The Core

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2:11

The Core

PG-13

Released Mar 28, 2003

2h 16m

Action

Sci-Fi

Adventure

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

39%

Tomatometer

157 Reviews

34%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Geophysicist Dr. Josh Keyes (Aaron Eckhart) discovers that an unknown force has caused the earth's inner core to stop rotating. With the planet's magnetic field rapidly deteriorating, our atmosphere literally starts to come apart at the seams with catastrophic consequences. To resolve the crisis, Keyes, along with a team of the world's most gifted scientists, travel into the earth's core. Their mission: detonate a device that will reactivate the core.

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Critics Consensus

A B-movie with its tongue planted firmly in cheek, The Core is so unintentionally (intentionally?) bad that it's a hoot.

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Matthew Rozsa

Salon.com

Although the acting is top notch, the rest of "The Core" is too cliché and bloated to be enjoyable... the bigger problem with "The Core" is that the information that it presents to audiences as legitimate science is, quite simply, bunk.

Rated: 1.5/4

Feb 5, 2023

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

This is a big, dumb, explosion movie.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 28, 2010

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

Sadly, that's not the case. Cooper Lane and Jon Rogers' script is paint-by-numbers at best and Amiel directs as if his attention is firmly rooted somewhere else, like on his next project.

Rated: 2/4

Jun 19, 2003

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

The Core may be among the worst disaster thrillers as far as realism is concerned but the the film's cast keeps it entertaining.

Rated: 3/5

May 5, 2023

Full Review

Kevin Carr

Fat Guys at the Movies

Bombastic and ridiculous, this bonkers action movie is a lot of fun as a throwback to science-versus-nature thrillers of the past.

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 17, 2023

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James Croot

The Post NZ

Is this the most bonkers blockbuster disaster movie of all-time?

Rated: 2.5/5

Jun 9, 2022

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Cameron M

Ahead of it’s time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/29/25

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Daniel A

This movie is fantastic. That is what it is. In the original sense of the word. Fantastic. The director, gaffers , actors , etc. they knew what this movie was: a Clichè disaster movie. But by god does it strike a chord within myself that every time I see it streaming that I buy a crate of 5% beer and just tune in to this film. The acting is top. It is believable. The physics of the film is only bad as they get through the mantle. I can understand that the rest of the film is all speculation, as if it was made of cheese! What does it matter !?!?!? It’s a film. 2001: A Space Odyssey has a massive baby? As much as it is an amazing film, sometimes I like just dirt disaster. 80IQ and sitting in front of the television with large amounts of alcohol, my girlfriend sitting besides me equally as drunk. Probably shouting ‘why has Hilary Swank got such lovely incisors?’ Or ‘what is Unobtanium?’ I would recommend this film on the grounds of: A: are you a fan of SCI- FI? B: Are you high? This film deserves the credit it tried to bring itself, it knew what it was. Where do you turn left at England? ITS WALES!! WALES!!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/19/25

Full Review

Shawn R

I dunno.. it's actually a good movie. Grab your popcorn and check it out.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/17/25

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Joey G

This movie is great. I have seen alot of action thrillers. But this is different this has way more action and a good cast. The story is bad but that doesnt matter. The cast and some of the atmosphere was amazing for its time. And the movie is filled with action no boring dramatic scènes all the time. Its perfect for a drink night to watch a b movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/31/25

Full Review

xpig332 B

Ridiculous, stupid, bogus!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/30/25

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Ian R

Truly woeful movie. The cast is wasted on this piece of rubbish. It is almost a cartoon. An interesting premise, but ruined by the worst Hollywood 'science' imaginable. Radio communication to the surface from the bottom of the Marianas trench and then from several thousand feet below that into the centre of the Earth? Which supposedly has a molten metal core that can be forced to start spinning again by detonating nuclear bombs? I didn't pay anything to see it, but I want my money back anyway.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/05/25

Full Review

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Jon Amiel

Director

Aaron Eckhart

Dr. Josh Keyes

Hilary Swank

Major Rebecca "Beck" Childs

Delroy Lindo

Dr. Ed "Braz" Brazzelton

Stanley Tucci

Dr. Conrad Zimsky

DJ Qualls

Theodore Donald 'Rat' Finch

The Core: Official Clip - The Golden Gate Bridge Melts

1:35

The Core: Official Clip - Empty Space

2:12

The Core: Official Clip - The Earth Will Be Cooked

2:08

The Core: Official Clip - The Birds

1:57

The Core: Official Clip - Crystal Grand Canyon

1:48

The Core: Official Clip - Unobtainium

1:44

The Core: Official Clip - Rome Destroyed

1:32

The Core: Official Clip - Drilling In

2:11

The Core: Official Clip - Braz Burns Alive

2:02

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Synopsis

Geophysicist Dr. Josh Keyes (Aaron Eckhart) discovers that an unknown force has caused the earth's inner core to stop rotating. With the planet's magnetic field rapidly deteriorating, our atmosphere literally starts to come apart at the seams with catastrophic consequences. To resolve the crisis, Keyes, along with a team of the world's most gifted scientists, travel into the earth's core. Their mission: detonate a device that will reactivate the core.

Director: Jon Amiel
Producer: David Foster, Sean Bailey, Cooper Layne
Screenwriter: Cooper Layne, John Rogers
Distributor: United International Pictures, Paramount Pictures, GAGA Communications [jp], Humax Pictures Inc., 01 Distribuzione
Production Co: David Foster Productions, Horsepower Films, Paramount Pictures, Core Prods. Inc., StudioCanal, RAI Cinema
Rating: PG-13 (Sci-Fi Life/Death Situations|Brief Strong Language)
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Adventure, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 28, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $31.1M
Runtime: 2h 16m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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