Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (film)

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Mike Newell
Produced by	Jerry Bruckheimer
Screenplay by	Boaz Yakin Doug Miro Carlo Bernard
Story by	Jordan Mechner
Based on	Prince of Persia by Jordan Mechner
Starring	Jake Gyllenhaal Gemma Arterton Ben Kingsley Alfred Molina Richard Coyle
Music by	Harry Gregson-Williams
Cinematography	John Seale
Edited by	Michael Kahn Martin Walsh Mick Audsley
Production companies	Walt Disney Pictures Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Distributed by	Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release date	May 9, 2010 (2010-05-09) (London premiere) May 28, 2010 (2010-05-28) (United States)
Running time	116 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$150–$200 million
Box office	$336.4 million

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is a 2010 American action fantasy film directed by Mike Newell. The film was written by Jordan Mechner, Boaz Yakin, Doug Miro, and Carlo Bernard, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, and released by Walt Disney Pictures on May 28, 2010. The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Prince Dastan, Gemma Arterton as Princess Tamina, Ben Kingsley as Nizam, and Alfred Molina as Sheik Amar. The film has the same title as the video game Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, and is primarily based on it. Elements from Warrior Within and The Two Thrones, the two other titles from the Sands of Time trilogy of the Prince of Persia video game franchise, are also incorporated. The film was premiered in London on May 5, 2010 and was officially released on May 28, 2010 in the United States. It received mixed reviews from critics, and grossed over $336 million against a production budget of $150–200 million.

Dastan, a street urchin in Persia, is adopted by king Sharaman after showing courage in the marketplace. Fifteen years later, Sharaman's brother Nizam receives proof that the holy city of Alamut is supplying weapons to Persian enemies, and the princes — Dastan, along with the king's biological sons Tus and Garsiv — are sent to siege and take over Alamut. Dastan and his friends breach into the city on their own, and open a gate letting the Persians in. During the attack, Dastan fights a guard for Alamut's royal family and takes from him a special dagger.

Alamut falls to the Persians, but princess Tamina denies the town having any weapon forges. Tus asks her to marry him to unite the two nations, and she only accepts after seeing the dagger in Dastan's possession. During the celebration, Dastan is fooled into presenting a poisoned gown seemingly given to him by Tus to King Sharaman, which fatally burns the king. Garsiv accuses Dastan of being the murderer, and the prince is forced to escape, carrying Tamina along. Tus is appointed king and orders a manhunt on Dastan.