Freedom Writers

Play trailer

2:16

Freedom Writers

PG-13

Released Jan 5, 2007

2h 3m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

69%

Tomatometer

124 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

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 Critics Reviews

Kat Halstead

Little White Lies

You'll be embarrassed, sad, happy then exhausted.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 27, 2007

Full Review

Anna Smith

BBC.com

Has its inspiring moments - especially given the true story - and some tense, dramatic scenes amid the speedy montages of confusing gang action.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 27, 2007

Full Review

Liz Moody

Empire Magazine

Despite solid work from the engaging cast, there's nothing new here to distinguish Freedom Writers as anything beyond a C+.

Rated: 2/5

Feb 27, 2007

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

LaGravenese tends to simplify and lean on the melodrama but he tells the stories of the students with compassion, notably Eve (April Lee Hernandez), who has grown up in a war zone of an inner city defined by ethnic boundaries.

Aug 19, 2023

Full Review

James Croot

The Post NZ

This film delivered an injection of fresh ideas into a stale genre.

Rated: 3.5/5

Oct 21, 2022

Full Review

Kaleem Aftab

The List

A touching performance from Hilary Swank ensures that Freedom Writers is not just another tripe genre movie.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 3, 2018

Full Review

Read all reviews

Nim T

An intensifying school film regarding discrimination and hard life living individuals, Freedom Writers brings a important issue that is worth discussing especially to those that possibly have experienced these horrible events. Hilary Swank did not fail me with her superb acting in this movie. Her character was not of strong, but still a firm character with hope and principles. The efforts she did for the students was noble and led to great outcomes that would have made a difference to the current society. It is sad to know about how media today negatively impacted how one learns, but in the movie they integrated with telling the students' inner stories. Imelda Staunton and Patrick Dempsey were the "villains" in the film, being not so supportive of Erin. The movie was motivating, and a wonderful asset to the collection of movies that I watched.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/02/25

Full Review

Matthieu F

thank you mrs de olivera for putting this movie in class. one of the best movies ive ever watched. actually it probably is the best. although you got fired its okay i still remembered this is my favorite moment in your class. without this movie i dont think i would be anything. this movie is very life changing and very motivating. i really enjoyed the plot and the movie was very entertaining. thank you for creating this amazing movie. this is very relatable to my personal life any many others. thanks ms. d u a g.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/01/25

Full Review

Mirela s

Esse filme me tocou...

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/03/25

Full Review

Lise T

Inspirational. Hillary Swank does a superbe job as a teacher in an inner city high school. She finds the way to motivate her students to surpass themselves by being devoted and dedicated and by showing them their potential.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/25

Full Review

Anne K

I absolutely loved this!!! I lived in the US during the 90's.. it was shocking how many lives were lost belonging to my us friends.. The film is fantastically executed!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/19/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Love this movie. There has lot of people can learn from this movie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/12/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Richard LaGravenese

Director

Hilary Swank

Erin Gruwell

Patrick Dempsey

Scott

Scott Glenn

Steve

Imelda Staunton

Margaret Campbell

April L. Hernandez

Eva

Freedom Writers: Official Clip - We Mattered

2:06

Freedom Writers: Official Clip - You Are Not Failing

1:35

Freedom Writers: Official Clip - You Don't Even Like Them

2:13

Freedom Writers: Official Clip - Paco Did It

2:05

Freedom Writers: Official Clip - I Am Home

2:01

Freedom Writers: Official Clip - When Will I Be Free?

1:54

Freedom Writers: Official Clip - You Are The Heroes

2:05

Freedom Writers: Official Clip - Not So Different

1:45

Freedom Writers: Official Clip - I Saw the War for the First Time

1:27

View more videos

Coach Carter

64%

85%

Coach Carter

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Coach Carter

The Class

95%

82%

The Class

Watchlist

The Secret Life of Bees

60%

78%

The Secret Life of Bees

Watchlist

The Last Sin Eater

22%

72%

The Last Sin Eater

Watchlist

Starting Out in the Evening

89%

70%

Starting Out in the Evening

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Freedom Writers: Trailer 1

2:16

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

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.

Director: Richard LaGravenese
Producer: Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher
Screenwriter: Richard LaGravenese
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Double Feature Films, Paramount Pictures, Jersey Films, MTV Films
Rating: PG-13 (Some Thematic Material|Language|Violent Content)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 5, 2007, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $36.6M
Runtime: 2h 3m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Most Popular at Home Now