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Sahara

  • 2005
  • PG-13
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
107K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,545
624
Matthew McConaughey, Steve Zahn, and Penélope Cruz in Sahara (2005)
Home Video Trailer from Paramount Home Entertainment
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
99+ Photos
Desert AdventureGlobetrotting AdventureActionAdventureComedy

Master explorer Dirk Pitt goes on the adventure of a lifetime of seeking out a lost Civil War battleship known as the "Ship of Death" in the deserts of West Africa while helping a WHO doctor... Read allMaster explorer Dirk Pitt goes on the adventure of a lifetime of seeking out a lost Civil War battleship known as the "Ship of Death" in the deserts of West Africa while helping a WHO doctor being hounded by a ruthless dictator.Master explorer Dirk Pitt goes on the adventure of a lifetime of seeking out a lost Civil War battleship known as the "Ship of Death" in the deserts of West Africa while helping a WHO doctor being hounded by a ruthless dictator.

  • Director
    • Breck Eisner
  • Writers
    • Clive Cussler
    • Thomas Dean Donnelly
    • Joshua Oppenheimer
  • Stars
    • Matthew McConaughey
    • Penélope Cruz
    • Steve Zahn
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.1/10
    107K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,545
    624
    • Director
      • Breck Eisner
    • Writers
      • Clive Cussler
      • Thomas Dean Donnelly
      • Joshua Oppenheimer
    • Stars
      • Matthew McConaughey
      • Penélope Cruz
      • Steve Zahn
    • 534User reviews
    • 163Critic reviews
    • 41Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    Sahara
    Trailer 0:31
    Sahara

    Photos279

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    Top cast42

    Edit
    Matthew McConaughey
    Matthew McConaughey
    • Dirk Pitt
    Penélope Cruz
    Penélope Cruz
    • Eva Rojas
    • (as Penelope Cruz)
    Steve Zahn
    Steve Zahn
    • Al Giordino
    Mark Aspinall
    • Lawyer
    Rakie Ayola
    Rakie Ayola
    • Mrs. Nwokolo
    Christopher Bello
    • Train Driver
    Lambert Wilson
    Lambert Wilson
    • Yves Massarde
    Nicholas Beveney
    • Gunboat 1 Officer
    Rainn Wilson
    Rainn Wilson
    • Rudi Gunn
    Lennie James
    Lennie James
    • General Zateb Kazim
    Robert Cavanah
    Robert Cavanah
    • Captain Tombs
    Jude Akuwudike
    • Imam
    Paulin Fodouop
    • Modibo
    • (as Paulin F. Fodouop)
    Patrick Malahide
    Patrick Malahide
    • Ambassador Polidori
    Matthew Flynn
    Matthew Flynn
    • 1st Lieutenant, Ironclad
    Ouahbou Houcine
    • Tuareg Village Boy #1
    Emmanuel Ighodaro
    • Kazim's Officer Asselar
    Maurice Lee
    • Zakara
    • Director
      • Breck Eisner
    • Writers
      • Clive Cussler
      • Thomas Dean Donnelly
      • Joshua Oppenheimer
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews534

    6.1107.4K
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    Featured reviews

    7ma-cortes

    Splendid adventure film with mesmerizing desert landscapes

    The film starts in the Richmond battle (1865) where a war ship is disappeared and is gone during modern time in that an archaeologists(Matthew McConaughey,Steve Zhan and William H.Macy) are looking for treasures on Africa. A physician (Penelope Cruz ) is investigating about an illness which is killing thousands people . Then they 'll take on ominous villains,evil Arabs,corrupt governments and many dangers until discover the enigmas.

    The motion picture blends adventures, unstopped action,humor,a love story,tongue in cheek,tense and is enough amusing. From the beginning to end the adventures,action-packed and the fast movement is continuous, for that the film is pretty bemusing and isn't boring in spite of the longtime, as the run is two hours and some. The starring couple(Matthew MacConaughey and Steve Zahn) make a type of ¨buddy movie¨ both are top notch and very sympathetic.Penelope Cruz is attractive and enjoyable, this is her best film. The support cast is of first range (William H.Macy,Lambert Wilson,Delroy Lindo) and are excellent. Cinematography and musical score(Clint Mansell) is magnificent and riveting. Production design (Allan Cameron) is spellbound and the Sahara outdoors are spectaculars. The final confrontation between the starring and the enemies is breathtaking and impressive. It's a run and mill action film where the comedy and the giggles united to the action make the story very agreeable and stimulating. The picture well directed by Brick Eisner obtained a lot of success and achieved important box office, it was number one in United States and Europe. It's a real blockbuster. The yarn will appeal to emotion and adventure enthusiasts . Rating: Above average. Well worth seeing.
    7ceecat1

    Best Saturday afternoon, nothing to do movie!

    I have watched this movie at least 5 times since it was released on video. It is one of the movies that is constantly entertaining. The soundtrack is great and I also agree that the chemistry between the actors was perfect. I would watch this duo again in another film. I'll put this movie on when I am cleaning the house or doing laundry. Every time I end up sitting down and watching most of it. As another viewer commented it is a lot like National Treasure(which I also give high mark). They are both easy to watch, they wrap things up nicely and leave you feeling like you went on the adventure! What else could you ask from a movie...
    7stevetseitz

    Succeeds in what it tries to do

    Bring on Dirk Pitt! Here is a movie that wants to have fun, the cast wants to have fun. The audience ends up having fun. Steve Zahn is hilarious. Matthew McConaughey handles the limited demands of his role quite well. Penelope Cruz brings her ever-present charm and beauty to a role which is notable for being one of the few action-adventure roles written for a female that is not obnoxious in recent memory. You can't take your eyes off William H. Macy whenever he is on screen in ANY movie. He's that good.

    It's kind of a Bond meets Indiana Jones film (I swear they used the same canyon from "Raiders of the Lost Ark") The villains are one dimensional, but who cares? We are here to follow the exploits of our heroes. If we have to suspend our disbelief, we do it willingly because we are grinning ear to ear.
    8ChrisinDesMoines

    I don't get the unpopularity

    I've come to the conclusion that this is one of those movies that you either love or you hate, and I'm one of the "love it" guys.

    In some ways you can compare it to your typical James Bond movie, the girl everyone wants and the guy that everyone wants to be like, but if it's cut from the same bolt of cloth, Dirk Pitt (McConaughey) is fraying at the edges. I've tried reading some of Clive Cussler's books, but not exactly my style, but both movies based on his material (Sahara and Raise the Titanic) are decent enough movies with this one being the better of the two (and apart from the news article regarding the Titanic during the opening credits you wouldn't know it was connected). Dirk Pitt is portrayed wildly different in both movies with this one being more action and humor oriented.

    Movie is easy enough to find and watch for free on streaming services so if you have a Roku just do a search for it. If it isn't available when you do search for it, sit tight, it will make another round of availability soon enough. Definitely worth it if you're looking for an action/adventure style buddy movie with humor.
    6buiger

    Pure escapism... but what's wrong with that?

    This movie is definitely not a masterpiece. The screenplay is dumb. The acting is to say the least, average. The story is preposterous. Yet, as Ebert nicely put it, "I enjoyed this movie on its own dumb level, which must mean (I am forced to conclude) in my own dumb way". Yes, this is a film you should watch with your brain switched comfortably to the 'Off' position, a nice cold beer on the table and a bag of popcorn in your lap. When you come to think about it though, isn't that what movies are supposed to be all about in the first place?

    P.S. One thing worth mention though is the excellent cinematography. The movie is a wonderful African picture book, which definitely helps the overall experience.

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    Related interests

    Brendan Fraser, John Hannah, and Rachel Weisz in The Mummy (1999)
    Desert Adventure
    Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)
    Globetrotting Adventure
    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    Still frame
    Adventure
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A full-scale model of the Texas was built for the film. After the 1865 sequence was filmed, it was dismantled and reassembled in Morocco.
    • Goofs
      Dirk, Al, and Eva race from the top of the fort to meet the train. Not only was the train so far away from them it was much closer the energy plant than they were, meaning that there was no way the three of them could make it from the top of the tower to their camels, race across the desert, and bury themselves in the sand all without being seen and before the train passed them.
    • Quotes

      Rudi Gunn: [Dirk wants Al to pull a "Panama"] What's a Panama?

      Al Giordino: It's a Navy thing.

      Rudi Gunn: I didn't know you were in Panama.

      Al Giordino: We weren't in Panama, we were in Nicaragua.

      Rudi Gunn: So why do you call it a Panama?

      Al Giordino: Because we thought we were in Panama!

    • Crazy credits
      A Clive Cussler Dirk Pitt Adventure
    • Connections
      Featured in Late Show with David Letterman: Episode #12.122 (2005)
    • Soundtracks
      Right Place, Wrong Time
      Written by Dr. John (Malcolm Rebennack)

      Performed by Dr. John

      Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment Group

      By Arrangement with Warner Strategic Marketing

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    FAQ20

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 8, 2005 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • France
      • Germany
      • Spain
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site (Russia)
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • Arabic
    • Also known as
      • Sahara: Con Tàu Tử Thần
    • Filming locations
      • Morocco
    • Production companies
      • Paramount Pictures
      • Bristol Bay Productions
      • Baldwin Entertainment Group
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $130,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $68,671,925
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $18,068,372
      • Apr 10, 2005
    • Gross worldwide
      • $119,240,351
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 4m(124 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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