Rotten Tomatoes
Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Tears of the Sun

Play trailer Poster for Tears of the Sun R 2003 2h 11m Action Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
34% Tomatometer 154 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
The Nigerian government has fallen, and the country is on the verge of civil war. Lt. A.K. Waters (Bruce Willis) has been assigned to lead a team of soldiers into the Nigerian jungle to rescue Dr. Lena Kendricks (Monica Bellucci). When Waters and his team locate Kendricks, she tells them she won't leave her helpless patients to be slaughtered by rebels. The team incurs the wrath of both U.S. and Nigerian forces when they side with Kendricks and attempt to march the refugees to safety.
Watch on Fandango Stream Now

Where to Watch

Tears of the Sun

Tears of the Sun

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Tries to be high-minded, but in the end, it's just a stylish action movie.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Namrata Joshi Outlook Jan 4, 2019
1/4
For me, Tears of the Sun is all about how easy it can be to make a film on the perceived brutalities of another man, easier still to turn it into a crashing bore of a film! Go to Full Review David Ansen Newsweek Mar 9, 2018
The movie's noble aspirations are clear--Bosnia and Rwanda were obviously on the filmmakers' minds--yet it's hopelessly steeped in stale Hollywood action conventions. Go to Full Review Nell Minow Common Sense Media Dec 28, 2010
1/5
Shamelessly one-sided with cheesy wooden dialogue. Go to Full Review Mark Steyn The Spectator Feb 1, 2018
It has a rare attention to detail and a strong sense of place. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Mar 19, 2013
C
Joe Lozito Big Picture Big Sound Dec 27, 2007
2/4
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Kevin M @RT07139583 Aug 12, 2026 It’s a great shut your brain off action movie, and when I say shut your brain off…I mean it. because the decisions made in this movie will boil your blood then your brain if you apply the slightest amount of real world logic to them. See more Mary F @RT70986907 Aug 10, 2026 Ummm, no. The critics had this precisely right. This was one long slowwww bore. And I found the speeches hilarious, as they occurred during the most dangerous moments, which made me scream, "Just stop talking and RUN!" But that suggests there were possibly moments of excitement and there weren't any. Willis is his usual wooden self in this stupid war movie chock full of Hollywood tropes. It's basically a bunch of white guys killing black guys in order to save black people from other black guys. I tuned in because I confused the title with a different film. I stayed for reasons unknown. It's still playing as I write and I could care less. See more jacek J @RT01942233 Aug 9, 2026 Once again "professional critics" totally missed a mark (funny how viewers reviews always are closer to the actual quality of the movie). Movie was really good. 3.5-4 stars (out of 5). Definitely worth watching. See more Ashlee K. @LoveNoir May 25, 2026 Bruce Willis has a very stoic, yet heartfelt performance. I do think I could have done away with some of the intensely violent scenes. What captivated me most is the connection I felt between the people. I highly recommend this for older audiences, but it does expose some of the worst pieces of war. See more Jeff H @Jethro71 Mar 14, 2026 Excellent movie & cast. Truly showed how the entire group grew to care for each other and die for each other. A Sadly happy ending/ not so happy ending. See more stefan C @RT89536469 Jan 27, 2026 Never watch the critic reviews Yes it another american hero story bud not a bad one great acting and sad shocking story. See more Read all reviews
Tears of the Sun

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Antoine Fuqua

Director

Bruce Willis

Lt. A.K. Waters

Monica Bellucci

Dr. Lena Kendricks

Cole Hauser

James "Red" Atkins

Eamonn Walker

Ellis "Zee" Pettigrew

Johnny Messner

Kelly Lake

More Like This

View All
Typhoon 25% 47% Typhoon Watchlist Lord of War 62% 85% Lord of War Watchlist Lockdown 58% 78% Lockdown Watchlist Unleashed 66% 75% Unleashed Watchlist Bat 21 82% 58% Bat 21 Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Tears of the Sun

Bruce Willis stars as Navy SEAL Lieutenant A.K. Waters in Revolution Studios' exciting action adventure Tears of the Sun, a Columbia Pictures release. Bruce Willis stars as Navy SEAL Lieutenant A.K. Waters in Revolution Studios' exciting action adventure Tears of the Sun, a Columbia Pictures release. Bruce Willis stars as Navy SEAL Lieutenant A.K. Waters in Revolution Studios' exciting action adventure Tears of the Sun, a Columbia Pictures release. (l to r) Bruce Willis and Monica Bellucci star as Navy SEAL Lieutenant A.K. Waters and Dr. Lena Kendricks in Revolution Studios' epic action adventure Tears of the Sun, a Columbia Pictures release. A scene from Revolution Studios' exciting action adventure Tears of the Sun, a Columbia Pictures release. A scene from Revolution Studios' exciting action adventure Tears of the Sun, a Columbia Pictures release. A scene from Revolution Studios' exciting action adventure Tears of the Sun, a Columbia Pictures release. Dr. Kendricks (Bellucci) refuses to be airlifted out of western Africa until she helps escort a group of locals including Musa (Awaovieyi) & Patience (Busia) to political asylum at a nearby border. Antoine Fuqua, director of Revolution Studios' action adventure Tears of the Sun, a Columbia Pictures release. (l to r) Bruce Willis chats with director Antoine Fuqua on the set of Revolution Studios' action adventure Tears of the Sun, a Columbia Pictures release. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis The Nigerian government has fallen, and the country is on the verge of civil war. Lt. A.K. Waters (Bruce Willis) has been assigned to lead a team of soldiers into the Nigerian jungle to rescue Dr. Lena Kendricks (Monica Bellucci). When Waters and his team locate Kendricks, she tells them she won't leave her helpless patients to be slaughtered by rebels. The team incurs the wrath of both U.S. and Nigerian forces when they side with Kendricks and attempt to march the refugees to safety.
Director
Antoine Fuqua
Producer
Mike Lobell, Arnold Rifkin, Ian Bryce
Screenwriter
Alex Lasker, Patrick Cirillo
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Revolution Studios
Rating
R (Some Brutality|Language|Strong War Violence)
Genre
Action, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 7, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 25, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA)
$43.4M
Runtime
2h 11m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital, Dolby SR, SDDS, Dolby Stereo, DTS, Surround, Dolby A
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings