Won't Back Down
Two Pittsburgh mothers unite to transform a failing inner-city school, confronting the entrenched interests that stand between their children and a better education.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- earnest
- inspirational
- determined
- social issue discussion
- parents night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the talented leads compelling but judged the education-reform drama heavy-handed, simplistic, and insufficiently nuanced.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jamie Fitzpatrick and Nona Alberts join forces to take control of a failing Pittsburgh school for their children.
The central partnership between Jamie and Nona turns personal frustration into an organized campaign for school reform.
The protagonists must confront parents, teachers, the school board, and the teachers union while pursuing a parent-trigger-style takeover.
The film uses determined parents and child-centered stakes to deliver an inspirational reform narrative despite its contentious political subject.
Films like Won't Back Down, and why
Waiting for Superman
social-issue drama centered on parents confronting institutional failures in public education
Erin Brockovich
inspirational female-led drama about determined outsiders challenging entrenched institutions
The Great Debaters
earnest ensemble drama about marginalized communities organizing against institutional barriers
Movie Details
- Director
- Daniel Barnz
- Release Date
- 2012-09-28
- Runtime
- 121 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (122)
Cast
- Viola Davis
- Maggie Gyllenhaal
- Ving Rhames
- Lance Reddick
- Rosie Perez
- Emily Alyn Lind
- Stephen Weigand
- Liza Colón-Zayas
- Teri Clark
- Sarab Kamoo
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Won't Back Down about?
- Two Pittsburgh mothers unite to transform a failing inner-city school, confronting the entrenched interests that stand between their children and a better education.
- What is Won't Back Down like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Won't Back Down as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Won't Back Down violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Won't Back Down.
- What did critics think of Won't Back Down?
- Critics broadly found the talented leads compelling but judged the education-reform drama heavy-handed, simplistic, and insufficiently nuanced.
- Which films are like Won't Back Down?
- Films with a similar feel include Waiting for Superman, Erin Brockovich, and The Great Debaters.
- How long is Won't Back Down?
- Won't Back Down runs 121 minutes.
- Where can I watch Won't Back Down?
- In United States, Won't Back Down streams on Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV channel.
