Release Date: March 9, 2007
[Warner Bros. Pictures]

If Braveheart, Gladiator and Troy top your list of Most Amazing, Pump-You-Up-Beyond-Belief, Perfect-Flick-To-Catch Before-A-Game Movies Ever Made, we have great news. A new epic you won’t want to miss is set to hit the big screen. One part fact, one part fiction and one part Frank Miller’s graphic novel, 300 is the retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae.

Brief recap in case you don’t know the story: a massive Persian army is about to invade Greece. King Leonidas and his army of 300 Spartans stand in the way. Against unimaginable odds, the Spartans meet the enormous Persian force head on, killing many. By the end of the battle, every last Spartan is dead; but their valor and fortitude inspire all of Greece to unite and successfully defend their country against the would-be conquerors.

Although 300 is about just a single battle, Hollywood spices it up with amazing special effects, ridiculous imagery and a bit of fantasy, turning an unbelievable but true story into an instant classic.