The real Battle of Thermopylae took place in 480 BCE during the Greco-Persian Wars. The Greek defenders included other allied forces in addition to the Spartans, and the battle ended in a Persian victory. The film's title highlights Leonidas's 300-man Spartan bodyguard, not the total number of Greek defenders.