Sarah’s Oil opens in theaters nationwide this Friday, November 7

Written By RNA Director

A remarkable, family-friendly true story of a young girl whose faith and courage changed history

LOS ANGELES — Amazon MGM Studios, Wonder Project, and Kingdom Story Company bring audiences the remarkable true story, Sarah’s Oil, in theaters nationwide this Friday, November 7.

Directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh (The Stoning of Soraya M., The Young Messiah) and co-written with Betsy Giffen Nowrasteh, the film assembles a world-class team both behind and in front of the camera. The ensemble cast stars Zachary Levi, Sonequa Martin-Green, Garret Dillahunt, Mel Rodriguez, Kenric Green, and Bridget Regan, and introduces Naya Desir-Johnson as Sarah Rector.

The biographical drama, inspired by Tonya Bolden’s 2014 book, “Searching for Sarah Rector: The Richest Black Girl in America,” tells the remarkable true story of Sarah Rector, an African American girl born in Oklahoma Indian Territory in the early 1900s, who believes there is oil beneath the barren land she’s allotted and whose faith is proven right. As greedy oil sharks close in, Sarah turns to her family, friends, and some Texas wildcatters to maintain control of her oil-rich land, eventually becoming among the nation’s first female African American millionaires—at eleven years old.

The film is produced by John Shepherd, Cyrus Nowrasteh, Kevin Downes, Daryl Lefever, Andrew Erwin, Jon Erwin, Zachary Levi, and Derrick Williams, and executive produced by Tony Young, Katelyn Botsch, Robert Scott Fort, Sherry Kang, Russell Wilson, and Ciara.

“The people who I want to see it the most are little Black girls all over the world,” said Naya Desir-Johnson, who shines in her breakout role. “When they see this, they might be like, ‘Wow, maybe I can do—’ like, if they have a dream in mind, they’ll be like, ‘I can do this too.’”

Sarah’s Oil is a testament to faith that endures hardship, to a family that stands firm, and to a legacy that cannot be buried. The film brings Sarah’s story to life to light with authenticity, reverence, and inspiration.

“Sarah’s story unfolds at a moment of transformation in America, when a young Black girl holds fast, with determination and perseverance, to the one thing she is given and refuses to let it be taken. My hope is that this film honors her courage and ensures her legacy is both seen and remembered,” shared director Cyrus Nowrasteh.

“I was just so taken with the script,” remarked actor and producer Zachary Levi. “This story was something I had never heard about—and really, nobody I knew had ever heard about. And I thought that was a shame. I thought that this was a story everyone should know.”

ABOUT SARAH’S OIL

  • Directed by: Cyrus Nowrasteh

  • Screenplay by: Betsy Giffen Nowrasteh & Cyrus Nowrasteh

  • Inspired by the book: “Searching for Sarah Rector” by Tonya Bolden

  • Produced by: John Shepherd, Cyrus Nowrasteh, Kevin Downes, Daryl Lefever, Andrew Erwin, Jon Erwin, Zachary Levi, Derrick Williams

  • Executive Producers: Tony Young, Katelyn Botsch, Robert Scott Fort, Sherry Kang, Russell Wilson, Ciara

  • Cast: Zachary Levi, Naya Desir-Johnson, Sonequa Martin-Green, Garret Dillahunt, Mel Rodriguez, Kenric Green, Bridget Regan

  • Genre: Drama

  • Rated PG for thematic content, some violence, language including racial slurs, a suggestive reference, and brief smoking

PRESS ASSETS

For more information about tickets and the film, visit: SarahsOilFilmInspires.com

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For interviews and more information, contact: Monique Sondag monique@dovetailsolutions.me

About Amazon MGM Studios
Amazon MGM Studios is a leading entertainment company focused on the production and global distribution of film and television content. Original series premiere on Prime Video, which is available to watch on hundreds of compatible devices in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. Original films are produced and acquired by the studio for theatrical release and exclusively for Prime Video. Amazon MGM Studios also produces content for MGM+, the premium pay television network.

About Kingdom Story Company:
Kingdom Story Company is the premier destination for making films that ignite a rush of hope. In partnership with Lionsgate, Kingdom Story Company prioritizes faith, inspiration, and positive impact in storytelling. Their films have consistently opened in the top ten at the box office, earning the coveted A+ CinemaScore rating six times, including the hit film “Jesus Revolution” in 2023. Other notable films include AMERICAN UNDERDOG, THE JESUS MUSIC, JOHNNY CASH: THE REDEMPTION OF AN AMERICAN ICON, and I STILL BELIEVE, further solidifying the company’s reputation for high-quality storytelling. In 2024 Kingdom Story Company released ORDINARY ANGELS, UNSUNG HERO, WHITE BIRD, and THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER nationwide. THE UNBREAKABLE BOY released February 2025. SARAH’S OIL and I CAN ONLY IMAGINE 2 are upcoming.

About Wonder Project:
Wonder Project’s mission is to entertain the world with courageous stories, inspiring hope and restoring faith in things worth believing in. Established by industry veterans Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten and Jon Erwin, the entertainment brand produces and curates premium theatrical films and series for the global faith and values audience. Its first project, House of David, is an epic period series based on David, the biblical figure who eventually becomes the most renowned and celebrated king of Israel. The series premiered exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories and has generated more than 44 million viewers worldwide.

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Religion News Association

RNA Director

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