300 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

300 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

ARROW'D!

Reviewed by Randy Miller III December 15, 2024

Over four years after the release of both WB's standard 4K edition and Best Buy's long-OOP 4K Steelbook edition of Zack Snyder's 300, Walmart resurrects the latter for fans who missed it the first time around. It's basically a reprint with the same striking design scheme, the film in HD and UHD formats, several legacy bonus features, and of course a Digital Copy, only differing in its top banner text... and the price, as Best Buy's edition commands a higher value from third-party sellers. Use all that extra money you saved to buy beef jerky, beer, and other manly stuff.

For a synopsis and appreciation of the film, please refer to our earlier reviews of the 2007 Blu- ray edition written by Greg Maltz or the later "Complete Experience" Digibook written by Kenneth Brown. Much like Sin City (another bloody, effects-heavy Frank Miller adaptation), 300 is decidedly not an exercise in flawless storytelling but certainly enjoyable as a stylized, atmospheric tour de force that clearly pays homage to its testosterone-fueled source material. Just don't go in expecting a realistic, historically accurate swords-and-sandals epic and you'll be fine.

300 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

NOTE: The screenshots in this review are taken from the included Blu-ray, which is identical to the 2007 release.

For my thoughts on the 2160p/HDR10 transfer, please see my 2020 review of WB's standard 4K edition.

300 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Similarly, details about the Dolby Atmos mix can be found at the review linked above.

300 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This handsome Steelbook package shares a similar color scheme with the 2020 wide-release 4K edition, favoring a prominently tan and black palette with bold red highlights. It's basically identical to the long out-of-print Best Buy Steelbook save for the top banner; as seen above, the striking illustrative two-panel image features a Spartan warrior in battle with his flowing red cape spilling over onto the back cover. (The plain tan background may not look like much on-screen, but actually has a slight coppery sheen that looks better in person.) Inside is a familiar scene from the film featuring the Spartans driving their enemies off a cliff into the waters below, with both discs sitting on overlapping hinges to the right. A great design overall that really captures the gritty, visceral feel of the main feature.

On-disc bonus features are identical to the linked standard 4K edition in that the included Blu-ray disc holds all the legacy content listed below. The 4K disc once again also includes the audio commentary.

• Audio Commentary with director Zack Snyder, writer Kurt Johnstad, and cinematographer Larry Fong

• The 300: Fact or Fiction? (24:36)

• Who Were the Spartans?: The Warriors of 300 (4:32)

• Preparing for Battle: Test Footage (6:43)

• Frank Miller Tapes (14:42)

• The Making of 300 (5:51)

• Making 300 in Images (3:40)

• Production Webisodes (12 clips, 38:23 total)

• Deleted Scenes (3:23)

300 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Zack Snyder's 300 is an ambitious, visuals-first production that pays respect to Frank Miller's source material and, much like Sin City, caters to established fans but is accessible enough for outsiders. It's not the pinnacle of narrative storytelling but instead takes a "what you see is what you get" approach and succeeds on that base level. Warner Bros.' 4K disc improves upon the original Blu-ray's A/V specs with striking, HDR- infused visuals and a bombastic Dolby Atmos track, but offers nothing new in the way of bonus features -- or possibly even less, if you already own WB's impressive "Complete Experience" Digibook from 2009. That said, this Walmart-exclusive Steelbook, which is basically a reprint of Best Buy's long out-of-print version, adds attractive packaging to entice collectors. Get it while you can.