The Great Debaters (2007): cast, story & where to watch
2007 · Film · ★ 7.2
Released in 2007, The Great Debaters is a drama film directed by Denzel Washington, running about 126 minutes. “When the nation was in need, he inspired them to give us hope.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. 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.
Who’s in it. The Great Debaters stars Denzel Washington as Melvin B. Tolson, Nate Parker as Henry Lowe, Forest Whitaker as Dr. James Farmer Sr. and Denzel Whitaker as James Farmer Jr., among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.2/10, The Great Debaters has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $30.2M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on YouTube TV, Angel Studios and MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel and 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 The Great Debaters page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Great Debaters tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Great Debaters (2007)?
- In US, The Great Debaters is available to stream on YouTube TV, Angel Studios and MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel, and 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 The Great Debaters worth watching?
- The Great Debaters holds an audience score of 7.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Great Debaters?
- The Great Debaters stars Denzel Washington, Nate Parker, Forest Whitaker, Denzel Whitaker and Kimberly Elise.
- When was The Great Debaters released?
- The Great Debaters was released in 2007, with a runtime of about 126 minutes.