Won't Back Down

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Won't Back Down

PG

2012

2h 1m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

34%

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103 Reviews

61%

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10,000+ Ratings

Jamie Fitzpatrick (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and Nona Alberts (Viola Davis) are two women from opposites sides of the social and economic track, but they have one thing in common: a mission to fix their community's broken school and ensure a bright future for their children. The two women refuse to let any obstacles stand in their way as they battle a bureaucracy that's hopelessly mired in traditional thinking, and they seek to re-energize a faculty that has lost its passion for teaching.

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Critics Consensus

Despite the best efforts of its talented leads, Won't Back Down fails to lend sufficient dramatic heft or sophistication to the hot-button issue of education reform.

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London Evening Standard

More anti-union propaganda masquerading as entertainment.

Rated: 2/5

Jan 25, 2013

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Joseph Walsh

Little White Lies

A straight-talking, partisan account about the failings of a broken system and a band of women who argued for better for their children.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 24, 2013

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

It is well meant, undoubtedly about something that matters, and it bends over backwards not to trash the teachers' unions gratuitously, but amid the attempts at gritty reality, I found the happy-ending imperative unconvincing.

Rated: 2/5

Jan 24, 2013

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Focuses on solving problems rather than assigning blame.

Rated: 3.0/4.0

Sep 27, 2020

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Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

A film of bumper sticker emotions, rather than ideas that might actually be helpful.

Rated: 1.5/4

Aug 6, 2019

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Kelly Jane Torrance

Washington Examiner

This is a gripping story, with only a few moments of awkwardness as policy details and pros and cons are explained.

Rated: 2.5/4

Dec 20, 2018

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Jerod S

If you're a teacher, Won't Back Down might hit home...if not it might make you a little queasy. Maggie's schmaltzy and Viola plays her normal role.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/13/24

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Audience Member

As a teacher highly recommend watching.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/04/18

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Audience Member

Another movie that proves a stellar cast always comes out on top. I feel like movies like this have been told a million times & the subject matter here is fairly boring, but with leads like Maggie Gyllenhaal & Viola Davis - even I couldn't leave till it finished.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

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Audience Member

The movie means well with decent performances but suffers from a bland script and bad direction. It isn't engaging at all. I seen a lot of good movies like this. Won't back down doesn't make the grade.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

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Audience Member

This movie haded it's ups and downs, but it was good acted and was an angaging story. Sometimes it fell of topic, I did not know what was going on, and sometimes I think they take it over the limit for the school laws. As that being said I give " Won't Back Down " a Solid C-.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Audience Member

Verklighetsbaserad och peppig story!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

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Daniel Barnz

Director

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Jamie Fitzpatrick

Viola Davis

Nona Alberts

Holly Hunter

Evelyn Riske

Oscar Isaac

Michael Perry

Rosie Perez

Breena Harper

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Synopsis

Jamie Fitzpatrick (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and Nona Alberts (Viola Davis) are two women from opposites sides of the social and economic track, but they have one thing in common: a mission to fix their community's broken school and ensure a bright future for their children. The two women refuse to let any obstacles stand in their way as they battle a bureaucracy that's hopelessly mired in traditional thinking, and they seek to re-energize a faculty that has lost its passion for teaching.

Director: Daniel Barnz
Producer: Mark Johnson
Screenwriter: Brin Hill, Daniel Barnz
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Gran Via
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 28, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.2M
Runtime: 2h 1m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, Datasat
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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