Sarah's Oil

2025

Action / Biography / Drama / History

9
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Certified Fresh 85% · 13 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 98% · 500 ratings
IMDb Rating 6.8/10 10 1572 1.6K

based on novel or book based on true story oil pre-teen 1900s adult child friendship

Director

Cyrus Nowrasteh Photo
Cyrus Nowrasteh

Top cast

Naya Desir-Johnson Photo
Naya Desir-Johnson as Sarah
Bridget Regan Photo
Bridget Regan as Kate
Ryan O'Quinn Photo
Ryan O'Quinn as Eddie Caron
Stelio Savante Photo
Stelio Savante as Earl
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB 1080p.WEB.x265 2160p.WEB.x265
948.61 MB
1280*534
English 2.0
PG
Subtitles us  es  
24 fps
1 hr 43 min
Seeds 69
1.9 GB
1920*800
English 5.1
PG
Subtitles us  es  
24 fps
1 hr 43 min
Seeds 62
1.72 GB
1920*800
English 5.1
PG
Subtitles us  es  
24 fps
1 hr 43 min
Seeds 59
4.6 GB
3840*1600
English 5.1
PG
Subtitles us  es  
24 fps
1 hr 43 min
Seeds 28

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by zennith 8 / 10

Fun movie for whole family

Zachary Levi plays a charming hustler with heart and integrity. Naya Desir-Johnson is a precocious young girl who is as quick witted as Anne of Green Gables. I definitely think this family friendly story is worth 1hr 44 minutes of your time, whether in a theater or at home. You'll get a history lesson on top of being entertained. Here is a summary I found... "The story behind Sarah's Oil is the true story of Sarah Rector, an African American girl in Oklahoma Territory who became one of the nation's youngest millionaires at age 11. Born in 1902, she inherited a 160-acre parcel of land that, while appearing worthless, turned out to be rich in oil. The discovery brought challenges as others tried to take control of her land, but Rector fought back and maintained ownership, becoming known as the "Richest Colored Girl in the World"." I'm sure a quick Google search will flesh out the real events vs the artist license. The rest of the cast does a good job rounding out the story and keeping up suspense in this David and Goliath type story. I wouldn't mind a film about the rest of this Sarah Rector's life as she ended up rubbing elbows with the rich, powerful and famous. It's well paced, doesn't look low budget or come off hokie.
Reviewed by TheMovieSearch 8 / 10

Very good film it just needed to dig deeper

Sarah's Oil is a powerful 2025 drama that tackles a difficult period in American history - a time when racial injustice, greed, and survival intersected in the cruelest ways. Set during an era when Black landowners were often exploited or worse, killed, for what was beneath their soil, the film follows a young girl named Sarah who inherits land rumored to be rich in oil. What unfolds is a tense and emotional story of power, fear, and resilience as she becomes the target of white oil prospectors determined to claim what's hers.This movie marks a strong return for Zachary Levi, who delivers one of his better performances in years. Unlike in Unforgettable Boy - where he dominated the screen and unintentionally overshadowed the young lead - Levi steps back this time and allows the film's emotional center, young Sarah, to truly lead. His restraint works in the movie's favor, giving the story room to breathe and allowing its most vital message to come through clearly. The young actress playing Sarah carries the movie with remarkable presence and maturity, grounding every scene in innocence, fear, and fierce determination.The screenplay is one of Sarah's Oil's strongest assets. It's written with genuine heart and purpose, and while it doesn't always dive as deeply into the racial violence of the era as it could have, the emotional weight is still felt throughout. You can sense that the filmmakers wanted to make a statement about history, greed, and injustice without sensationalizing it. That choice gives the film a thoughtful, almost restrained tone - though at times, it feels like a missed opportunity to truly challenge its audience with the harder truths of that period. The story references the racial tensions constantly, but it rarely shows them, and a few more raw, confrontational moments could have elevated the film from good to unforgettable.Visually, the movie is beautifully crafted. The cinematography captures the era with warm tones and sweeping landscapes, giving the story both an intimate and epic feel. The score complements it perfectly - emotional without being manipulative. There's also a surprising amount of charm woven into the heavier moments, especially through the character interactions and small glimpses of hope amidst despair.However, one odd creative choice is the prominence of Blue, the dog. The marketing heavily features him - he's front and center on the poster - yet in the actual film, he plays a very minimal role. It's one of those strange mismatches between promotion and story that might leave viewers scratching their heads. Blue is a nice touch in the scenes he's in, but he's far from a central character, which makes his spotlight in the marketing feel misleading.Despite some uneven pacing and underdeveloped subplots, Sarah's Oil succeeds where it matters most - in telling a story about dignity, heritage, and the fight to hold onto what's rightfully yours in the face of systemic injustice. It's not a perfect movie, but it's deeply affecting and anchored by strong performances, thoughtful writing, and a sense of humanity that lingers long after the credits roll.Zachary Levi reminds audiences that when he steps back and lets the story speak, he can be a genuinely powerful presence. And the young actress leading this film - she's the one people will be talking about. Sarah's Oil may not dig as deep as it could have, but it still strikes something meaningful beneath the surface.
Reviewed by Binkconn 8 / 10

Zachary Levi in a nice turn for a good true story

I enjoyed his squirrelly prospector helping out an African-American family with their oil claim in 1920's Oklahoma. It's sort of like "Killers of The Flower Moon" for that side of history. Not particularly spectacular filmmaking but a nice time, likeable actors and another story that needed to be told.
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