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Adventure Cult Classic

Murder, ancient secrets, and a mummy’s curse await in the sands beneath the Sphinx.

SPHINX

Someone is hunting tourists out of season.

1981 · 1h 58m · PG · Adventure / Mystery / Thriller · IMDB TMDB

Egyptologist Erica Baron finds more than she bargained for during her long-planned trip to The Land of the Pharoahs: murder, theft, betrayal, love, and a mummy's curse.

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Quick Answer

What is Sphinx about?

Sphinx is a 1981 Netherlands/USA adventure, mystery, and thriller film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner about an Egyptologist caught in a deadly search for ancient treasures.

Programmer's Pick

Ancient curses, murderous art dealers, and a dash of tragic romance—Sphinx delivers vintage tomb-raiding intrigue with a scholarly twist. Lesley-Anne Down makes a game heroine in a world where even the tour guides seem suspicious. Not your average vacation in Luxor.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

When Egyptologist Erica Baron arrives in Cairo to research the enigmatic chief architect to Pharaoh Seti, she quickly becomes entangled in a perilous web of intrigue. After witnessing the murder of a notorious art dealer, Erica meets a charismatic French journalist and the influential head of the UN antiquities division. Her scholarly pursuit leads her to the fabled Valley of the Kings, where rumors of a tomb brimming with treasures draw danger ever closer. Erica soon finds herself pursued by ruthless black marketeers determined to claim the riches for themselves, forcing her to navigate betrayals, forbidden passages, and the ever-present shadow of a pharaoh's curse. Sphinx blends adventure, mystery, and romance against a backdrop of Egypt’s timeless wonders.

Details & Specs

Director
Franklin J. Schaffner
Writers
John Byrum, Robin Cook
Release
1981
Runtime
1h 58m
Country
Netherlands, United States of America
Language
English
Genres
Adventure, Mystery, Thriller

Why This Matters

Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and adapted from Robin Cook's 1979 novel, this 1981 adventure film exemplifies the era's trend of translating popular contemporary literature into star-driven Hollywood productions.
— SassyFlix Curator

Cast & Crew

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Director: Franklin J. Schaffner Writers: John Byrum +1 more
Lesley-Anne Down Lesley-Anne Down Erica Baron Frank Langella Frank Langella Akmed Khazzan Maurice Ronet Maurice Ronet Yvon Mageot John Gielgud John Gielgud Abdu-Hamdi Vic Tablian Vic Tablian Khalifa Martin Benson Martin Benson Mohammed John Rhys-Davies John Rhys-Davies Stephanos Markoulis Nadim Sawalha Nadim Sawalha Gamal Saeed Jaffrey Saeed Jaffrey Selim William Hootkins William Hootkins Don, Tour Guide James Cossins James Cossins Lord Carnarvon Victoria Tennant Victoria Tennant Lady Carnarvon Tutte Lemkow Tutte Lemkow Tewfik Hamdi Behrouz Vossoughi Behrouz Vossoughi Menephta, The Royal Architect Eileen Way Eileen Way Aida CS Cengiz Saner Akmed's Servant

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Why Cult

Egyptian Treasure Hunt

Follow Erica Baron’s quest through tombs and the Valley of the Kings in search of secrets and stolen riches.

Cult Cast of Characters

Unravel ancient mysteries alongside a colorful cast, from art dealers to black marketeers and journalists.

Mummy's Curse Intrigue

Experience the added suspense of a pharaoh’s curse looming over every secret chamber and stolen artifact.

Black Market Danger

Watch as academia collides with criminal greed, making every discovery potentially deadly.

Scene Gallery

Threat File

Trigger

Erica’s search for the pharaoh’s treasure

Threat

Black marketeers and a pharaoh’s curse

Effect

Murder, betrayal, and peril for treasure seekers

Setting

Cairo and the Valley of the Kings

Questions from the Vault

Who directed Sphinx? +

Franklin J. Schaffner directed Sphinx.

How long is Sphinx? +

Sphinx has a runtime of 118 minutes.

What genre is Sphinx? +

Sphinx is an adventure, mystery, and thriller film.

Where can I watch Sphinx? +

You can watch Sphinx on SassyFlix.

Trailers & Clips

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