Tools for this page
Print

300

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

    (Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)

    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 15.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Bloody, fanboyish retelling of an ancient battle.

updated 09.23.09

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–18

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Themes of underdog heroism and not bowing to corruption get a little lost in the blood and gore.
  • Role models:

    Even in the face of sure defeat, brave soldiers stand firm against tyrannous threats to freedom. A corrupt Spartan councilman is exposed as a traitor and brought to justice. But also some stereotyping based on Asian culture, as well as one character's physical disability.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Over-the-top battle-scene violence, including graphic decapitations, severed limbs, mutilated bodies piled high, arrow-filled torsos, etc. Young Spartan boys are forced to furiously fight each other. The Spartan mottos are "No retreat, no surrender" and "No prisoners, no mercy."
  • Sex:

    Extended love scene between Leonidas and the queen; viewers can see her nude breasts and his butt. The adolescent Oracle writhes and sways while wearing a sheer cloth that reveals her breasts. A character unwillingly has sex to procure a politician's favor. Although no nudity is shown in that scene, the aggessor whispers menacingly: "This will not be fast. You will not enjoy this." Xerxes' lair is depicted like an orgy, with various half-dressed Persian women kissing, moaning, and having sex.
  • Language:

    Colorfully worded insults like: "motherless dogs," "philosophers and boy-lovers," etc.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About 300

Parents need to know that this is no Masterpiece Theater rendition of ancient history. Like Sin City, 300 is an ultraviolent tale based on a graphic novel by Frank Miller. There's blood galore as the Spartans -- trained war machines -- defend their land against Xerxes' massive Persian army. Battlefield valor and violence is glorified by the Spartans, who take no prisoners and show no mercy. Heads literally roll, blood splatters, exotic animals are sliced and speared. Many, many soldiers on either side die gruesomely. If on-screen death and war -- even one so stylized and cartoonish at times -- is too disturbing a subject matter for your kids (or you!), this bloodfest isn't a safe bet.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the Spartans' upbringing and values. Why are 7-year-olds forced to fight each other -- and adults?
  • Xerxes offers Leonidas what sounds like a sweet deal; why does the king, facing certain death, turn it down?

Want more? Get Common Sense recommendations delivered to your inbox.

Our Members Say

Have you seen it? Review It!

  • What did you think about 300?
  •  I think this movie is

    for ages

  •  I also give it

  •  Any concerns?

  •  Any highlights?

  •  Love it? Hate it?

  • or to post a review
See all 135 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 4.0

    Based on a history account. Well written.

  2. I rate this title off for age 13 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    Nice war movie if you're into spewing blood

    This movie could have been really good if it hadn't been drowned in the bloodbath that it is. Battles take up almost the entire second half of the film and are all really blood including severed limbs, spewing blood and decapitations (although the fights themselves are very good). There is also a sex scene between Leonidus and the queen (although it's not very explict). The best part is when the Spartans make their last stand, as it is dramatic and exciting without being too gory.

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    Good war movie for 14-15 and up

    This movie is pretty good. I liked it. It does contain Graphic Bloody violence (animated, but still blood) and it also has a sex scene with nudity, as well as some other instances of nudity.

  4. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    cool fighting sequenses

    this movie is awsome it has cool fight sequences. it also has good acting from gerald butler the only complain is the slow motion its to much and that kind of ruins the movie for me.

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Colorado
    I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    An alright movie with historical value, but not a good choice for people disturbed by gore.

    It's a pretty good movie with historical value, even if it does have some inaccuracies. It really helped me understand the mentality of the Spartans, and gave me a better insight into what they were like. I do recommend this to teens, due ti its historical value, but it's still much to explicit for kids, with a great deal of gory deaths and occasional sex scenes. Of course, that's the way it was back then, but it's still something that doesn't need to be viewed by little eyes.

  6. I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    IT IS AWSOME SPARTENS ARE WARROIORES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS SPARTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS MOVIE IS AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!

  7. I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    IT IS AWSOME SPARTENS ARE WARROIORES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS SPARTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS MOVIE IS AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!

  8. I rate this title off for age 12 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    This blood soaked superb blood bath is simply amazing. As the 300 spartans jump out onto the screen, they leave a gory path of devastation behind them. Nearly everything in this movie is CGI, even the Spartans nipples and hair apparently! Not for the kids.

  9. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Missouri
    I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 4.0

    A nice bloody summer action flick.

    While the Hollywood-iation of the Spartans was less than enjoyable, it was still a good movie. I recall doing a rescearch project on the Spartans after watching it, on how they always trained their young to be soldiers from the get go.

