Freedom Writers

2007, Drama, 2h 3m

126 Reviews 250,000+ Ratings

What to know

critics consensus

Freedom Writers is a frank, formulaic entry in the inspirational inner-city teacher genre, with an energetic Hilary Swank leading the appealing cast of unknowns. Read critic reviews

You might also like

Daddy's Little Girls
We Are Marshall
ATL
Glory Road
In Her Shoes

Where to watch

Rent/buy from $2.99 Rent/buy from $2.99 Rent/buy from $3.99

Rate And Review

User image

Verified

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Step 2 of 2

    How did you buy your ticket?

    Let's get your review verified.

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

    You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • How did you buy your ticket?

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

Freedom Writers Videos

View All Videos (10)

Freedom Writers Photos

View All Photos (65)

Movie Info

A dedicated teacher (Hilary Swank) in a racially divided Los Angeles school has a class of at-risk teenagers deemed incapable of learning. Instead of giving up, she inspires her students to take an interest in their education and planning their future. She assigns reading material that relates to their lives and encourages them all to keep journals.
  • Rating:
    PG-13 (Some Thematic Material|Language|Violent Content)
  • Genre:
    Drama
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Richard LaGravenese
  • Producer:
    Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher
  • Writer:
    Richard LaGravenese
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $36.6M
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    Paramount Pictures
  • Sound Mix:
    Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
  • Aspect Ratio:
    Flat (1.85:1)

Cast & Crew

Hilary Swank
Erin Gruwell
Patrick Dempsey
Scott
Scott Glenn
Steve
Imelda Staunton
Margaret Campbell
April L. Hernandez
Eva
Deance Wyatt
Jamal
Mario
Andre
Vanetta Smith
Brandy
John Benjamin Hickey
Brian Beskin
Pat Carroll
Miep Gies
Jason Finn
Marcus
Hunter Parrish
Ben
Robert Wisdom
Carl Cohn
Kristin Herrera
Gloria
Blake Hightower
Clive
Will Morales
Paco
Richard LaGravenese
Director
Richard LaGravenese
Writer
Danny DeVito
Producer
Michael Shamberg
Producer
Stacey Sher
Producer
Hilary Swank
Executive Producer
Tracy Durning
Executive Producer
Jim Denault
Cinematography
David Moritz
Film Editing
Margery Simkin
Casting
Laurence Bennett
Production Design
Peter Borck
Art Director
Linda Lee Sutton
Set Decoration
Cindy Evans
Costume Design
Mark Isham
Original Music
will.i.am
Original Music
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Freedom Writers

All Critics (126) | Top Critics (44) | Fresh (88) | Rotten (38)
Full Review… Kat Halstead Little White Lies Full Review… Anna Smith BBC.com Full Review… Liz Beardsworth Empire Magazine Full Review… Joshua Rothkopf Time Out Full Review… Peter Rainer Christian Science Monitor Full Review… Lisa Schwarzbaum Entertainment Weekly Full Review… Kaleem Aftab The List Full Review… Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Full Review… Heather Huntington ReelzChannel.com Full Review… Bruce Bennett Spectrum (St. George, Utah) Full Review… Ryan Cracknell Calgary Movies Full Review… Nick Davis Nick's Flick Picks
View All Critic Reviews (126)

Audience Reviews for Freedom Writers

  • Apr 06, 2015
    To a younger audience, the film's detailing of racial tension in Long Beach, USA is really quite hard-hitting, but to a more mature audience, Freedom Writers is a far more watered down account of racism and gang warfare, even sometimes stooping to "Step Up" levels of bittersweetness. I've still given it 3 stars out of 5 because whilst I feel it is inaccurate, the film was thoroughly enjoyable because of its young cast of talented unknowns and an extremely good performance from Hilary Swank with an insightful script to work with.
    Harry W Super Reviewer
  • Mar 08, 2012
    Yes it's corny, yes it's predictable, and yes these characters are as generic as ever, but that doesn't stop Freedom Writers from being extremely powerful, moving and inspirational. Hilary Swank does a great job in the lead here, but the unknown actors and actresses who play the Freedom Writers are the soul of the film; they are incredible. Apart from being predictable and square, this film had me crying and laughing at the same time, had me snickering and get angry at character that I disliked, and more than once made me want to jump and yell with joy. It's a must see film.
    Raymond W Super Reviewer
  • Feb 26, 2012
    HOW DO I REECH THEESE KEEDS?
    Edward S Super Reviewer
  • Sep 24, 2011
    An inspirational films that makes you cry.
    Sylvester K Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

Movie & TV guides