Sarah’s Oil Review: A Heartfelt History Lesson That Sometimes Runs Dry

There’s something undeniably powerful about watching a forgotten piece of Black history get its moment in the cinematic sun. Sarah’s Oil, directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh and set for release on November 7, 2025, takes on the true story of Sarah Rector, a young Black girl from early-1900s Oklahoma who becomes one of America’s first Black millionaires when oil was discovered on her land. It’s a story that deserves the spotlight. The question is, does the film do it justice? Well… mostly.

At its core, Sarah’s Oil is the kind of biographical drama that wants to inspire audiences while sneaking in a bit of history homework. The real Sarah Rector was born in 1902 in what was then the Oklahoma Indian Territory. Her family was part of the Creek Nation, and after land allotments were distributed, she was given a seemingly worthless patch of land. That “worthless” land, of course, turned out to be sitting on top of a fortune in oil. By age eleven, she was a millionaire and a target for every scheming adult within a hundred miles. It’s an extraordinary true story, and the movie captures the broad strokes beautifully.

Where Sarah’s Oil shines brightest is in its performances. Naya Desir-Johnson makes an impressive big-screen debut as young Sarah. She carries the movie with an earnestness that feels both fresh and deeply grounded. Sonequa Martin-Green, as Sarah’s mother Rose, brings warmth and emotional weight to every scene, and her real-life husband Kenric Green matches her energy perfectly as Sarah’s father Joe. Their chemistry gives the film a heartbeat that keeps it pulsing even when the script falters.

Speaking of faltering, the storytelling here can be a little rough around the edges. The film’s pacing is choppy, and several storylines feel unresolved, as if someone forgot to tie up a few too many narrative loose ends. The climax, which should have packed a powerful emotional punch, ends up feeling strangely anticlimactic. For a film about one of the richest kids in American history, it occasionally runs on empty.

There’s also the matter of tone. While Sarah’s Oil clearly aims to celebrate Black resilience and historical triumph, it can’t quite escape a recurring Hollywood habit: the overabundance of white saviors. For a story centered on a young Black girl’s incredible determination and the systemic racism she faced, too many moments lean on white characters stepping in to “help” or explain the plot. It’s not enough to ruin the movie, but it does dull its edge especially when you consider how radical Sarah Rector’s story really is. Now, if the people in the story are accurate fine but it was noticeable.

Garret Dillahunt plays one of the film’s key antagonists with his usual finesse. He’s so good at being bad that you almost wish he’d been given more screen time (and, let’s be honest, it’s always a little heartbreaking to see him playing the villain when he’s so good at being the good guy). Meanwhile, Zachary Levi is… there. He did more than I thought he was capable as an actor.

Visually, the film does what it needs to do. Shot primarily in Oklahoma, the production design nails the early-20th-century setting without feeling like a dusty museum piece. The cinematography captures both the isolation and the quiet beauty of the Midwest landscape, helping ground the historical drama in something tactile and lived-in.

Despite its flaws, Sarah’s Oil has its heart in the right place. It’s an earnest, well-meaning attempt to shine a light on a chapter of history that’s too often overlooked. If anything, it may encourage audiences to look up the real Sarah Rector, a girl who navigated racism, legal battles, and public scrutiny to control her own fortune long before she was old enough to do anything. That’s a story worth telling, even if this particular retelling doesn’t strike oil every time it drills.

So, does Sarah’s Oil live up to its potential? Not entirely. But thanks to breakout performances, strong direction, and a story that demands to be remembered, it’s still worth the trip to the theater. You might not walk out fully satisfied, but you’ll walk out knowing who Sarah Rector was and that alone feels like a victory.

Verdict: An inspiring story bogged down by uneven pacing, rescued by excellent performances and a rich historical core.

Rating: ★★★☆☆