Inspirational biopic Sarah’s Oil, which opens in theaters on Nov. 7, dramatizes how spirited 11-year-old Sarah Rector (newcomer Naya Desir-Johnson) became one of America’s first Black millionaires in an era of widespread discrimination.
A tale of oil, greed, and determination
Set in turn-of-the-century Oklahoma, Sarah's Oil is a tale of oil barons squeezing the little guy, eager prospectors chasing that elusive gusher, and a family with a plot of land and big prayers.
Sarah’s Oil comes from writer-director Cyrus Nowrasteh (The Young Messiah) and his wife, Betsy, who adapted recent historical book Searching for Sarah Rector as a mostly-true story of faith and entrepreneurship.
It invents some characters and subplots for this narrative, notably fast-talking Texas drifter Bert (Zachary Levi) and his friend Mace (Mel Rodriguez) –- archetypes of the “wildcatters” common to oil fields of the time.
But Rector’s ancestors, who didn’t have script approval and only saw the film after it was produced, say Sarah’s Oil reflects the stories they grew up hearing.
“She was feisty,” said Rosina Graves, about the portrayal of her aunt Sarah, whom she knew. “I like that! She was really sassy (and) she knew what she wanted.”
Referencing the myths and half-truths that surround her wealthy ancestor, Graves praised how the filmmakers did their homework. “The story that you guys told is more of the truth than any others that we have seen or heard or heard people talk about.”
High-stakes faith on the untamed frontier
Reminiscent of Little House on the Prairie, this biopic depicts a family pulling together against all odds on the American frontier.
Sarah’s parents Joe and Rose –- portrayed by married couple Kenric Green and Sonequa Martin-Green (Star Trek: Discovery) –- guide Sarah to lean on God, mirroring the Greens’ real-life faith.
“As believers, this is what we want to do,” said Martin-Green. “We have a passion to tell stories that glorify the Lord and also true stories that people have never heard of before.”
Indeed, it’s a forgotten chapter of American history.
Racial discrimination is evident in early 1900s Oklahoma, as the Reconstruction era closes. The Black family was not allowed to enter cafes, faced constant racial slurs, and had limited legal rights.
Sarah Rector was awarded 160 acres of land under the Dawes Allotment Act, a piece of 1887 federal legislation that allotted land to individual members of Native American tribes.
That included minors like Sarah, a tribal member whose ancestors were people of African descent formerly enslaved by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
But oil barons of the time counted on families like theirs not paying the taxes due and losing the land, so they could swoop in.
With determination and a sense of divine purpose, young Sarah hires her own crew of “wildcatters,” led by Levi’s character, to tap the oil she just knows is present. She navigates conflict at the oil derrick and in court, as others seek to steal what’s hers.
A large burden placed on a child actor
The film has echoes of other history biopics, including 2016’s Hidden Figures, about contributions of African-American women to the space program; and Self Made, a Netflix series which recounts how Black woman C.J. Walker started a home-goods empire despite opposition.
But the best comparison I have for this drama is Blue Miracle, about how a team of misfit orphans and a grizzled has-been captain enter a boating race around the Baja Peninsula. Fifteen minutes in, anyone watching that film has a good idea of where it’s going.
Similarly, the quest for a gusher gives Sarah’s Oil its central focus. Despite a finale one can predict, the fun of it is seeing characters overcome obstacles with humor and personality.
Young Naya as Sarah carries the film with an energy and nuance rarely seen in child actors. Kansas City historian Diane Euston, who knows the Rector descendants well, spoke of how Sarah broke down racial barriers of the time and “did things her way.”
“You see that spirit in the movie with the little girl who plays her – that's the spirit I believe that she really did have,” said Euston.
"... a child shall lead them."
Some will surely criticize the inspirational film “template” here as somewhat cookie-cutter.
In fact, cynics could see Sarah’s Oil as the latest in a trilogy of Zachary Levi Learns Truths from a Child in a Biopic Produced by the Erwin Brothers.
Each of the films are very different, though. In American Underdog, Levi portrays NFL star Kurt Warner, who learns a lot from the son of his eventual wife, Brenda. And that theme is central to The Unbreakable Boy, where Levi plays a dad whose son is on the autism spectrum.
How did Jesus regard children? “Unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven,” we read in Matthew 18:3. Personally, I believe this is a theme worth reexamining often.
While Sarah’s Oil may follow certain tropes, it also presents a unique and compelling story.
Coming soon to Wonder Project's new streaming service
Sarah's Oil comes from Jon Erwin’s new venture Wonder Project, known for the hit TV series House of David. Wonder’s convenient add-on streaming channel to Prime Video already has over 500,000 subscribers -– a big step to critical mass. This biopic is expected to premiere there in weeks.
An ideal pick for family holiday viewing, Sarah’s Oil feels like an old-school Disney movie – elevating how a vivacious little girl played a pivotal role in history.
Rated PG for thematic content, some violence, language including racial slurs, a suggestive reference, and brief smoking, Sarah’s Oil is now playing in theaters.
Image: Shane Brown© 2025 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Freelance journalist Josh Shepherd writes on faith and culture for several media outlets. He and his family live in central Florida.
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