What to know

critics consensus

The Mauritanian takes a frustratingly generic approach to a real-life story that might have been inspirational in other hands, but Tahar Rahim's performance elevates the uneven material. Read critic reviews

You might also like

Where to watch

Show all services

Rate And Review

User image

Verified

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Step 2 of 2

    How did you buy your ticket?

    Let's get your review verified.

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

    You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • How did you buy your ticket?

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

The Mauritanian Videos

View All Videos (2)

The Mauritanian Photos

View All Photos (5)

Movie Info

Directed by Kevin Macdonald and based on the NY Times best-selling memoir "Guantánamo Diary" by Mohamedou Ould Slahi, this is the inspiring true story of Slahi's fight for freedom after being detained and imprisoned without charge by the U.S. Government for years. Alone and afraid, Slahi (Tahar Rahim) finds allies in defense attorney Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster) and her associate Teri Duncan (Shailene Woodley) who battle the U.S. government in a fight for justice that tests their commitment to the law and their client at every turn. Their controversial advocacy, along with evidence uncovered by a formidable military prosecutor, Lt. Colonel Stuart Couch (Benedict Cumberbatch), uncovers shocking truths and ultimately proves that the human spirit cannot be locked up.

Cast & Crew

Jodie Foster
Nancy Hollander
Tahar Rahim
Mohamedou Ould Slahi
Shailene Woodley
Teri Duncan
Benedict Cumberbatch
Stu Couch
Zachary Levi
Neil Buckland
Saamer Usmani
Arjun
Langley Kirkwood
Sergeant Sands
Corey Johnson
Bill Seidel
Kevin Macdonald
Director
M.B. Traven
Screenwriter
Rory Haines
Screenwriter
Sohrab Noshirvani
Screenwriter
Adam Ackland
Producer
Leah Clarke
Producer
Benedict Cumberbatch
Producer
Lloyd Levin
Producer
Beatriz Levin
Producer
Mark Holder
Producer
Show all Cast & Crew

News & Interviews for The Mauritanian

Awards Leaderboard: Top Movies of 2020 – Rotten Tomatoes
The BAFTA Film Awards 2021 Nominations: Nomadland and Rocks Dominate, Horror Hit His House Surprises
Tahar Rahim’s Five Favorite Films
View All

Critic Reviews for The Mauritanian

All Critics (192) | Top Critics (46) | Fresh (141) | Rotten (51)

  • Filmed largely indoors and in often claustrophobic spaces, the movie isn't always subtle, but its impact is felt particularly in the scenes featuring Rahim. His powerful performance is supported respectfully by Foster, Cumberbatch and Woodley.

    April 16, 2021 | Full Review…

    Udita Jhunjhunwala

    Scroll.in

  • The subject is charismatic in a way that the film is not. But he is VERY charismatic, and it's his performance that sees this through.

    April 6, 2021 | Full Review…

    Mark Kermode

    Kermode & Mayo's Film Review

  • The real-life story is enraging, and it's fun to see Benedict Cumberbatch's morally conflicted military prosecutor lock horns with Foster's icy human rights lawyer.

    April 4, 2021 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Simran Hans

    Observer (UK)

  • Few viewers will find themselves unengaged during The Mauritanian, but there are too many middlebrow beats either side of the jarring chords.

    April 2, 2021 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Donald Clarke

    Irish Times

  • Macdonald and his producers and writers wanted too much... The result? A bland smattering of each that teases us with the possibility of complex roles.

    April 2, 2021 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Kevin Maher

    Times (UK)

  • The film's power lies in its direct confrontation with the ideology that underpinned it all... The Mauritanian is notable, too, for how much of its perspective is actually granted to Salahi.

    April 1, 2021 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

    Clarisse Loughrey

    Independent (UK)
View All Critic Reviews (192)

Audience Reviews for The Mauritanian

There are no featured audience reviews for at this time.

See All Audience Reviews

The Mauritanian Quotes

There are no approved quotes yet for this movie.

Movie & TV guides