Freedom Writers

PG-13

Released Jan 5, 2007

2 hr. 3 min.

Drama

TRAILER

for Freedom Writers: Trailer 1

List

70%

126 Reviews

Tomatometer

87%

250,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Nov 29

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Apple TV

Rent Freedom Writers on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

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

Yash B

"Freedom Writers" is a great movie that really feels like a tribute to the great teachers of the world. I think it is a movie that has a wide appeal and is very entertaining. I think it highlights the importance of writing and self-expression and that is something I personally just think I can resonate with. I think Hilary Swank is also great in this movie and I think the storylines just kept my interest and also were very engaging. Overall, it is a movie that touched me multiple times and I think it is an inspiring story that most could benefit from watching.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/01/24

Full Review

Jeff M

Good intentions, couple touching scenes, but unconvincing protagonist and horribly one-dimensional supporting characters, weak ending, very predictable.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/24

Full Review

Jasmine M

In the film " freedom writers" director Richard LaGravenese tells the tale of a dedicated high school teacher eager to teach a group of at-risk teenagers. The teacher's (Ms. Gruwell)plans for the students to succeed in life, at first teaching them was hectic but as the months go by students understood her intentions and began to come to class and actually wanted to learn. I was particularly struck by one scene in which the teacher (Ms. Gruwell) introduces the students to an activity to start off class. Before class, she places a red line going down the middle of the room. The students walked in a bit confused but eventually, they listened to what she was planning on. Ms. Gruwell began to ask simple questions and students were fond of it, by each time she asked a question, it gets more personal. The emotions were high and you can tell how the game and the questions she asked impacted their point of view on each other. The whole point of this game was for students to relate and connect to each other on a sentimental level. I recommend this movie to anyone interested because it shows how all the kids really needed was a teacher who actually cared about them and someone who could care less and give up the first week. Since the first week of teaching that class, Ms. Gruwell was determined to make a change and was highly eager to make her students graduate.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/28/23

Full Review

Shock Therapy R

First of all: true story. But not a Pollyanna story. She loses her husband over her conviction for others. She fights the power dynamics, but in a respectful way. But more importantly, she fought and won the hearts and minds of her cohort class. This is a beautiful story. Now I'm going to go read what's wrong with 30% of RT on this one. Such harsh grading despite the literal blood, sweat, and tears. What does it take for your passing score?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Lina's b

I totally loved this movie, i wasn't interested in watching it at first sigh though. But after starting it and in the very first minutes of it i was captivated and it gained all my curiosity about how the story would end for all these attaching characters with such awful and rude lives. Yet i still think that the director could've put more effort into showing more of their backstories and not just skipping from year to year.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

Qasim R

One of the best movie I ever watched in my life , really meant it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/01/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Richard LaGravenese

Director

Hilary Swank

Erin Gruwell

Patrick Dempsey

Scott

Scott Glenn

Steve

Imelda Staunton

Margaret Campbell

April L. Hernandez

Eva

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

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

64%

85%

Coach Carter

TRAILER

for Coach Carter

95%

82%

The Class

60%

78%

The Secret Life of Bees

22%

72%

The Last Sin Eater

88%

70%

Starting Out in the Evening

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Box Office Guru Preview: Captain Jack and Captain Morgan Set Sail

Paramount, MTV Doing Bong Hits 4 Jesus

Box Office Guru Wrapup: "Stomp" Steps All Over New Releases

Freedom Writers: Trailer 1

2:16

View more videos

View more photos

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

Stuff.co.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

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
Executive Producer: Hilary Swank, Tracy Durning
Screenwriter: Richard LaGravenese
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: MTV Films, Jersey Films, Double Feature Films, Paramount Pictures
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
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Most Popular at Home Now