Tears of the Sun
Seen it?2003 | 121 min | War, Action, Drama
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It's still drawing plenty of interest, though it had middling reviews (34% 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 action fans and history buffs. If you loved Platoon or Full Metal Jacket, start here. Audiences love it more than critics do: a crowd-pleaser first.
- The mood
- Harrowing.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 1 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: meant for adults.
- Critics were cooler on it than audiences.
Navy SEAL Lieutenant A.K. Waters and his elite squadron of tactical specialists are forced to choose between their duty and their humanity, between following orders by ignoring the conflict that surrounds them, or finding the courage to follow their conscience and protect a group of innocent refugees. When the democratic government of Nigeria collapses and the country is taken over by a ruthless military dictator, Waters, a fiercely loyal and hardened veteran is dispatched on a routine mission to retrieve a Doctors Without Borders physician.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsBelow par
34% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
6.9 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
Awards data unavailable, so this isn't counted
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$87 million worldwide on a $75 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 248K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Antoine Fuqua
- Bruce WillisLieutenant A.K. Waters
- Monica BellucciDr. Lena Fiore Kendricks
- Cole HauserJames 'Red' Atkins
- Eamonn WalkerEllis 'Zee' Pettigrew
- Johnny MessnerKelly Lake
- Nick ChinlundMichael 'Slo' Slowenski
- Tom SkerrittCaptain Bill Rhodes
- Akosua BusiaPatience
- Peter MensahTerwase
- Malick BowensColonel Idris Sadick