Why is “Sarah’s Oil” rated PG? The MPAA rating has been assigned for “thematic content, some violence, language including racial slurs, a suggestive reference and brief smoking.” The Kids-In-Mind.com evaluation includes an implied sexual encounter, a man being shot to death, a dog being shot, many scenes of people threatening each other with guns, a couple of physical altercations leaving bloody wounds, discussions of two young children being murdered, many threats against a young girl and her family, discussions of taking advantage of grieving people for money, discussions of manipulating the law to the advantage of the moneyed and powerful, and some strong language including racial slurs. Read our parents’ guide below for details on sexual content, violence & strong language.

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Based on the true story of a young girl (Naya Desir-Johnson), who was given the deed to a piece of land in Oklahoma. Convinced it was brimming with oil, her challenge became how to maintain her rights to the land against high-powered oil executives, their lawyers and their henchmen that wanted the mineral rights. Also with Zachary Levi, Sonequa Martin-Green, Garret Dillahunt, Mel Rodriguez, Kenric Green, Bridget Regan, Adyan Copes, Stelio Savante and Selase Botchway. Directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh. A few words are spoken in Spanish without translation. [Running Time: 1:43]

Sarah’s Oil SEX/NUDITY 2

 – A woman confronts a man about not seeing him lately; she remarks about slipping out of her bloomers, implying a sexual encounter. We hear that a man reads the obituaries in newspapers in order to then prey on the widows of rich men.

Sarah’s Oil VIOLENCE/GORE 4

 – We read a newspaper headline that says that two young children were murdered and people are concerned that they were killed for their land rights. A man stops his vehicle when he sees two other men armed and walking toward him; he draws a weapon and tells them to leave and they shoot him; he gasps while lying on the ground and he is shot again (we see him dead later). A man points a gun at a young girl and another man shoots the gun out of his hand; tribal police arrest the first man.
► Four people hide outside a house when two men with guns pound on the door and break in; a dog rushes into the house barking and one man shoots it; we hear a whimper and later see a pool of blood on the floor as a woman says the dog went somewhere to die (we see the dog alive later).
► A young girl and a young boy hide alone and become frightened when two armed men shoot at them; they run behind a berm until tribal police arrive and arrest the men. Two armed men pound on the door of a house and the people inside shoot at them when they try to get inside; the people outside leave. A man is punched and struck with a gun butt (we see blood on his mouth). A man slams another man against a wall while yelling at him. A man punches another man in the face, knocking him to the ground when the man is about to make a derogatory comment about a young girl.
► People prepare to blow up oil wells and the equipment on them when a group of men uncovers a Gatling gun mounted on the back of a truck; a young girl pushes down the plunger and the ground shakes and explodes as a giant geyser of oil shoots out of the ground.
► Several armed people go to a drilling site and people there arm themselves. A man is physically thrown out of an oil company’s office. A young girl is told that a café is for “whites only,” and that she needs to leave; a woman in the café pushes the child out and tells her, “Go on, shoo.” A man tries to convince another man to give him a deed to a piece of land and becomes threatening when the man refuses. Fearing that someone will steal a deed, people bury it in the ground.
► A young girl tells her parents that she is convinced that there is oil on her land and they are dismissive. A young girl negotiates a contract with oil executives to lease her land, and for a percentage of the proceeds if oil is struck. Two men argue bitterly and one says they argue like an old married couple. People are told that an oil sample is tainted with salt water. A quote reads, “The meek shall inherit the Earth, but not the mineral rights.” We hear that a man reads the obituaries in newspapers to then prey on the widows of rich men.
► Drilling machinery makes loud noises and stops running as smoke plumes out of the hole in a few scenes; we understand that the drill has seized. A man runs away when several women and a lawyer approach him and he knows that he has misled and swindled them. A young girl finds a dog’s collar stained with blood next to railroad tracks. A young girl lies down and puts her ear to the ground as we hear rumbling.

Sarah’s Oil LANGUAGE 3

 – 2 anatomical terms, 5 mild obscenities, 9 derogatory terms for African-American people, 1 derogatory term for Native American people, 1 derogatory term for Mexican people, name-calling (grifters, felon, cagey, foolish, crook, grafter guardians, fatter than a Kansas cow, stupid hillbilly, sugar, mutt, skunk, sneaky pig, thieves, beady little eyes), exclamations (applesauce, outfoxed you, the game is rigged), 10 religious exclamations (e.g. for Heaven’s sake, dear Lord, help me Jesus, oh my God, my God, Lord have mercy, Lord). | profanity glossary |

Sarah’s Oil SUBSTANCE USE

 – None.

Sarah’s Oil DISCUSSION TOPICS

 – Native American land, mineral rights, land ownership, racism, Jim Crow laws, adventure, John D. Rockefeller, Standard Oil, manipulation of the legal system by those with power, trust, betrayal, NAACP, forgiveness, optimism, the soul, blind faith, oil fever, slavery, Texas handshake, possession is 9/10 of the law, guardianship, moral, spiritual and economic values.

Sarah’s Oil MESSAGE

 – Life is all about taking risks. God gave us gifts and the only sin is not to use them.