Sarah's Oil
Sarah's Oil is a 2025 American biographical drama film regarding Sarah Rector, being directed, co-produced, and co-written by Cyrus Nowrasteh. It is inspired by the 2014 book Searching for Sarah Rector: The Richest Black Girl in America by Tonya Bolden. It stars Zachary Levi, Naya Desir-Johnson, Sonequa Martin-Green, and Garret Dillahunt.
Released theatrically by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer through Amazon MGM Studios on November 7, 2025, Sarah's Oil received generally positive reviews from critics and was fourth in the box office during its opening week; eleventh highest domestic grossing movie during November 2025 out of 128 movies released that year; and 106 highest domestic grossing movie of 2025.
Plot
The narrative follows Sarah, a descendant of the Creek Freedmen, who is granted 160 acres of land in Oklahoma through a federal allotment program. Considered worthless and unfit for farming, the land was expected to yield nothing. Guided by a deep personal conviction and her faith, Sarah insists there is oil beneath the surface. After her family leases the land, an oil gusher produces over 2,000 barrels a day, making her incredibly wealthy overnight. This attracts greedy oil sharks, corrupt officials, and white guardians who attempt to swindle her and control her fortune. Sarah fights back by empowering herself with education, she begins reading contracts and doing her own math to protect her rights. She eventually moves to Kansas City to escape the dangers of the Jim Crow South and manages her wealth as a successful businesswoman.Cast
- Zachary Levi as Bert Smith
- Naya Desir-Johnson as Sarah Rector
- * Tamala Jones voices the older Sarah
- Sonequa Martin-Green as Rose Rector
- Garret Dillahunt as Devnan
- Kenric Green as Joe Rector
- Mel Rodriguez as Mace
- Adyan Copes as Junior
- Bridget Regan as Kate Barnard
- Stelio Savante as Earl
- Marco Fuller as Jimsye
- Jonathan Lipnicki as a chemist
Production
In July 2024, principal photography was underway in Oklahoma for Sarah's Oil, which was directed, co-produced, and co-written by Cyrus Nowrasteh with Betsy Giffen Nowrasteh. In August, filming had wrapped, when Zachary Levi, Naya Desir-Johnson, Sonequa Martin-Green, Garret Dillahunt, Bridget Regan, Kenric Green, Adyan Copes, Stelio Savante, and Mel Rodriguez were revealed to have joined the cast.The film was shot primarily in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.