# The Core

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2003 film by Jon Amiel

This article is about the 2003 science fiction film. For other uses, see [Core](/source/Core_(disambiguation)).

The Core Theatrical release poster Directed by Jon Amiel Written by Cooper Layne John Rogers Produced by David Foster Cooper Layne Sean Bailey Starring Aaron Eckhart Hilary Swank Delroy Lindo Stanley Tucci D. J. Qualls Richard Jenkins Tcheky Karyo Bruce Greenwood Alfre Woodard Cinematography John Lindley Edited by Terry Rawlings Music by Christopher Young Production companies David Foster Productions MFP Munich Film Partners Distributed by Paramount Pictures Release date March 28, 2003 (2003-03-28) Running time 135 minutes Country United States Language English Budget $85 million[1] Box office $74.1 million[1]

***The Core*** is a 2003 American [science fiction](/source/Science_fiction_film) [disaster film](/source/Disaster_film) directed by [Jon Amiel](/source/Jon_Amiel) with screenplay written by Cooper Layne and [John Rogers](/source/John_Rogers_(writer)) and starring [Aaron Eckhart](/source/Aaron_Eckhart), [Hilary Swank](/source/Hilary_Swank), [Delroy Lindo](/source/Delroy_Lindo), [Stanley Tucci](/source/Stanley_Tucci), [D. J. Qualls](/source/DJ_Qualls), [Richard Jenkins](/source/Richard_Jenkins), [Tcheky Karyo](/source/Tch%C3%A9ky_Karyo), [Bruce Greenwood](/source/Bruce_Greenwood), and [Alfre Woodard](/source/Alfre_Woodard). The film focuses on a team of scientists whose mission is to drill to the center of the Earth and set off a series of [nuclear explosions](/source/Nuclear_weapon) in order to restart the rotation of the [Earth's core](/source/Structure_of_the_Earth).

The film was released on March 28, 2003, by [Paramount Pictures](/source/Paramount_Pictures). It received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $74 million worldwide with a production budget of $85 million.

## Plot

After 32 people mysteriously drop dead in [Boston](/source/Boston), the [U.S. government](/source/Federal_government_of_the_United_States) calls in scientists Dr. Joshua "Josh" Keyes and Dr. Serge Leveque. They determine that each person had a pacemaker and that electrical interference has caused them to malfunction. Other incidents involving the [Earth's magnetic field](/source/Earth's_magnetic_field) lead Josh and Dr. Conrad Zimsky to the conclusion that the [Earth's inner core](/source/Earth's_inner_core) has stopped rotating. Unless it is restarted, the magnetic field will continue to degrade and eventually collapse, exposing the Earth to devastating [solar radiation](/source/Solar_radiation).

The U.S. government devises a plan to detonate [nuclear weapons](/source/Nuclear_weapon) within the [Earth's outer core](/source/Earth's_outer_core) to restart the rotation. They bring on Zimsky's former partner, Dr. Ed "Braz" Brazzelton, to build a vessel to deliver the bombs. The vessel, named *[Virgil](/source/Virgil)*, is made of [unobtainium](/source/Unobtainium), a material that Braz developed to withstand extreme pressure. [NASA](/source/NASA) pilots [Commander](/source/Commander) Robert Iverson and [Major](/source/Major_(rank)) Rebecca "Beck" Childs are enlisted to pilot *Virgil* and computer [hacker](/source/Hacker) Theodore Donald "Rat" Finch is brought on to avoid general panic by keeping news of further disasters and *Virgil*'s mission off the internet.

*Virgil* is launched through the [Marianas Trench](/source/Marianas_Trench) and enters the [crust](/source/Crust_(geology)) using a laser-based drilling array. After entering the [mantle](/source/Earth's_mantle), *Virgil* drills and falls into a gigantic empty [geode](/source/Geode), damaging the drilling array. While working to free the vessel from the outside, Iverson is killed by a falling shard. They escape before the geode is flooded with magma. As *Virgil* passes through a field of [diamond](/source/Diamond) formations, one of them breaches the compartment housing the weapons-control module. Serge sacrifices himself to get the team the information and tools they need to detonate the nukes before the compartment is sealed and jettisoned.

The team reaches the outer core and realizes that it is much less dense than previously believed, meaning that their nuclear payload is too small for their current plan. Zimsky shares this with mission leader [Lieutenant General](/source/Lieutenant_general_(United_States)) Thomas Purcell and reveals to the team his work on DESTINI, a U.S. [tectonic weapon](/source/Tectonic_weapon) that likely stopped the core's rotation. Purcell orders them to return, as he plans to try to use DESTINI to restart the core. However, Josh argues that doing so could permanently destabilize it and trigger massive natural disasters. The team elects to continue over Zimsky and Purcell's objections.

