The Swimmers (2022) | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

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83%

Tomatometer

63 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Based on a true story, THE SWIMMERS follows the journey from war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics. Two young sisters embark on a harrowing journey as refugees, putting both their hearts and champion swimming skills to heroic use.

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The Swimmers

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Critics Consensus

The Swimmers can be heavy-handed and it's arguably too long, but it handles a worthy topic with generally uplifting results.

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Critics Reviews

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The Swimmers (2022) | Rotten Tomatoes (1)

Claudia Puig

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

Inspiring, somewhat episodic, and definitely a crowd-pleaser.

Nov 30, 2022

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The Swimmers (2022) | Rotten Tomatoes (2)

David Jenkins

Little White Lies

Yusra Mardini’s story is one worth telling through film – and this does a solid job of that.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 25, 2022

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The Swimmers (2022) | Rotten Tomatoes (3)

Kimber Myers

Crooked Marquee

Directed by Sally El Hosaini (My Brother the Devil), The Swimmers combines two of cinema’s most inspirational genres — the sports movie and the survival drama — into a single moving film.

Rated: B

Nov 24, 2022

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The Swimmers (2022) | Rotten Tomatoes (4)

Yasmine El Rashidi

The New York Review of Books

The effect is emotionally gripping (the film does provoke tears), but the inner lives and anguish, the ongoing sorrow at losing a homeland, are somehow overlooked.

May 12, 2023

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The Swimmers (2022) | Rotten Tomatoes (5)

Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

The Swimmers indelibly depicts the horrors of the refugee crisis. ... The film makes no attempt, however, to explore why millions of Syrians, for example, have been forced to flee their homeland or to name those responsible.

Mar 24, 2023

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The Swimmers (2022) | Rotten Tomatoes (6)

Grace Han

Asian Movie Pulse

It is just a shame that the human should be so easily translated into Euro-American codes of filmic legibility. “The Swimmers” ends up – strangely enough – as a feel-good refugee movie.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 21, 2023

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Audience Reviews

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aaini a Well.. its a worth to watch. Definitely a big yes for it. U can experience many emotions while watching it. It also reveals one part of the world that is unknown to most of us. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/28/24 Full Review Robert S It's a very good movie, and worthwhile to watch. I was skeptical for a while, but it grew on me. It's a great feel-good story. The acting and direction are good. It's believable because it's true. They didn't overdramatize or sensationalize the story. Two thumbs up! Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/04/24 Full Review Rosana B Estou assistindo alternadamente dois filmes baseados em fatos reais sobre três nadadores excepcionais e especiais, "As Nadadoras" e "Nayd" e completamente encantada e apaixonada por ambos, impossível escolher melhor... Todas elas desafiaram a morte e seus próprios limites, e as irmãs Martini São heroínas porque fizeram isso em prol de outras vidas crianças homens e mulheres, puro altruísmo... Como não amá-las, respeitá-las e exaltá-las… Trilha sonora "Firework". Dolorido...Yusra atualmente estuda cinema na University of Southern California, continuou nadando e foi para Toqui 2020, além de ser Embaixadora da boa vontade da ACNUR. Enquanto Sarah, abandonou a carreira esportiva logo que escapou da Síria, em 2018 foi presa por 100 dias na Grécia e segue ativa na defesa dos refugiados vivendo na Europa. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/14/24 Full Review Miguel C I really appreciated how the movie went from light hearted to heavy handed and vice versa. It kept me on my toes not getting overwhelmed with one style or aspect. The story inspires anyone showing not even war can stop one's dream, in this case a young girls dream to compete in the Olympics. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/03/24 Full Review Carlos C I really enjoyed this movie. It hit all the right notes to keep me captivated this this story. The director does a great job of showcasing this journey. Felt inspired afterwards. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/20/23 Full Review LVH Fantastic, heartbreaking, and inspirational story. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/02/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Sally El Hosaini Director Nathalie Issa Yusra Mardini Manal Issa Sarah Mardini Matthias Schweighöfer Actor Ahmed Malek Actor James Krishna Floyd Actor

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The Swimmers: Teaser Trailer

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The Swimmers (2022)

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Synopsis Based on a true story, THE SWIMMERS follows the journey from war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics. Two young sisters embark on a harrowing journey as refugees, putting both their hearts and champion swimming skills to heroic use.

Director: Sally El Hosaini
Producer: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Tim Cole, Ali Jaafar
Screenwriter: Jack Thorne, Sally El Hosaini
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: AZ Celtic Films, Working Title Films
Rating: PG-13 (Some Violence|Sexual Assault|Language|Thematic Material)
Genre: Drama, Biography, Sports
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 11, 2022, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 23, 2022
Runtime: 2h 14m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital