National Treasure

Name: National Treasure
Genre: Adventure, Action, Mystery
Released: 2004-11-19
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Sean Bean, Jon Voight

2004 | 131 min | Adventure, Action, Mystery

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It was a solid box office hit and it's still drawing plenty of interest, though it had middling reviews (46% on Rotten Tomatoes). A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing and action fans. Audiences love it more than critics do: a crowd-pleaser first.
The mood: Tense.
The pace: Fast-moving, at 2 hr 11 min.
What might put you off: Nothing much: an easy pick for most people.

Modern treasure hunters, led by archaeologist Ben Gates, search for a chest of riches rumored to have been stashed away by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin during the Revolutionary War. The chest's whereabouts may lie in secret clues embedded in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, and Gates is in a race to find the gold before his enemies do.

How it earned its rating

CriticsBelow par
46% on Rotten Tomatoes
AudiencesSolid
6.7 out of 10
AwardsBelow par
1 win and 7 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
Box office & staying powerStrong
$348 million worldwide on a $100 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 493K people sought it out in the past year