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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 151 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.
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Tears of the Sun

Tears of the Sun

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Critics Consensus

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

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Critics Reviews

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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
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Audience Reviews

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Mark W @RT80645719 13 hrs ago Great film about trying to do what's right in a world that doesn't know the difference anymore. See more
michael R @RT29395589 4 days ago Was on the edge of my seat the whole time and rooting for them to make it across the border. Such a great war movie! See more
Fernando C @RT02970701 Oct 11, 2026 Pinche pelicula toda hermosa y que chinguen a su madre los criticos mamadores See more
James E @jeelder Oct 5, 2026 While prognosticators have a tendency to downplay the emotional and ethical implications those are the exact things that those who have to exist and survive in combat situations deal with constantly while uncomfortable it is real and this film shows that unflinchingly. See 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
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Tears of the Sun

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Cast & Crew

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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

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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)
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