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Sahara
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Metascore
41 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 33 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.8 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 62 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Penélope Cruz, Steve Zahn
  • Summary: Clive Cussler's master explorer Dirk Pitt (McConaughey) takes on the adventure of his life when he embarks on a treasure hint through some of the most dangerous regions of West Africa. Searching for what the locals call "The Ship of Death," a long lost Civil War battleship which protects a secret cargo, Pitt and his wisecracking sidekick (Zahn) use their wits and clever heroics to help Doctor Eva Rojas (Cruz) when they realize the shop may be linked to mysterious deaths in the same area. (Paramount Pictures)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 33
  3. Negative: 6 out of 33
  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    75
    I enjoyed this movie on its own dumb level.
  2. Empire
    Reviewed by: Dan Jolin
    60
    About as good as a big, stupid American action movie can be without ever being anything better than a big, stupid American action movie.
  3. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Janice Page
    38
    In the end, the thing that Cussler's fans will probably object to most is the nonsensical way Sahara manhandles his story.

See all 33 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 51
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 51
  3. Negative: 10 out of 51
  1. D.A.
    10
    When "It's a Wonderful Life" came out, it was considered a grand flop, as well! It took 30+ years - by sheer fluke of luck - for that beautiful film to be recognized as the incredible gem we all now know and love... and I do LOVE this movie!! Sahara has great humor and chemistry and it just works. Still, timing is everything, and it simply wasn't this movie's time, unfortunately, because I would have loved to have seen McConaughey, Zahn, Macy, and Rainn Wilson work together again on this fantastic franchise.… Expand
    • 1 of 1 users said yes
  2. PatC.
    4
    An action movie that flaunts its refusal to do reality checks.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. DavidH
    3
    This movie is based on a Clive Cussler novel, who is not exactly Herman Melville, but his adventure novels are great fun and very easy reading for a quick escape. Sadly, if you're a big Cussler fan, you won't like what Hollywood has done to this "Dirk Pitt" adventure. Their most obvious and atrocious error was casting McConoughey in the lead role. Not so much that his talent is in question, but that casting him as Pitt is like casting Steve Buschemi in the life story of John Wayne. i.e.: they could not have picked a more opposite person from the character developed in Cussler's books. Likewise for casting of Dirk's sidekick character. If you loved the books, you won't be able to get past the horrible casting choices. If not, it comes across as a fairly high energy but lightweight adventure movie.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 51 User Reviews

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