The Great Debaters
“When the nation was in need, he inspired them to give us hope.”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Great Debaters - Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2011-06-15
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
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
Release History & Theatrical Window
Afro-Ameryka Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
December 27, 2007
Wide Cinema Exhibition
August 22, 2011
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$15M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$30.2M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
2.02x
+$15.2M net gain
Theatrical Status
Profitable
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Denzel Washington
- Screenplay & Story
- Robert Eisele
- Original Score
- Peter Golub, James Newton Howard
- Original Title
- The Great Debaters
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 6m
- Production Budget
- $15M
- Worldwide Gross
- $30.2M
- Production Studios
- Marshall Production, The Weinstein Company, Harpo Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Denzel Washington
Robert Eisele, Jeffrey Porro
Peter Golub, James Newton Howard
Gary Tolbert, Philippe Rousselot
Hughes Winborne
Harvey Weinstein, David Crockett, Bob Weinstein, Joe Roth, Kate Forte
Department Leadership Roster
Denzel Washington
Director
Joe Roth
Producer
Kate Forte
Producer
Todd Black
Producer
Oprah Winfrey
Producer
Hughes Winborne
Editor
Sharen Davis
Costume Design
David J. Bomba
Production Design
Steven Ritzi
Stunt Coordinator
Stephen A. Pope
Stunt Coordinator
Philippe Rousselot
Director of Photography
Peter Golub
Original Music Composer
James Newton Howard
Original Music Composer
Robert Eisele
Screenplay
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Great Debaters.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Great Debaters.
***Dramă***
B Gardens
Full library from Vio, Sonarr, and Radarr - 9,053 items
2772
GTWatchlist
1
Abstrusest 2
Similar Titles to The Great Debaters
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
7.7
8.0
7.6
8.4
6.5
8.0
7.6
7.5
7.7
6.2
7.6
8.2
7.0
6.0
More Like The Great Debaters
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Great Debaters
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Great Debaters 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 directed The Great Debaters?
The Great Debaters was directed by Denzel Washington.
Who stars in The Great Debaters?
The principal cast of The Great Debaters includes Denzel Whitaker, Denzel Washington, Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Forest Whitaker.
When was The Great Debaters released and how long is it?
The Great Debaters was released in 2007 with a total runtime of 2h 6m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Great Debaters?
The Great Debaters had a reported production budget of $15M and grossed $30.2M at the worldwide box office (2.02 return on budget, classified as a commercial hit).
Who composed the musical score for The Great Debaters?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Great Debaters was composed by Peter Golub, James Newton Howard.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Great Debaters?
The Great Debaters holds official age classifications: CA: 14A; DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).