A burst of [ultraviolet](/source/Ultraviolet) rays destroys the [Golden Gate Bridge](/source/Golden_Gate_Bridge) and causes power outages along the West Coast. Concerned about further power outages preventing DESTINI from being fired, Purcell gives the order to do so. Josh communicates with Rat about DESTINI and the latter prevents Purcell from firing the weapon by redirecting power away from it.

The team devises a plan to place a bomb in each of *Virgil*'s remaining compartments, jettison them, and stagger the detonations, using constructive [wave interference](/source/Wave_interference) to increase the force of the bombs. Braz sacrifices himself, going into the uncooled crawlspace of the ship and activating the control so they can manually detach compartments.

As they set the charges, Josh and Zimsky realize that the last bomb needs more explosive power than the others. The bomb in the second-to-last compartment falls on Zimsky's leg and he is unable to escape before the compartment is ejected. Josh uses the [nuclear fuel rods](/source/Nuclear_fuel) from *Virgil*'s reactor to provide the additional energy for the final detonation. The main compartment is left powerless as the bombs begin to detonate, killing Zimsky, and successfully restarting the core's rotation.

Josh recalls that unobtainium can convert heat and pressure to energy and the two restore *Virgil*'s power in time to ride the pressure wave from the explosions out of the core. Eventually they breach the ocean floor near [Hawaii](/source/Hawaii), but lose power due to the cold water. Purcell and the [U.S. Navy](/source/United_States_Navy) search for them until Rat realizes that the *Virgil* crew is using low-power [ultrasound](/source/Ultrasound) to draw whales to them, leading to Josh and Beck being rescued.

Shortly afterward, Rat uploads information about *Virgil*, its team, and DESTINI to the internet, leading to worldwide news reports and tributes to the lost team members.

## Cast

- [Aaron Eckhart](/source/Aaron_Eckhart) as Dr. Joshua "Josh" Keyes, a professor of geophysics at the [University of Chicago](/source/University_of_Chicago) who designs the navigation system for *Virgil* and is assigned as head of the project.

- [Hilary Swank](/source/Hilary_Swank) as [Major](/source/Major_(United_States)) Rebecca "Beck" Childs, [USAF](/source/United_States_Air_Force), an astronaut who distinguished herself during an emergency crash landing of the [Space Shuttle *Endeavour*](/source/Space_Shuttle_Endeavour) in [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles), California, a result of the magnetic instability.

- [Delroy Lindo](/source/Delroy_Lindo) as Dr. Edward "Braz" Brazzelton, the designer of *Virgil* and the ultrasonic lasers.

- [Stanley Tucci](/source/Stanley_Tucci) as Dr. Conrad Zimsky, Earth specialist and designer of Project DESTINI, based in Alaska.

- [Tcheky Karyo](/source/Tch%C3%A9ky_Karyo) as Dr. Serge Leveque, nuclear weapons specialist, and colleague and friend of Dr. Keyes.

- [Bruce Greenwood](/source/Bruce_Greenwood) as [Commander](/source/Commander_(United_States)) Robert "Bob" Iverson, [USN](/source/United_States_Navy), Major Childs' commander and mentor.

- [D. J. Qualls](/source/DJ_Qualls) as Theodore Donald "Rat" Finch, a computer hacker who is widely regarded as the best in the world, crippled the FBI's database, recruited to control the flow of information on the Internet to prevent public panic.

- [Alfre Woodard](/source/Alfre_Woodard) as Dr. Talma "Stick" Stickley, the mission controller for [NASA](/source/NASA) [Space Shuttle *Endeavour*](/source/Space_Shuttle_Endeavour) and *Virgil*.

- [Richard Jenkins](/source/Richard_Jenkins) as [Lieutenant General](/source/Lieutenant_general_(United_States)) Thomas Purcell, [U.S. Army](/source/United_States_Army), leader of the operation.

- [Fred Ewanuick](/source/Fred_Ewanuick) as *Endeavour* Flight Engineer Jenkins

## Production

*The Core* began development in the late 1990s under producer [David Foster](/source/David_Foster_(film_producer)) for [Paramount Pictures](/source/Paramount_Pictures) and was one of several *[Journey to the Center of the Earth](/source/Journey_to_the_Center_of_the_Earth)* inspired projects in development at the time along with *Inner Earth* at [20th Century Fox](/source/20th_Century_Studios) and a straight adaptation of the novel at [Walt Disney Pictures](/source/Walt_Disney_Pictures).[2] Initially [Peter Hyams](/source/Peter_Hyams) had been announced to be in final negotiations to direct.[2] In September 2001, it was announced that [Jon Amiel](/source/Jon_Amiel) had signed on to direct.[3] That same month, it was also announced that [Aaron Eckhart](/source/Aaron_Eckhart) had signed on to star in the film with co-star [Hilary Swank](/source/Hilary_Swank) joining the following month in October.[4][5]

