

“When the nation was in need, he inspired them to give us hope.”
The true story of a brilliant but politically radical debate team coach who uses the power of words to transform a group of underdog African-American college students into a historical powerhouse that took on the Harvard elite.
Directed by Denzel Washington, Harvey Weinstein, David Crockett
User score
763 votes

Released
December 25, 2007
2h 6m
English
Budget → Revenue
$15.0M → $30.2M

Denzel Whitaker
James Farmer Jr.

Denzel Washington
Melvin B. Tolson

Nate Parker
Henry Lowe

Jurnee Smollett-Bell
Samantha Booke

Forest Whitaker
Dr. James Farmer Sr.

Kimberly Elise
Pearl Farmer

Jermaine Williams
Hamilton Burgess

Gina Ravera
Ruth Tolson

John Heard
Sheriff Dozier

Devyn A. Tyler
Helen Farmer
Trenton McClain Boyd
Nathaniel Farmer

Ritchie Montgomery
Deputy

Jackson Walker
Pig Owner

Tim Parati
Pig Farmer

Robert X. Golphin
Dunbar Reed

Justice Leak
Harland Osbourne

Glen Powell
Harvard Debater #1
Brad Watkins
Harvard Debater #2

Brian Smiar
Harvard Dean

Damien Leake
Wilson