Movie · 2004 · Adventure, Action, Thriller, Mystery · 2h 11m · PG · English
Curator score: 2.8/10 (765.8K ratings)
In order to break the code, one man will have to break all the rules.
Overview
Modern treasure hunters, led by archaeologist Ben Gates, search for a chest of riches rumored to have been stashed away by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin during the Revolutionary War. The chest's whereabouts may lie in secret clues embedded in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, and Gates is in a race to find the gold before his enemies do.
Ratings
Curator score: 2.8/10
IMDb: 6.9/10
Letterboxd: 3.33/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 47%
Metacritic: 40
TMDB: 6.6/10
Director
Jon Turteltaub
Production
Walt Disney Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Saturn Films, Junction Entertainment
Cast
Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Sean Bean, Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel, Christopher Plummer, David Dayan Fisher, Stewart Finlay-McLennan, Oleg Taktarov, Stephen A. Pope, Annie Parisse, Mark Pellegrino, Armando Riesco, Erik King, Don McManus, Ron Canada, Hunter Gomez, Deborah Yates, Arabella Field
Where to watch
Disney Plus, Hulu, fuboTV, AMC+, Philo
Curator Review
Verdict
A breezy, high-spirited adventure built on puzzles, conspiracies, and pure crowd-pleasing momentum. It is silly in places, but the movie’s earnest tone, propulsive chase structure, and playful historical hook make it an easy recommendation for viewers who want a fun, family-friendly treasure hunt.
Best for
fans of light adventure mysteries
viewers who enjoy puzzle-driven capers
families looking for a PG action movie
people who like conspiratorial history and secret codes
audiences in the mood for a glossy early-2000s studio adventure
Skip if
you want grounded realism
you dislike goofy dialogue and broad performances
you need tightly logical plotting
you prefer darker or more intense action films
Overview
National Treasure is a polished, shamelessly entertaining studio adventure that treats American history like a giant escape room. The premise is absurd, but the movie commits to it with enough confidence that the clues, chases, and reveals keep landing as pure popcorn fun.
Worth noting
Nicolas Cage plays the whole thing with just enough sincerity to sell the fantasy, while the supporting cast gives the movie a breezy, comic rhythm. It works best as a puzzle-box caper: less about suspense in the hard-edged sense, more about the pleasure of watching one clue unlock the next.
Bottom line
It is not subtle, and it is not trying to be. But as a family-friendly adventure with momentum, charm, and a strong sense of play, it remains one of the more durable crowd-pleasers of its era.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Cayls (4★) · 3546 likes
sean bean: we should steal the declaration of independence!nic cage: we can't steal the declaration of independence!sean bean: then I'll steal it myself!nic cage: not if I steal it first!
I love this logic
Karsten (3.5★) · 2681 likes
Far from the worst movie of all time but it definitely has the worst changing rooms.
sree (4★) · 2606 likes
WHERE'S NATIONAL TREASURE 3 YOU COWARDS
Georgia Coley (4★) · 2047 likes
I don't "stan" anyone mind you, but if I did, it would be Riley Poole from Disney's 2004 film National Treasure
Charlie (3.5★) · 1927 likes
This movie really ends with a woman handing Nic Cage a map to her pussy
2022 · Action, Adventure, Comedy · 1h 52m · PG-13 · Curator 1.5/10 (530.1K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Netflix Standard with Ads
A light, self-aware adventure comedy that pairs romance, chases, and hidden treasure.