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Won't Back Down

  • 20122012
  • PGPG
  • 2h 1m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
6.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Won't Back Down (2012)
Two determined mothers­ look to transform their children's failing inner city school. Facing a powerful and entrenched bureaucracy, they risk everything to make a difference in the education and future of their children.
Play trailer2:32
1 Video
37 Photos
  • Drama

Two determined mothers­, one a teacher, look to transform their children's failing inner city school. Facing a powerful and entrenched bureaucracy, they risk everything to make a difference ... Read allTwo determined mothers­, one a teacher, look to transform their children's failing inner city school. Facing a powerful and entrenched bureaucracy, they risk everything to make a difference in the education and future of their children.Two determined mothers­, one a teacher, look to transform their children's failing inner city school. Facing a powerful and entrenched bureaucracy, they risk everything to make a difference in the education and future of their children.

IMDb RATING
6.4/10
6.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Daniel Barnz
  • Writers
    • Brin Hill
    • Daniel Barnz
  • Stars
    • Viola Davis
    • Maggie Gyllenhaal
    • Holly Hunter
Top credits
  • Director
    • Daniel Barnz
  • Writers
    • Brin Hill
    • Daniel Barnz
  • Stars
    • Viola Davis
    • Maggie Gyllenhaal
    • Holly Hunter
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 42User reviews
    • 97Critic reviews
    • 42Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 3 nominations

    Videos1

    No. 1
    Trailer 2:32
    No. 1

    Photos37

    Viola Davis and Emily Alyn Lind in Won't Back Down (2012)
    Viola Davis and Dante Brown in Won't Back Down (2012)
    Maggie Gyllenhaal and Emily Alyn Lind in Won't Back Down (2012)
    Viola Davis and Dante Brown in Won't Back Down (2012)
    Viola Davis and Maggie Gyllenhaal in Won't Back Down (2012)
    Rosie Perez, Viola Davis, and Maggie Gyllenhaal in Won't Back Down (2012)
    Viola Davis, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Emily Alyn Lind in Won't Back Down (2012)
    Viola Davis and Maggie Gyllenhaal in Won't Back Down (2012)
    Betsy West and Gabrielle Giffords at an event for Won't Back Down (2012)
    Viola Davis, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Emily Alyn Lind, and Dante Brown in Won't Back Down (2012)
    Won't Back Down (2012)
    Won't Back Down (2012)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Viola Davis
    Viola Davis
    • Nona Albertsas Nona Alberts
    Maggie Gyllenhaal
    Maggie Gyllenhaal
    • Jamie Fitzpatrickas Jamie Fitzpatrick
    Holly Hunter
    Holly Hunter
    • Evelyn Riskeas Evelyn Riske
    Oscar Isaac
    Oscar Isaac
    • Michael Perryas Michael Perry
    Rosie Perez
    Rosie Perez
    • Breena Harperas Breena Harper
    Emily Alyn Lind
    Emily Alyn Lind
    • Malia Fitzpatrickas Malia Fitzpatrick
    Dante Brown
    Dante Brown
    • Cody Albertsas Cody Alberts
    Lance Reddick
    Lance Reddick
    • Charles Albertsas Charles Alberts
    Ving Rhames
    Ving Rhames
    • Principal Thompsonas Principal Thompson
    Bill Nunn
    Bill Nunn
    • Principal Hollandas Principal Holland
    Ned Eisenberg
    Ned Eisenberg
    • Arthur Gouldas Arthur Gould
    Marianne Jean-Baptiste
    Marianne Jean-Baptiste
    • Olivia Lopezas Olivia Lopez
    Liza Colón-Zayas
    Liza Colón-Zayas
    • Yvonneas Yvonne
    Nancy Bach
    • Deborahas Deborah
    Keith Flippen
    Keith Flippen
    • Benas Ben
    Robert Haley
    Robert Haley
    • Timas Tim
    Lucia Scarano
    Lucia Scarano
    • District Receptionistas District Receptionist
    • (as Lucia Forte)
    Sarab Kamoo
    Sarab Kamoo
    • Principal Chamudesas Principal Chamudes
    • Director
      • Daniel Barnz
    • Writers
      • Brin Hill
      • Daniel Barnz
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Two determined mothers with children who are failing in an inner city school in Pittsburgh join forces to take back the school, and turn it into a place of learning. But before they can change the school for the better, they must first battle the parents, the school board, and the teachers union. Because this is for their children, they won't back down from this enormous challenge. —Douglas Young (the-movie-guy)
    • 20th century fox
    • disney
    • school
    • children
    • teacher
    • 29 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • If you can't beat the system... change it
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Last film of Bill Nunn.
    • Quotes

      Michael Perry: When I drink, I ask nosey questions.

      Jamie Fitzpatrick: When I drink, I marry losers.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Big Review: Fall Trailer Park (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      Not Yo
      Written and Performed by Shelly Speck

    User reviews42

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Does the Education of the future matter to you?
    If you have a child in school tomorrow, or plan to have a child in school in the next decade, go see "Won't Back Down". Not because the writing is good, or the acting is good, but because the story could be from your own backyard, your own child's school.

    This isn't a summer blockbuster like the "Avengers", and audiences loved the "Avengers", but none of us are super-heroes, nor will we ever be. We are all capable of being the type of hero so well portrayed by Maggie Gyllenhall and Viola Davis - Parents. Every adult, that experiences this film will understand that it does not take super-powers and a shiny costume to be a hero to a child, or a community.

    So, yes, educating the next generation does matter. Who's going to be your Doctor, your Lawyer, your CEO in 30 years...a child being born today. If that child doesn't get an adequate education...how will they be able to achieve their dreams? How will our country survive through a generation of D and C students?

    Go and enjoy "Won't Back Down" for what it is - Sometimes funny, sometimes heartwarming, striving to make us all see that somethings are worth fighting for.
    helpful•24
    25
    • IJIN_Studios
    • Sep 27, 2012

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 28, 2012 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Learning to Fly
    • Filming locations
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
    • Production companies
      • Walden Media
      • Gran Via Productions
      • Lemodeln Model & Talent Agency
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,310,554
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,603,370
      • Sep 30, 2012
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,378,228
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 1 minute
    • Sound mix
      • Datasat
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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