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MONEY
Did you know
Made its money back 4.2Γ over at the box office.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#01
I Am Sam
"Love is all you need."
2001 2h 12m EN
π
7.6
BANGER
π₯«
35%
ROTTEN
π¬
28
METACRITIC
β
7.6
IMDB
β
7.6TMDB Β· 2,592π₯«35%Rotten Tomatoesβ28Metacriticβ
7.6IMDB Β· 160,859
Drama
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
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.
βLove is all you need.β
Cast
Sean Penn
Sam Dawson
Michelle Pfeiffer
Rita Harrison Williams
Dianne Wiest
Annie Cassell
Dakota Fanning
Lucy Diamond Dawson
Richard Schiff
Mr. Turner
Loretta Devine
Margaret Calgrove
Marin Hinkle
Patricia
Laura Dern
Randy Carpenter
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Jessie Nelson
- Writers
- Kristine Johnson, Jessie Nelson
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- United States of America, Germany
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts πΏ
2 / 8
ERA
Did you know
25 years old β old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#02
3 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
International production across 2 countries: United States of America, Germany.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Jessie Nelson, shot by Elliot Davis. Note their partnership β DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by John Powell. Worth a dedicated listen after β most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Richard Chew shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#06
7 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Sean Penn and Michelle Pfeiffer and Dianne Wiest carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#07
8 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "Love is all you need.".
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Jessie Nelson directs. Elliot Davis behind the camera. John Powell scores. Richard Chew cuts. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in United States of America, Germany. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 1Made its money back 4.2Γ over at the box office.
- 225 years old β old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
- 3International production across 2 countries: United States of America, Germany.
- 4Directed by Jessie Nelson, shot by Elliot Davis. Note their partnership β DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Original score by John Powell. Worth a dedicated listen after β most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 6Editor Richard Chew shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 7Sean Penn and Michelle Pfeiffer and Dianne Wiest carry the top of the cast.
- 8Marketing tagline: "Love is all you need.".
- 9IMDB entry: tt0277027 β still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 10Classified under 13 themes, including "mentally disabled", "foster parents", "lawyer", "pro bono".
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Elliot Davis
- Original score
- John Powell
- Editing
- Richard Chew
- Production design
- Aaron Osborne
- Costume design
- Susie DeSanto
- Makeup / hair
- Bunny Parker
- Sound
- Adam Jenkins
- Stunt coordinator
- Troy Gilbert
- Runtime
- 132 min Β· 2h 12m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $22,000,000
- Box office
- $92,542,418
- Return
- 421% of budget
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- PG-13
- IMDB
- I Am Sam (2001)
- Rotten Tomatoes
- 35% π₯« Rotten
- Metacritic
- 28/100
- IMDB rating
- 7.6/10 Β· 160,859 votes
- MPAA
- PG-13
Awards
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 8 wins & 12 nominations total
- Producers Guild Stanley Kramer Award
Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.
Also by
Jessie Nelson
Stills Β· wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames β open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Community reviews
What people are saying
- Key-Siβ 10/10
"I Am Sam" is one of those movies, that touch you right where it matters and if this movie is not becoming an absoute classic, this world must be full of morons. Sean Penn plays the role of his life and he is way more impressive than Dustin Hoffman in "Rain Man". And that performance already can be considered flawless. Also very impressive is little Dakota Fanning in her role as Lucy and one of the best child performances ever brought to screen. And even after the movie is over it will stay with you for a long time and will get you thinking on what side you would actually be if this case would be happening around you. Would you ignore all logic and just decide by your heart or does the common sense weigh strong enough to side with the court and child services pointing out that little Lucy needs a secure surrounding with capable parents who can provide security and mature advice? Anyhow, this movie is incredible and I wouldn't change a single thing.
Production companies
Who made it
New Line Cinema
US
Bedford Falls Productions
US
- RE
Red Fish, Blue Fish Films
- "S
"Sam" Productions
DE
Key crew
- Dialogue EditorDennis Gray
- Dialogue EditorSarah Payan
- StuntsPatricia M. Peters
- EditorRichard Chew
- Property MasterMychael Bates
- CastingBarbara Cohen
- Production DesignAaron Osborne
- Music EditorTerry Delsing
- Supervising Sound EditorJoe Milner
- Executive ProducerMichael De Luca
- Hair Department HeadBunny Parker
- ProducerEdward Zwick
- Set DecorationGarrett Lewis
- Music EditorTerry Wilson
- ProducerJessie Nelson
- Executive ProducerDavid Scott Rubin
- Makeup Department HeadElisabeth Fry
- Location ManagerRuss Fega
- ProducerRichard Solomon
- Set DecorationJennifer M. Gentile
- Supervising Sound EditorPaul Timothy Carden
- Costume DesignSusie DeSanto
- First Assistant DirectorLisa Demaine
- Still PhotographerLorey Sebastian
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- mentally disabled
- foster parents
- lawyer
- pro bono
- social services
- coffee shop manager
- pizza hut
- children's book
- locked door
- child custody
- woman director
- father daughter relationship
- neurodiversity
Release history Β· US
When it landed
- Premiere2001-12-03Β· Beverly Hills, California
- Theatrical (limited)2001-12-28PG-13Β· Los Angeles, California / New York City, New York
- Theatrical (limited)2002-01-04PG-13
- Theatrical2002-01-25PG-13
Also known as
International titles
- Yo Soy SamES
- Yo Soy Sam [I Am Sam]ES
- I Am Sam - A Força do AmorPT
- Sam je sui samFR
- δΈδΈζ ·ηηΈηΈCN
- μμ΄μ μKR
- Ξ€' ΟΞ½ΞΏΞΌΞ¬ ΞΌΞΏΟ Ξ΅Ξ―Ξ½Ξ±ΞΉ ΣαμGR
- αα αα₯ααα α‘αααGE