*The Core* had out-to-sea scenes, featuring the [USS *Abraham Lincoln* (CVN-72)](/source/USS_Abraham_Lincoln_(CVN-72)), with full support of the [US Navy](/source/United_States_Navy).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

The original plan for the shuttle landing scene had been for *Endeavour* to attempt a landing at [Los Angeles International Airport](/source/Los_Angeles_International_Airport) (LAX) with the shuttle coming to a halt on the nearby beaches. However, due to the events of [September 11, 2001](/source/September_11_attacks), the crew was not allowed to film at LAX. The scene was therefore rewritten with *Endeavour* landing in the [L.A. River](/source/L.A._River).

## Reception

*The Core* garnered mixed reviews from critics. On the [review aggregator](/source/Review_aggregator) website [Rotten Tomatoes](/source/Rotten_Tomatoes), 39% of 160 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.3/10. The website's consensus reads: "A B-movie with its tongue planted firmly in cheek, *The Core* is so unintentionally (intentionally?) bad that it's a hoot."[6] On [Metacritic](/source/Metacritic), another aggregation website, the film has a [weighted average](/source/Weighted_average) score of 48 out of 100 based on reviews from 32 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[7] Audiences polled by [CinemaScore](/source/CinemaScore) gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.[8]

In his review, [Roger Ebert](/source/Roger_Ebert) gave the film two and a half stars out of four and said "I have such an unreasonable affection for this movie, indeed, that it is only by slapping myself alongside the head and drinking black coffee that I can restrain myself from recommending it."[9]

The film grossed $31.1 million in United States theaters, and another $43.0 million overseas for a total worldwide gross of $74.1 million[1] against a production budget of $85 million.[1]

Several reviews cited the numerous scientific inaccuracies in the film.[10][11][12] [Elvis Mitchell](/source/Elvis_Mitchell) of *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)* said: "The brazen silliness of *The Core* is becalming and inauthentic, like taking a bath in nondairy coffee creamer. The Earth core's inability to turn is mirrored in the cast's inability to give the picture any spin."[13] [Kenneth Turan](/source/Kenneth_Turan) of the *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)* was a little more forgiving, saying: "If *The Core* finally has to be classified as a mess, it is an enjoyable one if you're in a throwback mood. After all, a film that comes up with a rare metal called [unobtainium](/source/Unobtainium) can't be dismissed out of hand."[14]

In response to criticism of his screenplay's lack of scientific realism, screenwriter John Rogers responded that he tried to make the science accurate, but expended three years fighting "to get rid of the ... dinosaurs, magma-walks in 'space-suits', bullshit-sci-crap sources for the Earth's crisis, and a windshield for the ship *Virgil*."[15]

On March 30, 2009, it was reported that [Dustin Hoffman](/source/Dustin_Hoffman) was leading a campaign to get more real science into science-fiction movies. Hoffman is on the advisory board of the [Science & Entertainment Exchange](/source/Science_%26_Entertainment_Exchange), an initiative of the [United States National Academy of Sciences](/source/United_States_National_Academy_of_Sciences), intended to foster collaborations between scientists and entertainment industry professionals in order to minimize inaccurate representations of science and technology such as those found in *The Core*.[16]

In a poll of hundreds of scientists about bad science fiction films, *The Core* was voted the worst.[16]

On February 21, 2010, *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)* ran an article about American professor [Sidney Perkowitz](/source/Sidney_Perkowitz)'s proposals to curb bad science in science fiction movies. In the article, Perkowitz is said to have hated *The Core*. "If you violate [the coherent rules of science] you are in trouble. The chances are that the public will pick it up and that is what matters to Hollywood. *The Core* did not make money because people understood the science was so out to lunch".[17]

## See also

- *[Crack in the World](/source/Crack_in_the_World)*, 1965 film with a similar plot

