I Am Sam (2001): cast, story & where to watch
2001 · Film · ★ 7.6
Released in 2001, I Am Sam is a drama film directed by Jessie Nelson, running about 132 minutes. “Love is all you need.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Sam, a neurodivergent man, has a daughter with a homeless woman who abandons them when they leave the hospital, leaving Sam to raise Lucy on his own. But as Lucy grows up, Sam's limitations as a parent start to become a problem and the authorities take her away. Sam convinces high-priced lawyer Rita to take his case pro bono and in turn teaches her the value of love and family.
Who’s in it. I Am Sam stars Sean Penn as Sam Dawson, Michelle Pfeiffer as Rita Harrison Williams, Dianne Wiest as Annie Cassell and Dakota Fanning as Lucy Diamond Dawson, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.6/10, I Am Sam has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $92.5M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch I Am Sam page.
If you liked it. Fans of I Am Sam tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch I Am Sam (2001)?
- In US, I Am Sam is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is I Am Sam worth watching?
- I Am Sam holds an audience score of 7.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in I Am Sam?
- I Am Sam stars Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dianne Wiest, Dakota Fanning and Richard Schiff.
- When was I Am Sam released?
- I Am Sam was released in 2001, with a runtime of about 132 minutes.