The Sapphires

Play trailer

The Sapphires

PG-13

Released Mar 22, 2013

1h 43m

Musical

Comedy

Biography

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

138 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

A would-be music promoter (Chris O'Dowd) sees something special in a girl group of four Australian singers and takes them to Vietnam to perform for American troops.

Watch on Peacock

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

While it's plenty predictable and sentimental, The Sapphires also has an irresistible feel-good vibe, winning music and charming performances to spare.

Read Critics Reviews

Francesca Steele

Independent (UK)

This feelgood flick will almost certainly be an international hit and it is undeniably uplifting, the joyousness of soul music smoothing out the odd shifts in tone that arise as a result of the strange genre conflict.

Aug 11, 2017

Full Review

Joe Neumaier

New York Daily News

This charming Australian import has a groove much like other low-key, let's-put-on-a-show indies such as Hear My Song and The Commitments, and never uses its social conscience as simply backbeat.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 1, 2014

Full Review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

Exuberant but fairly formulaic.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 12, 2013

Full Review

Oti

For Your Reference Podcast

A heartwarming blend of light and shadow, beautifully juxtaposing joyous-soulful music with the era's stark realities.

Rated: 3.5/5

Feb 8, 2024

Full Review

KT Mahe

For Your Reference Podcast

The Sapphires is a solid entry into Indigenous cinema from so called Australia. There is a considered balance to addressing topics like the Stolen generation with the levity of music, love and family.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 8, 2024

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a mostly affable yet entirely generic endeavor that benefits from its solid performances and rousing musical numbers...

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 13, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Jacqueline M

One of the most feel good cheesy Glorious, funny. Sad films I've seen for a while .engaging from the start to the end Beautiful women, beautiful voices, wonderful story line . Definitely will watch again

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/20/24

Full Review

chris l

This is a great movie! The music and the true story are amazing!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/22/23

Full Review

Roy V

There's something in the Australian water, in her wild environs, in her wastelands, in her history, that allows for both aboriginals and convicts to forge a character that's inimitable! Her actors and producers are tier one!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/16/23

Full Review

steven c

Not quite as good as the Commitments, but a similar type of story. Chris O'Dowd is hilarious and the four girls are terrific singers and actresses. The story pulls you along with lots of laughs and some very thoughtful insights into the plight of the Australian Aborigines. In particular, the tragedy of the separation of children from their culture and families was new to me. The connections between the Australian situation and the plight of blacks and First Nations people in North America was brought home in a clever way using the Stolen Generation and the Vietnam War as a backdrop. But despite this, the movie is not preachy or depressing. It's a thoroughly enjoyable flick that sends you away hopeful, laughing, and thinking; a very nice accomplishment.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Although some fairly horrible stuff happens in this movie, it's the one I turn to when I need to feel better. I've watched it at least 6 times. The story comes across as sincere and true to life, and I love the music. One-two-three, one-two-three!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

hardy c

Yes fairly predictable and blah blah but O'Dowd's charm and the ensemble of talented ladies do justice to MoTown Music in the 60s. The underlying theme of Aussie racism makes a nice backdrop to the horrific racist war being fought in the so-called "defense" of democracy and freedom.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Wayne Blair

Director

Chris O'Dowd

Dave Lovelace

Deborah Mailman

Gail

Jessica Mauboy

Julie

Shari Sebbens

Kay

Miranda Tapsell

Cynthia

Philomena

91%

89%

Philomena

Watchlist

One Chance

64%

64%

One Chance

Watchlist

The Lady in the Van

89%

64%

The Lady in the Van

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Lady in the Van

Joyful Noise

32%

65%

Joyful Noise

Watchlist

Footloose

68%

61%

Footloose

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Footloose

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Digital Multiplex: Cockneys vs Zombies, Olympus Has Fallen and More

Critics Consensus: The Croods is Charming and Funny

View more photos

Synopsis

A would-be music promoter (Chris O'Dowd) sees something special in a girl group of four Australian singers and takes them to Vietnam to perform for American troops.

Director: Wayne Blair
Producer: Rosemary Blight, Kylie de Fresne
Screenwriter: Keith Thompson, Tony Briggs
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: Goalpost Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Sexuality|A Scene of War Violence|Smoking|Some Language|Thematic Elements)
Genre: Musical, Comedy, Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 22, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 14, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.4M
Runtime: 1h 43m

Most Popular at Home Now