I Am Sam
Love is all you need.
2001 | 132m | English
Popularity: 3 (history)
| Director: | Jessie Nelson |
|---|---|
| Writer: | Jessie Nelson, Kristine Johnson |
| Staring: |
| 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. | |
| Release Date: | Dec 28, 2001 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Jessie Nelson |
| Writer: | Jessie Nelson, Kristine Johnson |
| Genres: | Drama |
| Keywords | 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 |
| Production Companies | New Line Cinema, Bedford Falls Productions, Red Fish, Blue Fish Films |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $92,542,418
Budget: $22,000,000 |
| Updates |
Updated: Aug 10, 2025 (Update) Entered: Apr 13, 2024 |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Erin Cochran | Art Direction |
| Barbara Cohen | Casting |
| Jennifer M. Gentile | Set Decoration |
| Brenda K. Wachel | Script Supervisor |
| Elisabeth Fry | Makeup Department Head |
| Rick Ash | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Terry Delsing | Music Editor |
| Susie DeSanto | Costume Design |
| Garrett Lewis | Set Decoration |
| Lorey Sebastian | Still Photographer |
| Douglas Axtell | Sound Mixer |
| Paul Timothy Carden | Supervising Sound Editor |
| Terry Wilson | Music Editor |
| Lisa Demaine | First Assistant Director |
| Frederic Roth | Second Assistant Director |
| Tommy J. Huff | Stunts |
| Mary Gail Artz | Casting |
| Aaron Osborne | Production Design |
| Richard Chew | Editor |
| Bunny Parker | Hair Department Head |
| Adam Jenkins | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Joe Milner | Supervising Sound Editor |
| Brynn McQuade | Art Department Coordinator |
| Dennis Gray | Dialogue Editor |
| Carla Fry | Executive In Charge Of Production |
| Lynda Foote | Costume Supervisor |
| Mychael Bates | Property Master |
| Sarah Payan | Dialogue Editor |
| Ron Bolanowski | Special Effects |
| James M. Halty | Stunts |
| Perry Robertson | Sound Effects Editor |
| Barbara A. Hall | Unit Production Manager |
| Jimmy Romano | Stunt Coordinator |
| Jessie Nelson | Screenplay, Director |
| Kristine Johnson | Screenplay |
| John Powell | Original Music Composer |
| Elliot Davis | Director of Photography |
| Russ Fega | Location Manager |
| Patricia M. Peters | Stunts |
| Troy Gilbert | Stunt Coordinator |
| Troy Brown | Stunts |
| Andy Gill | Stunt Coordinator |
| Jack Gill | Stunt Coordinator |
| Erik Stabenau | Stunt Double |
| Eddie Hice | Stunts |
| Joel Kramer | Stunt Coordinator |
| Cazimir Milostan | Stunt Driver |
| Andreé Gibbs | Stunts |
| Darren T. Knaus | Assistant Sound Editor |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Claire Rudnick Polstein | Executive Producer |
| David Scott Rubin | Executive Producer |
| Barbara A. Hall | Co-Producer |
| Lisa Demaine | Associate Producer |
| Richard Solomon | Producer |
| Jessie Nelson | Producer |
| Edward Zwick | Producer |
| Michael De Luca | Executive Producer |
| Marshall Herskovitz | Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | Best Actress | Michelle Pfeiffer | Nominated |
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 26 | 45 | 21 |
| 2024 | 5 | 29 | 43 | 22 |
| 2024 | 6 | 31 | 50 | 18 |
| 2024 | 7 | 30 | 57 | 20 |
| 2024 | 8 | 29 | 45 | 19 |
| 2024 | 9 | 26 | 49 | 17 |
| 2024 | 10 | 39 | 59 | 25 |
| 2024 | 11 | 30 | 40 | 20 |
| 2024 | 12 | 26 | 37 | 22 |
| 2025 | 1 | 25 | 44 | 18 |
| 2025 | 2 | 22 | 43 | 4 |
| 2025 | 3 | 8 | 24 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 2025 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 2025 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 2025 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
| 2025 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Trending Position
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | 896 | 896 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 797 | 797 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 436 | 726 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 709 | 886 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12 | 669 | 669 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 | 988 | 988 |
"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.