The standard theatrical release of 300 is matted, meaning the top and bottom of the frame are masked to create a cinematic widescreen look. In contrast, the version reveals the "hidden" image information at the top and bottom of the frame.
Because 300 was shot on Super 35 film, the open matte version often provides a view closer to the full negative captured by the cameras, before it was cropped for theater screens. 2. Efficiency of x265 HEVC Compression 300 2006 open matte 1080p webdl x265 hevc 1 better
300 (2006): Why the "Open Matte" 1080p WEB-DL x265 HEVC Version is a Cinematic Powerhouse The standard theatrical release of 300 is matted,