'

Won't Back Down

Play trailer

Won't Back Down

PG

Released Sep 28, 2012

2h 1m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

34%

Tomatometer

105 Reviews

61%

Popcornmeter

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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

London Evening Standard

More anti-union propaganda masquerading as entertainment.

Rated: 2/5

Jan 25, 2013

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Focuses on solving problems rather than assigning blame.

Rated: 3.0/4.0

Sep 27, 2020

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Read all reviews

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

Full Review

Audience Member

As a teacher highly recommend watching.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/04/18

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Audience Member

Verklighetsbaserad och peppig story!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Daniel Barnz

Director

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Jamie Fitzpatrick

Viola Davis

Nona Alberts

Holly Hunter

Evelyn Riske

Oscar Isaac

Michael Perry

Rosie Perez

Breena Harper

War Room

33%

87%

War Room

Watchlist

TRAILER

for War Room

Soul Surfer

45%

75%

Soul Surfer

Watchlist

Extraordinary Measures

29%

53%

Extraordinary Measures

Watchlist

Heaven Is for Real

52%

66%

Heaven Is for Real

Watchlist

God Bless the Broken Road

18%

77%

God Bless the Broken Road

Watchlist

TRAILER

for God Bless the Broken Road

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Parental Guidance: Taken 2 and Won’t Back Down

Critics Consensus: Looper Is Certified Fresh

View more photos

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)

Most Popular at Home Now