Where to Watch Freedom Writers (2007) in the US

What it's about

It's 1994 in Long Beach, California. Idealistic Erin Gruwell is just starting her first teaching job, that as freshman and sophomore English teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School, which, two years earlier, implemented a voluntary integration program. For many of the existing teachers, the integration has ruined the school, whose previously stellar academic standing has been replaced with many students who will be lucky to graduate or even be literate. Despite choosing the school on purpose because of its integration program, Erin is unprepared for the nature of her classroom, whose students live by generations of strict moral codes of protecting their own at all cost. Many are in gangs and almost all know somebody that has been killed by gang violence. The Latinos hate the Cambodians who hate the blacks and so on. The only person the students hate more is Ms. Gruwell. It isn't until Erin holds an unsanctioned discussion about a recent drive-by shooting death that she fully begins to understand what she's up against. And it isn't until she provides an assignment of writing a daily journal - which will be not graded, and will remain unread by her unless they so choose - that the students begin to open up to her. As Erin tries harder and harder to have resources provided to teach properly (which often results in her needing to pay for them herself through working second and third jobs), she seems to face greater resistance, especially from her colleagues, such as Margaret Campbell, her section head, who lives by regulations and sees such resources as a waste, and Brian Gelford, who will protect his "priviledged" position of teaching the senior honors classes at all cost. Erin also finds that her teaching job is placing a strain on her marriage to Scott Casey, a man who seems to have lost his own idealistic way in life.

Cast and crew

Director

Richard LaGravenese

Writer

Richard LaGravenese, Freedom Writers, Erin Gruwell

Starring

Hilary Swank, Imelda Staunton, Patrick Dempsey

Details

Release date

Jan 5, 2007

Language

English, Spanish

Country

United States, Germany

Box office

$36,605,602

Awards

2 wins & 1 nomination total

Where to Watch Freedom Writers (2007) in the US — common questions

Where to watch Freedom Writers in the United States?

Freedom Writers is available free with ads, free with a participating library card, or to rent in the United States. Watch the movie free with ads on Tubi TV and YouTube (HD). Watch the movie free with a participating library card on hoopla and Kanopy (HD). Rent the movie on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.

Can I stream Freedom Writers or do I have to rent it in the United States?

Rent the movie on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.

Can I watch Freedom Writers for free in the United States?

Watch the movie free with ads on Tubi TV and YouTube (HD). Watch the movie free with a participating library card on hoopla and Kanopy (HD).