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Won't Back Down

PG Released Sep 28, 2012 2h 1m Drama List
35% Tomatometer 106 Reviews 61% Audience Score 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. Read More Read Less
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Won't Back Down

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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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Critics Reviews

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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

Audience Reviews

View All (412) audience 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 antonis k A sweet drama elevated by great work from both Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis. (7/10) Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 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 Read all reviews
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Won't Back Down

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Movie Info

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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