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IMDbPro

Won't Back Down

  • 20122012
  • PGPG
  • 2h 1m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
6.7K
YOUR RATING
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
6.7K
YOUR RATING
    • Daniel Barnz
    • Brin Hill
    • Daniel Barnz
  • Stars
    • Viola Davis
    • Maggie Gyllenhaal
    • Holly Hunter
    • Daniel Barnz
    • 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

    Videos1

    No. 1
    Trailer 2:32
    Watch 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 Alberts
    Maggie Gyllenhaal
    Maggie Gyllenhaal
    • Jamie Fitzpatrick
    Holly Hunter
    Holly Hunter
    • Evelyn Riske
    Oscar Isaac
    Oscar Isaac
    • Michael Perry
    Rosie Perez
    Rosie Perez
    • Breena Harper
    Emily Alyn Lind
    Emily Alyn Lind
    • Malia Fitzpatrick
    Dante Brown
    Dante Brown
    • Cody Alberts
    Lance Reddick
    Lance Reddick
    • Charles Alberts
    Ving Rhames
    Ving Rhames
    • Principal Thompson
    Bill Nunn
    Bill Nunn
    • Principal Holland
    Ned Eisenberg
    Ned Eisenberg
    • Arthur Gould
    Marianne Jean-Baptiste
    Marianne Jean-Baptiste
    • Olivia Lopez
    Liza Colón-Zayas
    Liza Colón-Zayas
    • Yvonne
    Nancy Bach
    • Deborah
    Keith Flippen
    Keith Flippen
    • Ben
    Robert Haley
    Robert Haley
    • Tim
    Lucia Scarano
    Lucia Scarano
    • District Receptionist
    • (as Lucia Forte)
    Sarab Kamoo
    Sarab Kamoo
    • Principal Chamudes
      • Daniel Barnz
      • Brin Hill
      • Daniel Barnz
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    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
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Stand up for better education in Won't Back Down
    There are movies that come along based on inspirational stories and usually manage to deliver just on the story itself. When you give them a bit of a budget and some great actors then you have the possibility of creating something special. The latest film takes on the rarely talked about in film issue of education in Won't Back Down. With Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis leading the way could there be any chance this film doesn't work?

    Won't Back Down follows two determined mothers whose children are failing in an inner city school, who team up to take back the school and turn it into a place of learning. Before they are able to change the school, they have to battle the parents, school board, and teachers union. While this isn't an actual true story like a lot of these films, it is based on various incidents of its kind. They don't break any molds or do anything that hasn't been done in some way before, but what is refreshing is who is under fire in this story, the education itself as opposed to those struggling to learn. The performances are all great and the movie works fine, but there is just something missing that most of these films have to really suck you in and that's that moment where those fighting the losing battle deliver a memorable moment that turns things around. Most likely trying to shove that into this story would have felt forced and cliché, it just lacked that needed punch to add the extra passion to make the movie step out of just another in a line of inspirational stories.

    Make no mistake, this is a great movie, but isn't breaking any ground. If you enjoy these sorts of stories then you should check it out. Thanks to the two leads it takes a film that could have been pretty generic and turned it into something really good. If these two great actresses aren't enough to suck you in, the film also sports a great supporting cast as well including Ving Rhames, Holly Hunter, Rosie Perez and Bill Nunn so there is bound to be someone in there to peak your interest.
    helpful•4
    1
    • rgblakey
    • Feb 25, 2013

    Details

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

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 2 hours 1 minute
      • Datasat
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS

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