I Am Sam

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I Am Sam

PG-13

2002

2h 12m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

35%

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144 Reviews

86%

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250,000+ Ratings

"I Am Sam" is the compelling story of Sam Dawson (Sean Penn), a mentally-challenged father raising his daughter Lucy (Dakota Fanning) with the help of a unique group of friends. As Lucy turns seven and begins to intellectually surpass her father, their close bond is threatened when their unconventional living arrangement comes to the attention of a social worker who wants Lucy placed in foster care.

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Critics Consensus

Not only does the manipulative I Am Sam oversimplify a complex issue, it drowns it in treacle.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Dec 24, 2010

3/5

Moving film with great acting seems too contrived.

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

Jun 19, 2003

3.5/4

Sean Penn may be the most gifted actor of his generation.

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Jeff Strickler

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Nov 6, 2002

2.5/4

Penn repeatedly hits the ball out of the park, but the rest of the team never gets past first base.

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Michael Clark

Epoch Times

Aug 10, 2022

4.5/5

Penn never goes over the top with his speech, ticks, hand gestures, and all-around physicality. He doesn’t act like a mentally challenged man, he behaves like one: there’s a big difference between the two.

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Sep 11, 2020

3.5/4.0

Penn's performance deserved the Oscar nomination.

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Sep 25, 2010

0/4

Sean Penn gives the most professionally shameful, cruelly wrongheaded performance ever nominated for a Best Actor Oscar, while Jessie Nelson Kristine Johnson's script lives down to Penn's ugly ineptitude with idiotic catchphrases and product placement.

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Diaulas F

@RT13630323 Oct 12, 2026

Lindo demais! Michelle Pfeiffer e Sean Penn em atuações brilhantes

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Ryan T

@RT91888008 Oct 11, 2026

It really has a heart to it that just wants to make you love everyone and know that even those with less development do love and want love back!

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Eye C

@ECinc Sep 11, 2026

Didn’t watch this in a while, and it’s so into the 2000s where all the things that now works… sort of… back then doesn’t… step that aside… great movie, little Dakota is amazing and Sean Penn superb.

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Cody G

@frodycody Sep 8, 2026

Cloying and condescending.

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Henrique C

@RT96781138 Jul 30, 2026

Its a absolute lack of felling the critics review. It is a sensitive beautifull movie. The critics score just shows how weak and dumb are jornalists today.

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Mickey B

@Mickerdoo Jun 30, 2026

Imagine a country where Sam could just get the help he needed and this wasn’t even an issue. Made me cry. Really liked Fanning and Dern.

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Jessie Nelson

Director

Sean Penn

Sam Dawson

Michelle Pfeiffer

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Lucy

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Synopsis

"I Am Sam" is the compelling story of Sam Dawson (Sean Penn), a mentally-challenged father raising his daughter Lucy (Dakota Fanning) with the help of a unique group of friends. As Lucy turns seven and begins to intellectually surpass her father, their close bond is threatened when their unconventional living arrangement comes to the attention of a social worker who wants Lucy placed in foster care.

Director: Jessie Nelson
Producer: Jessie Nelson, Richard Solomon, Marshall Herskovitz, Edward Zwick
Screenwriter: Kristine Johnson, Jessie Nelson
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Production Co: New Line Cinema, Bedford Falls Productions, Avery Pix
Rating: PG-13 (Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 25, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 18, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $40.3M
Runtime: 2h 12m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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