- *[Deep Core](/source/Deep_Core_(film))*, 2000 film with a similar plot

- *[Polar Storm](/source/Polar_Storm)*, 2009 film with a similar plot

- *[Geostorm](/source/Geostorm)*, 2017 film with a similar plot

- [List of disaster films](/source/List_of_disaster_films)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Numbers_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Numbers_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Numbers_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Numbers_1-3) ["The Numbers.com"](http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Core-The#tab=summary). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150910113013/http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Core-The#tab=summary) from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2015.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-TheCoreProd_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-TheCoreProd_2-1) ["Par digs Hyams for 'The Core'"](https://variety.com/1999/film/news/par-digs-hyams-for-the-core-1117757525/). Variety. Retrieved June 12, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-TheCoreDir_3-0)** ["Amiel drives to 'Core'"](https://variety.com/2001/film/news/amiel-drives-to-core-1117853060/). Variety. Retrieved June 12, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-TheCoreAE_4-0)** ["Eckhart heads to Earth's 'Core'"](https://variety.com/2001/film/news/eckhart-heads-to-earth-s-core-1117853359/). Variety. Retrieved June 12, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-TheCoreHS_5-0)** ["Swank centers on 'Core'"](https://variety.com/2001/film/news/swank-centers-on-core-1117854660/). Variety. Retrieved June 12, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Rotten_Tomatoes_6-0)** ["*The Core*"](https://web.archive.org/web/20240224035430/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/core). *[Rotten Tomatoes](/source/Rotten_Tomatoes)*. [Fandango Media](/source/Fandango_Media). Archived from [the original](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/core) on February 24, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["The Core (2003)"](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-core). *[Metacritic](/source/Metacritic)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220504044258/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-core) from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Cinemascore"](https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/). Archived from [the original](https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/) on December 20, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [Ebert, Roger](/source/Roger_Ebert) (March 28, 2003). ["The Core movie review & film summary (2003)"](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-core-2003). *[Chicago Sun-Times](/source/Chicago_Sun-Times)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220309053631/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-core-2003) from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2020 – via [RogerEbert.com](/source/RogerEbert.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Tracey, Janey. ["When Sci-Fi Goes Wrong: Physicist Explains the Non-Science of The Core"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201112012530/https://www.outerplaces.com/science/item/4722-physicist-explains-the-non-science-of-the-core). *www.outerplaces.com*. Archived from [the original](https://www.outerplaces.com/science/item/4722-physicist-explains-the-non-science-of-the-core) on November 12, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Did The Movie 'The Core' Get Anything Right?"](https://sciencefiction.com/2012/02/13/did-the-movie-the-core-get-anything-right/). *ScienceFiction.com*. February 13, 2012. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200227153727/https://sciencefiction.com/2012/02/13/did-the-movie-the-core-get-anything-right/) from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Bad Science | The Core at 15"](https://www.headstuff.org/entertainment/film/the-core-at-15/). *HeadStuff*. March 28, 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210308025954/https://www.headstuff.org/entertainment/film/the-core-at-15/) from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [Mitchell, Elvis](/source/Elvis_Mitchell) (March 28, 2003). ["Movie Review - 'The Core' - Trying to Jump-Start the Earth's Heart"](https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/28/movies/film-review-trying-to-jump-start-the-earth-s-heart.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220506232024/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/28/movies/film-review-trying-to-jump-start-the-earth-s-heart.html) from the original on May 6, 2022. Retrieved May 6, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [Turan, Kenneth](/source/Kenneth_Turan) (March 28, 2003). ["At its center, 'The Core' is a fun ride"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-mar-28-et-turan28-story.html). *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20131203015954/http://articles.latimes.com/2003/mar/28/entertainment/et-turan28) from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["The Screenwriter Of THE CORE Responds!!"](http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/14288). *[Ain't It Cool News](/source/Ain't_It_Cool_News)*. January 4, 2003. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210927054102/http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/14288) from the original on September 27, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-reality_16-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-reality_16-1) ["'Actor Dustin Hoffman lobbies for more reality in science-fiction movies'"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120629020608/http://www.news.com.au/news/actor-dustin-hoffman-lobbies-for-more-reality-in-science-fiction-movies/story-fna7dq6e-1225697804105). News.com.au. March 30, 2009. Archived from [the original](http://www.news.com.au/news/actor-dustin-hoffman-lobbies-for-more-reality-in-science-fiction-movies/story-fna7dq6e-1225697804105) on June 29, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Sample, Ian (February 21, 2010). ["Drive to make Hollywood obey the laws of science"](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/feb/21/hollywood-films-obey-laws-science). *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*. London. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210609211459/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/feb/21/hollywood-films-obey-laws-science) from the original on June 9, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2010.

## External links

- [*The Core*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298814/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [*The Core*](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=thecore.htm) at [Box Office Mojo](/source/Box_Office_Mojo)

- [*The Core*](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_core) at [Rotten Tomatoes](/source/Rotten_Tomatoes)

- [Review of The physics of *The Core*](http://www.badastronomy.com/bad/movies/thecore_review.html) at [Bad Astronomy](/source/Bad_Astronomy)

- [Review of *The Core*](http://www.intuitor.com/moviephysics/core.html) at [Intuitor.com](http://www.intuitor.com/moviephysics/)

v t e Films directed by Jon Amiel The Silent Twins (1986) Queen of Hearts (1989) Tune in Tomorrow (1990) Sommersby (1993) Copycat (1995) The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997) Entrapment (1999) The Core (2003) Creation (2009) Deliverance Creek (2014)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [The Core](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Core) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Core?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.