  10. I rate this title on for age 16 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    300 = Good

    I think this movie was good, thought deffinitely NOT for young viewers. Explicit love scenes and lots of blood make for an ADULT movie, but still Gerard Butler is fantastic.

  11. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Nevada
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    Wonderful movie!

    I love this movie! If you don't want your kids to see the sex scenes [very awkward] then just skip past them. It is definately a movie worth watching.Just watch it first so you know where to skip.

  12. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 16 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    Violent, but Historical factor to Ancient Greece

    300 is by far the best historical film i've seen in my life. It is about the historical battle of thermoapalye with the 300 spartans against a 1,000,000 persians. the violence for the most factor is the battles. Anyway someone can get killed they show it. Overall anybody who learned about this historical battle will like it

  13. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    Good for History

    I like this movie. Even though there is alot of sex, it does capture the essence of the Spartans. As someone who has just studied this battle in History, I think it is a good representation.

  14. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title iffy for age 16 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Not Great, but Very Good and, Quite Frankly, Awesome.

    I really enjoyed this clever blend of genres. It was The Matrix meets Troy. I truly enjoyed the battle sequences; they were magnificent; awesome! But, some protracted portions of the film were boring, which is why I deducted points of how well made it was.

  15. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    I think it is an amazing movie. But there are many very violent and bloody scenes. also there is a sex scene between Leinidas and his queen and you can see the boobs of the queen a couple of times. Also, the oracle os wearing a thin white cloth and you can see her boobs a couple of times. And there is a scene where you can see girls kissing and having sex. The queen also gets forced into sex with a politician to win his vote.

  16. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Amazing repersintation of history

    A king who will sacrifice his life for his people's freedom is a better theme than the sugary-pop let's all get along annoying tone of High School Musical for teens. And the two people engaging in the sex scene are married which can't be said for most movies. All in all this movie is very gory but is a very good representation of ancient Greek history. Gerard Butler did an amazing job capturing the courage of King Leonidas. I suggest that if your young teen wants to see it, let them but be sure to be there the first time they see it.

  17. I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

  18. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it 0.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    skip it; not missing anything

    I took my 17 yr old son & buddy - thinking it would be just good, red-blooded American violence. But, nope, the nipple quotient was way too high for this dad. Besides the sex, movie was just plain stupid.

  19. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Tennessee
    I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    Films that are based on a true story shouldn't be punished by the MPAA

    My MPAA rating. Rated R for strong violence and brief sexuality. The reason my rating is a lot lighter than the MPAA because this is a true story and I don't think that movies should be punished for telling the truth. I do admit there are 3 decapitation scenes shown very graphicly one shown with the man's head kind of floating in the air. And there is one brief scene of sexuality revealing a woman's breast and a man's butt. This is a graphic movie hands down but one that is told so amazingly that older teens have to see it.

  20. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Connecticut
    I rate this title iffy for age 16 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    Parents should know that this movie is literally filled with blood. Heads are sliced off, limbs are hacked, and torsos are stabbed and shot at with arrows. Blood flows, splatters, and spurts. There are several explicit sex scenes, including an orgy and brutality is encouraged. Older teens would do fine with this film.

More Great Stuff For Your Kids

  • Now Playing

    Where the Wild Things Are

    Where the Wild Things Are

    Sometimes-dark adaptation focuses on friendship, loneliness.

  • Advice for Parents

    Are Your Kids Obsessed with Twilight & New Moon?

    Are Your Kids Obsessed with Twilight & New Moon?

    Discussion pointers for parents of "twilighters."

  • Book of the Week

    Million-Dollar Throw

    Million-Dollar Throw

    Another Lupica sensitive dad/son sports story.

  • Issue Spotlight

    The 10 Most Violent Video Games (And 10 Alternatives)

    The 10 Most Violent Video Games (And 10 Alternatives)

    Our video game experts weigh in.

  • Download This

    The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack

    The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack

    Dark, cool tunes OK for kids too young for the movie.

Give Us a Minute, Get a Lot of Common Sense!
  • Age-appropriate best bets for your kids
  • Weekly email alert with the latest picks, reviews & advice
  • Post your own reviews and share them with friends

This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
A screen name protects your privacy
To post a review or comment you must become a Common Sense Member. It's easy!

Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.

Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations.
A screen name protects your privacy

Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
(optional)
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child

We can make Common Sense just right for you. With a little info about you and your family, you'll get the most out of our site.

Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.

Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!
Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child

Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations
A screen name protects your privacy
Register to add this school to your profile. You'll be able to see and share reviews from parents, teachers, and kids at your child's school.
I'm already a Common Sense member.
Kids under 13 must use a screen name