Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time has built a real following in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Disney Plus among viewers who want their sci-fi to think as hard as it looks. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Jake Gyllenhaal anchors it with a performance that grounds the bigger ideas in something human. Start it on Disney Plus whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time earns its spot. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time uses its genre premise as cover for asking bigger questions. A rogue prince reluctantly joins forces with a mysterious princess and together, they race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time – gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world. Jake Gyllenhaal and Gemma Arterton lead a cast that never lets the concept overwhelm the characters. It was released in 2010. The rules of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time's world are consistent enough that the big swings never feel like cheating. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is satisfying on multiple levels — something to watch and something to think about after. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Jake Gyllenhaal grounds the bigger ideas in something human. Once you are in, you will want to talk about it.