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Trailer

The Great Debaters

2007Movie2 h 6 minPG-13

Drama
74
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.5Letterboxd3.6/5Metacritic657.1Rotten Tomatoes80%86%

A moving, cathartic drama movie about a real life story and society, with standout performances.

Good for family movie night · friends night · teens

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for scares.

Movies with

Story

When the nation was in need, he inspired them to give us hope.

The true story of a brilliant but politically radical debate team coach who uses the power of words to transform a group of underdog African-American college students into a historical powerhouse that took on the Harvard elite.

Feels like

  • Inspirational Story
  • Historical Drama
  • Civil Rights Era
  • Debate Competition
  • Social Justice
  • Powerful Performances
  • Uplifting
  • Academic Achievement

Cast

24 of 36

Crew

Directed by
Denzel Washington
Written by
Robert Eisele, Jeffrey Porro
Produced by
Oprah Winfrey, Joe Roth, Todd Black
Music by
James Newton Howard, Peter Golub

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

December 25, 2007 · 2 h 6 min · PG-13

Released
December 25, 2007
Runtime
2 h 6 min
Age rating
PG-13
Content
Strong Language, Violence
Genres
Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$15 million
Box office
$30 million
Available in
48 countries
Keywords
based on true story

Tropes

Freudian Trio, Opposing Sports Team, "Well Done, Son" Guy +9

  • Freudian Trio
  • Opposing Sports Team
  • "Well Done, Son" Guy
  • Drowning My Sorrows
  • Innocent Prodigy
  • Mentor Occupational Hazard
  • Artistic License – History
  • Precocious Crush
  • Broken Pedestal
  • Economy Cast
  • Renowned Selective Mentor
  • The Social Expert

12 of 23 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

4 questions, like "Where can I stream The Great Debaters?"

Questions about The Great Debaters

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Great Debaters?

FawesomeAngel StudiosTubi TV

In the United States, The Great Debaters streams on Angel Studios, and it is free with ads on Fawesome and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 34 other countries.

Is The Great Debaters worth watching?

74
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 74 (IMDb 7.5, Letterboxd 3.6 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 80%, and Metacritic 65).

Is The Great Debaters okay for kids?

PG-13Strong languageViolence

Yes: it's rated PG-13 in the United States for strong language and violence, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

What tropes does The Great Debaters use?

Freudian TrioOpposing Sports Team"Well Done, Son" GuyDrowning My SorrowsInnocent ProdigyMentor Occupational HazardArtistic License – HistoryPrecocious CrushBroken PedestalEconomy CastRenowned Selective MentorThe Social Expertand 11 more

TV Tropes lists 23 tropes for it, including Freudian Trio, Opposing Sports Team, and "Well Done, Son" Guy.