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American Promise

2013Movie2 h 15 min

Documentary
61
DecentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.1Metacritic67–Rotten Tomatoes72%74%

A deeply moving, slow-burning documentary movie about everyday modern life and growing up, with standout characters.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Skip it if you want fast pacing · you want to half-watch while scrolling

Where to watch

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Not for laughs or scares.

Movies with

Story

Success is Our Only Option

In 1999, filmmakers Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson turned the camera on themselves and began filming their five-year-old son, Idris, and his best friend, Seun, as they started kindergarten at the prestigious Dalton School just as the private institution was committing to diversify its student body. Their cameras continued to follow both families for another 12 years as the paths of the two boys diverged—one continued private school while the other pursued a very different route through the public education system.

Feels like

  • Documentary
  • Coming-of-Age
  • Education
  • Social Commentary
  • Race & Class
  • Family Dynamics
  • Personal Journey
  • Systemic Inequality
  • Longitudinal Study

Cast

3 of 3

Crew

Directed by
Michèle Stephenson, Joe Brewster
Produced by
Michèle Stephenson, Joe Brewster
Music by
Miriam Cutler

Everyone

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

Facts

October 18, 2013 · 2 h 15 min · Documentary

Released
October 18, 2013
Runtime
2 h 15 min
Genres
Documentary
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
4 countries

Q&A

4 questions, like "Where can I stream American Promise?"

Questions about American Promise

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream American Promise?

KanopyHooplaFandango at Home FreePluto TVFawesomeCineverseTubi TV

In the United States, American Promise is free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, Fandango at Home Free, Pluto TV, Fawesome, Cineverse, and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. It also streams in 3 other countries.

Is American Promise worth watching?

61
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 61 (IMDb 7.1, Rotten Tomatoes 72%, and Metacritic 67).

Is American Promise okay for kids?

Yes: the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Is American Promise plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and pathos (9 of 10) more than on its plot.