The Core

Name: The Core
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Released: March 28, 2003
Duration: 135 min
Rating: 48
Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Bruce Greenwood, Delroy Lindo, Hilary Swank, Stanley Tucci

2003

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 32 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 88 Ratings

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5.3	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 88 Ratings

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The Core

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: March 28, 2003 | PG-13

Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Bruce Greenwood, Delroy Lindo, Hilary Swank, Stanley Tucci

Summary: A wildly diverse team of professionals journey into unknown regions of the earth in the hopes of detonating a nuclear device which they hope will reactivate the earth's core and restore balance to the planet. (Paramount)

Director: Jon Amiel

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 135 min

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Critic Reviews

William Arnold

The surprise is that it's one of the most exciting and enjoyable disaster epics to come out of Hollywood in some time. Read full review

Wesley Morris

The real core of The Core is the beautiful friendship between a highly emotive Eckhart and the sacrificial Karyo. Their bond is the best thing to happen to Franco-American relations since SpaghettiOs. Read full review

Kim Morgan

With a less popcorn-friendly cast and some cheesy special effects, this is a surprisingly engaging, sometimes foolish but often roughly intelligent film. Read full review

Claudia Puig

In dashing Indiana Jones style, Eckhart gets to be a hero. Read full review

Michael Wilmington

Elaborate misfire, which misuses an unusually good cast. Read full review

Marc Savlov

It’s just not quite bad enough to be considered good, although Stanley Tucci’s hairpiece comes awfully close. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

Built from an alloy of absurdium and stupidium, with the latter, heavier element dominating the mix.

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User Reviews

AlexandraE.

Nov 4, 2008

This movie was a fast. Quick, pace thriller. I cannot believe the awful reviews they gave tom this movie. I loved it. I really did. The Core showed me that everything that is impossible can be possible. Don't listen to the critics of those who just like movies with woman. Listen to This movie was a fast. Quick, pace thriller. I cannot believe the awful reviews they gave tom this movie. I loved it. I really did. The Core showed me that everything that is impossible can be possible. Don't listen to the critics of those who just like movies with woman. Listen to me... You are going to LOVE it!… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful

BlinkyBill2

Jan 9, 2023

This was a great concept and it was a great movie i enjoyed in my younger years and i still do, i wish they would make a remake. #MovieThirst

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JohnJordan

Jan 11, 2016

I love this movie! I show it to my high school students every year when we talk about Earth structure and the dynamo in which the rotating liquid outer core generates a magnetic field. The acting is emotional and realistic. I've seen this film probably a hundred times and it still gives meI love this movie! I show it to my high school students every year when we talk about Earth structure and the dynamo in which the rotating liquid outer core generates a magnetic field. The acting is emotional and realistic. I've seen this film probably a hundred times and it still gives me goose bumps i.e. "Why didn't you do it!" This film rocks! I think those that are very critical don't understand the science of the film and therefore don't appreciate the subtle ways in which it was expressed. I will take this film with me to the grave lol.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

DukeJon

May 19, 2019

An enjoyable and exciting action movie with silly science. Not quite "so bad it's good" but certainly a guilty pleasure. A good cast though they are largely wasted. As long as you don't get too worked up by the bad science you might find that you are enjoying yourself.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

eva3si0n

Jul 8, 2022

The Core is probably the most stupid and unrealistic film disaster. Even the film "2012" seems more scientific. The Core is very similar to Armageddon, but inferior to it in everything. Suspense is not enough for the whole film, the ending so generally spoils the impression. Humanity has noThe Core is probably the most stupid and unrealistic film disaster. Even the film "2012" seems more scientific. The Core is very similar to Armageddon, but inferior to it in everything. Suspense is not enough for the whole film, the ending so generally spoils the impression. Humanity has no opportunity to fly to the moon for more than half a century, but you can drill a hole to the center of the planet and return back. One of the most delusional films… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

juliankennedy23

Nov 4, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Core: 5/10: Disaster movies always seem to do better when the disaster is local in scope. A city threatened by avalanche, a tower threatened by an inferno, a Poseidon threatened by an adventure, that kind of thing. Earth killer movies are always a harder road.

You have your 4 standard horseman of the earth disaster; nuclear war, space invaders, plagues (esp. those that create zombies), and meteors. Lately earth killing movies have gotten creative and lets face it stupid, global warming (The Day after Tomorrow), President George W Bush (Fahrenheit 911) and now The Core with it's well… I'm still not sure what broke.

The core of the earth stopped spinning (not the earth itself mind you) which is causing the electromagnetic field to dissipate. Okay, that sounds serious. So that would cause what exactly? Apparently the movie wasn't all that sure so we get scenes of some the lamest and implausible disasters ever. Lets put two under the scientific microphone shall we.

One involves birds going all Hitchcock in London due to their inability to navigate using the magnetic field. Okay that may effect the birds ability to fly south (Oh my god the pigeons they're going east!), but even the Mr. Magoo of the avian world wouldn't start flying into statues and buses.

In another all too short montage a lightning storm destroys the Roman Coliseum. I'm not sure what is more unlikely, lighting striking relatively short rock structures, or the granite exploding when it does. Lightning, last time I checked, was attracted to metal.

But what would you expect from a movie that puts a giant windshield in a rock-drilling machine (Made with that magic metal Unobtainium). Keep in mind I've only scratched the surface of the silliness.

Acting wise Stanley Tucci is a joy, Hillary Swank still kind of looks like a guy, and everyone else is forgettable. The Core is enjoyable in that bad 50's sci-fi kind of way. But they needed more (and more plausible) disasters, and much less well everything else.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Millonario_M

Jan 18, 2023

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Alerta de Spoilers...

La tipa mata a todos, (menos al profesor de universidad), y es Mary Sue. Y además se cree la buena de la historia. (Además de todo lo que ya dije... No la meten a la cárcel por matar a todos).… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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42	#42 Most Discussed Movie of 2003
35	#35 Most Shared Movie of 2003