The Great Debaters

PG-13

Released Dec 25, 2007

2 hr. 7 min.

Drama

List

80%

134 Reviews

Tomatometer

86%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Poet and professor Melvin B. Tolson (Denzel Washington) teaches at the predominately black Wiley College in 1935 Texas. He decides to start a debate team, something nearly unheard of at a black college. While at first he butts heads with the influential father (Forest Whitaker) of one of his best debators, eventually he is able to form a team of strong-minded, intelligent young students, and they become the first black debate team to challenge Harvard's prestigious debate champions.

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Critics Consensus

A wonderful cast and top-notch script elevate The Great Debaters beyond a familiar formula for a touching, uplifting drama.

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Ashley N

Gem of a movie that I somehow missed when it came out. Excellent topics dealt with, excellent dialogue and acting. And uplifting, to boot!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/13/24

Full Review

SR C

Based on a true story, the debates are masterful. Set in the mid-1930's you overlook the parallels in what our country was struggling with then and what it is still struggling with today. Will we ever get it right? And more importantly am I part of the problem or part of the solution?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/26/24

Full Review

Kevin W

A Must See. The cast is excellent! It is one of the best movies I've seen in recent years! 5 Stars & waiting for you 👏👏👏👏👏

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/17/24

Full Review

V S

An amazing movie with witty dialogue, great acting, and an inspiring story. I'm so glad someone decided to make a film based on Melvin B. Tolson's Wiley College debating team. More stories like this need to be told. A must-watch film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/11/24

Full Review

Felix T

Just like Jake4444 wrote, "Can't imagine this movie scoring so high. all formulaic. schlocky music. every shot overlit to the point that it distances you from any feel of reality (Rousselot shot this?!), contrived shooting that is inept in effect, awful phony staging, no rhythm to any scene, confusing story even though very straightforward, very little about debating, acting very good but hindered by inept scripting and blandly cliché direction. nothing feels real, no environment feels lived-in. this story deserved far more specificity and much better execution. (even it's rudimentary Rockyesque button pushing fails.) Feels like everything from conception onward went through the standard corporate studio template and even that they couldn't get right. you'll get more out of reading about this worthy subject on wikipedia." Couldn't even finish it.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/05/24

Full Review

M B

Great movie. Great Actors. Denzel is an incredible actor. The whole cast is great. I really don't understand the lower reviews. 5/5

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/06/24

Full Review

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Denzel Washington

Director

Denzel Washington

Mel Tolson

Forest Whitaker

Dr. James Farmer Sr.

Nate Parker

Henry Lowe

Jurnee Smollett

Jurnee Smollett

Denzel Whitaker

James Farmer Jr.

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36%

66%

21

61%

60%

Resurrecting the Champ

64%

85%

Coach Carter

TRAILER

for Coach Carter

86%

61%

Me and Orson Welles

90%

84%

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: B+

Feb 18, 2012

Full Review

Joshua Rothkopf

Time Out

Rated: 2/5

Nov 17, 2011

Full Review

Amy Nicholson

I.E. Weekly

Despite its transparent manipulations, the film is more decent than it deserves to be, particularly when the kids step up to the podium and get passionate

Rated: C

Jan 29, 2008

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

It’s an inspirational tale of triumph over adversity that plays the debate competition like an underdog sports movie, complete with the cheering crowds celebrating each win, and the plotting of their road to victory is too neatly designed.

Apr 6, 2024

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

It follows a traditional sports movie narrative, showing us the team’s competitive and inner struggles, offering some profound experiences with which these debaters use to reinforce their arguments.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 6, 2023

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Though the classic underdog formula provides a somewhat predictable patterning, it's nevertheless a powerful story.

Rated: 8/10

Nov 24, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

Poet and professor Melvin B. Tolson (Denzel Washington) teaches at the predominately black Wiley College in 1935 Texas. He decides to start a debate team, something nearly unheard of at a black college. While at first he butts heads with the influential father (Forest Whitaker) of one of his best debators, eventually he is able to form a team of strong-minded, intelligent young students, and they become the first black debate team to challenge Harvard's prestigious debate champions.

Director: Denzel Washington
Executive Producer: Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, David Crockett
Screenwriter: Robert Eisele
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: Harpo Films
Rating: PG-13 (Disturbing Images|Brief Sexuality|Language|Strong Thematic Material|Violence)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 2007, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 14, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $30.2M
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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